Murdered Florida Girl Suffered Years of Abuse

[Angel]

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?

I never said that a child would tell someone that they have been abused, I've been in that situation myself when I was younger and while I was married.. I know exactly what its like to be in an abusive relationship or in an abusive family....

My children does not tell anyone about it before but my oldest has....My family did sense something was going on of course they asked I denied it that is because I was hoping things would get better or was too shamed and I had alot of fears running thru my mind, there is alot of reason why people and children don't tell others, but if someone else is aware of what is going on, they should have done something, but what if they did? and no one bother helping?...I ....That's depending on who they could trust in order to know they will remain alive and not getting killed at the end...

Alot of victims don't get out alive, cause their spouse will find them where ever they go....so really no matter where you go or what help you would seek, I personally believe there not enough help that could save their lives in a situation like this....And that does saddness me cause too many victims are losing hope and don't know where to go.....and that could be the reason why many of them hasn't left their abusive relationships or families....

 

[Oceanbreeze]

I never said that a child would tell someone that they have been abused, I've been in that situation myself when I was younger and while I was married.. I know exactly what its like to be in an abusive relationship or in an abusive family....

My children does not tell anyone about it before but my oldest has....My family did sense something was going on of course they asked I denied it that is because I was hoping things would get better or was too shamed and I had alot of fears running thru my mind, there is alot of reason why people and children don't tell others, but if someone else is aware of what is going on, they should have done something, but what if they did? and no one bother helping?...I ....That's depending on who they could trust in order to know they will remain alive and not getting killed at the end...

Alot of victims don't get out alive, cause their spouse will find them where ever they go....so really no matter where you go or what help you would seek, I personally believe there not enough help that could save their lives in a situation like this....And that does saddness me cause too many victims are losing hope and don't know where to go.....and that could be the reason why many of them hasn't left their abusive relationships or families....

Well, truth be told. You are also mixing apples and oranges. The services for women in domestic violence situations seems to be much better than it is for children who are abused.

The fact remains that Child Protection in this country is flawed beyond comprehension, and kids are dying. That's the facts, so even if I had come forward with my allegations, there's a chance that the case would have responded to inadequately. I don't know what would have transpired, because honestly, I never told. But, anyway. Putting myself aside here, we have a serious problem with child protection in this country, and it needs to be fixed. People need to stop talking, and start doing something. Otherwise, more kids are gonna die.

 

[Angel]

, we have a serious problem with child protection in this country, and it needs to be fixed. People need to stop talking, and start doing something. Otherwise, more kids are gonna die.

Well I can't speak for everyone else but I can only speak for myself, If I have seen a child in somewhat a situation like this one I would be on the Child Protection's back until they do something about it, if it takes me months or years, then let it be, I won't give up until the child is place in a safe home...

What about the police? Can they at least do something about it? or does it have to be up to the Child Service?....

 

[Oceanbreeze]

Well I can't speak for everyone else but I can only speak for myself, If I have seen a child in somewhat a situation like this one I would be on the Child Protection's back until they do something about it, if it takes me months or years, then let it be, I won't give up until the child is place in a safe home...

What about the police? Can they at least do something about it? or does it have to be up to the Child Service?....

The police get involved, but it's the agency that is responsible for things like this.

But, I will tell you..I commend you. We need more people who are willing to stand on CPS and hold them accountable for what they do/don't do. This problem is really a societal problem, and it's going to take a lot to fix it. It's time we all figure out what needs to be done, and do it.

 

[Oakley_04]

OceanBreeze, I have a question for you, i have notice this... every time Cheri post a story u always attack her. how come? She's entitiled to express her own opinon. and it is no need to attack her opioin.. just say nothing.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

OceanBreeze, I have a question for you, i have notice this... every time Cheri post a story u always attack her. how come? She's entitiled to express her own opinon. and it is no need to attack her opioin.. just say nothing.

I'm not attacking Cheri, or anyone for that matter. I was merely pointing out what is widely known about Child Protective Services in Florida and in this country as a whole. It's flawed, and it doesn't take a genius to figure that out. All one has to do is listen to the news on a regular basis.

 

[Oakley_04]

I'm not attacking Cheri, or anyone for that matter. I was merely pointing out what is widely known about Child Protective Services in Florida and in this country as a whole. It's flawed, and it doesn't take a genius to figure that out. All one has to do is listen to the news on a regular basis.

Did i say oh shes attacking Cheri abt the girl abuse, i am talkin about her other POST...read again

 

[Malfoyish]

Did i say oh shes attacking Cheri abt the girl abuse, i am talkin about her other POST...read again

Talk about mixing fruit! Now we have bananas in the bowl!

Oakley, dear...with all due respect, I can see why Ocean was a little thrown off. This is a thread in reference to CPS, and the tragedy involving this little girl in Florida. No one was attacking anyone else here - no one. Other threads/posts are irrelevant.

Perhaps you're looking for excuses to be a knight in shining armor, and that's respectable. I could have used a pal like you in Junior High.

 

[Oakley_04]

Talk about mixing fruit! Now we have bananas in the bowl!

Oakley, dear...with all due respect, I can see why Ocean was a little thrown off. This is a thread in reference to CPS, and the tragedy involving this little girl in Florida. No one was attacking anyone else here - no one. Other threads/posts are irrelevant.

Perhaps you're looking for excuses to be a knight in shining armor, and that's respectable. I could have used a pal like you in Junior High.

at least i eat bananas, and i am not lookin for excuse, just notice that OB attacks Cheri when she post something on the AD and just see whats up...

 

[Oceanbreeze]

Did i say oh shes attacking Cheri abt the girl abuse, i am talkin about her other POST...read again

With all due respect, what on Earth are you talking about? This thread involved the abuse and murder of a 13 yr old girl and I responded in kind. If I offended you (or anyone) somewhere else on the forum, please respond there so I know what you're talking about. I really don't know what