Murdered Florida Girl Suffered Years of Abuse

[Cheri]

TAMPA, Fla. (May 18) - A 13-year-old girl who was killed and dumped in a pond last month suffered years of abuse that included reports of beatings and witnessing violent fights between her parents, records show.

More than 1,000 pages of files from the state Department of Children & Families were released Tuesday detailing the family of Sarah Michelle Lunde and the background of David Lee Onstott, the convicted sex offender accused of strangling her.

Sarah's body was found April 16 in an abandoned fish pond near her family's mobile home in Ruskin. She was last seen April 9 after returning home from a church trip. Onstott had dated Sarah's mother, Kelly May, who divorced the girl's father, Richard Lunde, in 1997.

The reports released Tuesday date as far back as 1992, when the family lived in West Virginia.

In the girl's early days, the documents said, social workers reported she and her siblings were beaten and described the girl walking around for days at a time without a bath and in soiled clothes.

Documents allege that Richard Lunde beat his wife with a 2-by-4 while the children looked on. He also broke her ribs and injured her in other ways, the allegations said.

Sarah and her siblings allegedly were beaten on several occasions with belts, boards and fists.

In 1999, an anonymous caller reported that May and a boyfriend used drugs in front of the children. The caller also said the boyfriend was abusing the children, and that Sarah had been forced to sleep outside under a tree, according to the documents.

When state workers went to investigate, Sarah told them the boyfriend hit her 11 times with a belt the night before. Sarah was placed in foster care for a time.

Onstott, 36, is not cited in records involving Sarah's family. But separate records indicate he allegedly gave another girlfriend's 16-year-old daughter a black eye in 2002 and was accused in 1990 of driving his 16-year-old stepdaughter down a dirt road and kissing her. He was convicted in 1995 of raping a 25-year-old woman.

Onstott has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and attempted sexual battery in Sarah's death. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.

Source: AOL News:http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050518105709990009


Sooo Sad The girl would be alive today if someone done something to protect her, But nobody did.

 

[Angel]

Yeah I agree

 

[Malfoyish]

Not necessarily, Cheri...

Unfortunately we live in a sick and twisted world where abuse and rape of children is not entirely uncommon. People do try to intervene if it comes to their attention, but usually the damage has already been done. In my opinion, abuse is as little as ONE slap that is administered in the wrong place, ONE incident of inappropriate touching, ONE sexual assault, and so on. Any time that ONE of the above is encountered, then that's it...there's irreparable damage, and the child in question will more than likely block it out because it's traumatic - or it will have a bold impact on the remaining years of their lives. Even if the child had been removed from the household, it would more than likely not have saved her in the long run.

It's extremely sad.

 

[Cheri]

Not necessarily, Cheri...

Unfortunately we live in a sick and twisted world where abuse and rape of children is not entirely uncommon. People do try to intervene if it comes to their attention, but usually the damage has already been done. In my opinion, abuse is as little as ONE slap that is administered in the wrong place, ONE incident of inappropriate touching, ONE sexual assault, and so on. Any time that ONE of the above is encountered, then that's it...there's irreparable damage, and the child in question will more than likely block it out because it's traumatic - or it will have a bold impact on the remaining years of their lives. Even if the child had been removed from the household, it would more than likely not have saved her in the long run.

It's extremely sad.

What's not necessary? I believe she would be alive today if the Child Service would have took her away from her family that already have a history of reports made toward to that family, As it says, Reports were far back in 1992. Why didn't they save the child? That's why I don't trust Child Service Dept. I believe that if the child was remove from the family, and placed in a lovely stable home she would likely be alive today than being stuck with the family that been abusing her for years. I would put more blame on the Child Service, for not protecting Sarah.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

What's not necessary? I believe she would be alive today if the Child Service would have took her away from her family that already have a history of reports made toward to that family, As it says, Reports were far back in 1992. Why didn't they save the child? That's why I don't trust Child Service Dept. I believe that if the child was remove from the family, and placed in a lovely stable home she would likely be alive today than being stuck with the family that been abusing her for years. I would put more blame on the Child Service, for not protecting Sarah.

You are forgetting one thing, though. We are talking about FLORIDA's Child Protective Services, and it's already a known fact that they can't get their thumb out of their ass long enough to get a grip on what's happening to the children in this state. They've lost children, for God's sake! So, do you really think this girl would have protected even IF CPS got involved?

I highly doubt it.

 

[Malfoyish]

What's not necessary? I believe she would be alive today if the Child Service would have took her away from her family that already have a history of reports made toward to that family, As it says, Reports were far back in 1992. Why didn't they save the child? That's why I don't trust Child Service Dept. I believe that if the child was remove from the family, and placed in a lovely stable home she would likely be alive today than being stuck with the family that been abusing her for years. I would put more blame on the Child Service, for not protecting Sarah.

Cheri, I TOTALLY understand your anger. This kind of thing infuriates me to NO end, having dealt with some of it myself. However, the blame belongs only on the attacker(s). There is nothing that CPS (Child Protective Services) can do to heal a child AFTER they have been raped, beaten, verbally assaulted, or all of the above. Most of the time, when cases are held onto for too long, it's because of lack of evidence. Yes, CPS NEEDS to get their asses into gear, but by the time they do, the child will more than likely have suffered far more than they deserved to. This in mind, I can only wish for five minutes alone with any asshole who harms an innocent little child.

 

[Angel]

If the state Department of Children & Families has more than 1,000 pages of abuses, then my question is why didn't they do something when they have those reports? if they could have done something when they had only 2 or 3 reports, then she would have been alive but they waited too long until someone end up getting killed, this is what happened to this girl...


Children and Families Department are suppose to protect those children, and they failed to do so....

 

[Oceanbreeze]

Not necessarily, Cheri...

Unfortunately we live in a sick and twisted world where abuse and rape of children is not entirely uncommon. People do try to intervene if it comes to their attention, but usually the damage has already been done. In my opinion, abuse is as little as ONE slap that is administered in the wrong place, ONE incident of inappropriate touching, ONE sexual assault, and so on. Any time that ONE of the above is encountered, then that's it...there's irreparable damage, and the child in question will more than likely block it out because it's traumatic - or it will have a bold impact on the remaining years of their lives. Even if the child had been removed from the household, it would more than likely not have saved her in the long run.

It's extremely sad.

I would like to add that there are even times when adults DON'T intervene on behalf of the child even when abuse is right in front of them, and they can see that something is wrong. I know that defies the imagination of most rational people, but it happens. You're right, Malfy. This is a sick and twisted world we live in, and our children are paying a hefty price for the depravity that exists.

It is indeed sad.

 

[Malfoyish]

If the state Department of Children & Families has more than 1,000 pages of abuses, then my question is why didn't they do something when they have those reports? if they could have done something when they had only 2 or 3 reports, then she would have been alive but they waited too long until someone end up getting killed, this is what happened to this girl...


Children and Families Department are suppose to protect those children, and they failed to do so....

^Angel^, I KNOW. It's a horrible thing. It truly is...so many children have suffered because of neglect. CPS doesn't always investigate thorougly because they're afraid of being wrong, appearing to be misinformed, et cetera. The list goes on and on until it's 1,000 pages long. I may be somewhat biased when I say I have very little faith in their abilities, but I do not believe that they are capable of helping every single child that is being mistreated. As a result, I don't know who else to blame but the person who has the nerve to abuse the child in the first place. What the fuck is wrong with this world? That is something that even I don't have the answers to. If I did, I'd post it. But...I do not, and therefore, I will blame the attacker and shake my head at CPS for not taking care of matters sooner, and with a fine toothed comb.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

Cheri, I TOTALLY understand your anger. This kind of thing infuriates me to NO end, having dealt with some of it myself. However, the blame belongs only on the attacker(s). There is nothing that CPS (Child Protective Services) can do to heal a child AFTER they have been raped, beaten, verbally assaulted, or all of the above. Most of the time, when cases are held onto for too long, it's because of lack of evidence. Yes, CPS NEEDS to get their asses into gear, but by the time they do, the child will more than likely have suffered far more than they deserved to. This in mind, I can only wish for five minutes alone with any asshole who harms an innocent little child.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

If the state Department of Children & Families has more than 1,000 pages of abuses, then my question is why didn't they do something when they have those reports? if they could have done something when they had only 2 or 3 reports, then she would have been alive but they waited too long until someone end up getting killed, this is what happened to this girl...


Children and Families Department are suppose to protect those children, and they failed to do so....

There's a lot of factors involved in this. Understaffing, a shrinking budget to work with, poor training, incompetence. The list of reasons defies imagination. The bottom line is, the system is screwed, and kids are dying as a result.

 

[Cheri]

If the state Department of Children & Families has more than 1,000 pages of abuses, then my question is why didn't they do something when they have those reports? if they could have done something when they had only 2 or 3 reports, then she would have been alive but they waited too long until someone end up getting killed, this is what happened to this girl...


Children and Families Department are suppose to protect those children, and they failed to do so....

Yes, I agree they should give up these unworthy professions. It's so devastated that Department of Children Service cost those children lives, because they are not there sooner enough to protect them. I believe too they should be charge with a crime along with the family that killed her.


It's true Malfy that they cannot heal the wounds that the child had been through, but they can save a child from being abuse even more in the nearest future that didn't happen that way, And that is the issue.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

Yes, I agree they should give up these unworthy professions. It's so devastated that Department of Children Service cost those children lives, because they are not there sooner enough to protect them. I believe too they should be charge with a crime along with the family that killed her.


It's true Malfy that they cannot heal the wounds that the child had been through, but they can save a child from being abuse even more in the nearest future that didn't happen that way, And that is the issue.

You are missing the point, Cheri. They can't do a damn thing. Wanna know why? The SYSTEM is broken! The whole damn child protection system is royally fucked in this country. This is why things like this happen. But, that's IF the allegation even comes to the attention of CPS. A lot of times, that doesn't even happen. So, really...All the anger in the world is not going to solve this problem unless we take that anger and do something with it. You can't solve something like this by merely talking about it. You have to back up your words with some action!

 

[Angel]

There's a lot of factors involved in this. Understaffing, a shrinking budget to work with, poor training, incompetence. The list of reasons defies imagination. The bottom line is, the system is screwed, and kids are dying as a result.

You're right about the system is screwed but who are going to keep protect those children from a situation like this?....

Are they going to keep putting their thumb up their azz as you said above and just say " well its not my place since I didn't beaten those kids up in the first place " ....

They had a job to do, and they should have done it so the blame would be more pointed to the CPS than the abuser, since the abuser would be punished for it but not the CPS, they get away with it and keep doing what they normally do by letting those children get killed...

Now my question is, where can these people seek the help if they can not count on CPS?....

 

[Malfoyish]

It's true Malfy that they cannot heal the wounds that the child had been through, but they can save a child from being abuse even more in the nearest future that didn't happen that way, And that is the issue.

Perhaps there is no "right" or "wrong" in this kind of situation. When a complaint is made, the child should be yanked from the house in question, and it should be done immediately. But like anything else, there's a process involved, and it requires an investigation. Therefore the child is either put in a foster home where there is also occasional occurances of abuse, or left in the house that he or she is currently living in while CPS investigates. The abuse, most of the time, continues while the child remains under the same roof, and if CPS is so badly backed up and understaffed, then there's nothing anyone can do, really. Even good foster homes are scarce, and even THOSE homes and backgrounds and potential foster parents have to be investigated to ensure they do not have a prison record or something. That, too, takes time. Rather than think about how much time is being wasted, and children dying by the minute, it does me and my state of mind a lot more good to blame the faulty guardian for their treatment.

No one said life was fair.

 

[Angel]

You are missing the point, Cheri. They can't do a damn thing. Wanna know why? The SYSTEM is broken! The whole damn child protection system is royally fucked in this country. This is why things like this happen. But, that's IF the allegation even comes to the attention of CPS. A lot of times, that doesn't even happen. So, really...All the anger in the world is not going to solve this problem unless we take that anger and do something with it. You can't solve something like this by merely talking about it. You have to back up your words with some action!

Have you ever been in a abusive relationship before Oceanbreeze? if a person in a situation like this and knowing there's no help out there to protect their children and of course they have fear of leaving their spouse, so where else would they seek the help from?....

Instead of jumping all over Cheri here, she has the right to be anger, and she has the right to speak her opinion as well as you do....Just because she has different view on this, there no reason to bashed right at her.....

 

[Malfoyish]

Now my question is, where can these people seek the help if they can not count on CPS?....

VERY good question, ^Angel^!!!

I think that a lot of the problem lies within the child's being afraid to tell someone about the abuse and injustices being done to them. Abuse, sexual torture, beatings - how can this NOT instill a degree of FEAR within a child who has NO idea of what to make of all of this? Not to mention that often they are threatened by their abusers that something horrible will happen to them or to their mothers or sisters or dogs or cats if they were to ever tell?

CPS needs help. I think that WE all play a part in this - perhaps WE need to make our children more aware, and teach them to recognize child abuse, to know what is right and what is wrong, to open their mouths and TELL us, their parents, when something is wrong. Too many cases are closed because the child themselves don't tell, or they are frightened to the point where they recant any revealings of abuse that they may have suffered. Therefore CPS will move onto other cases, and put it on the back burner until it's eventually dropped.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

You're right about the system is screwed but who are going to keep protect those children from a situation like this?....

Are they going to keep putting their thumb up their azz as you said above and just say " well its not my place since I didn't beaten those kids up in the first place " ....

They had a job to do, and they should have done it so the blame would be more pointed to the CPS than the abuser, since the abuser would be punished for it but not the CPS, they get away with it and keep doing what they normally do by letting those children get killed...

Now my question is, where can these people seek the help if they can not count on CPS?....

That is a good question. I actually am of the opinion that if a parent or gaurdian abuses or neglects a child, they forfeit their right to parent that child, and the kid should be put up for immediate adoption. It used to be (and I think it's still this way) that the emphasis is placed on preservation of the family. In the past, this has proven to be dangerous for the child involved in whatever nightmare exists for them. I firmly believe that if we are going to protect our children, the emphasis must shift to the welfare of the child.

 

[Angel]

VERY good question, ^Angel^!!!

I think that a lot of the problem lies within the child's being afraid to tell someone about the abuse and injustices being done to them. Abuse, sexual torture, beatings - how can this NOT instill a degree of FEAR within a child who has NO idea of what to make of all of this? Not to mention that often they are threatened by their abusers that something horrible will happen to them or to their mothers or sisters or dogs or cats if they were to ever tell?

CPS needs help. I think that WE all play a part in this - perhaps WE need to make our children more aware, and teach them to recognize child abuse, to know what is right and what is wrong, to open their mouths and TELL us, their parents, when something is wrong. Too many cases are closed because the child themselves don't tell, or they are frightened to the point where they recant any revealings of abuse that they may have suffered. Therefore CPS will move onto other cases, and put it on the back burner until it's eventually dropped.

Very true Malfoyish I agree....Thank you for being kind

 

[Oceanbreeze]

Have you ever been in a abusive relationship before Oceanbreeze? if a person in a situation like this and knowing there's no help out there to protect their children and of course they have fear of leaving their spouse, so where else would they seek the help from?....

Instead of jumping all over Cheri here, she has the right to be anger, and she has the right to speak her opinion as well as you do....Just because she has different view on this, there no reason to bashed right at her.....

Well, Angel. I don't want to put my business on a public board, but to answer your question, yes I have. I was an abused child. So, I'm coming at this from personal experience. I know what it's like to be afraid, and to also feel trapped and not know what to do. I was in a situation where people knew what was going on, and they looked away. So, I ask you...If your own family knows something's amiss, and they look away, what makes you think a child is going to tell a stranger that something bad is happening to them?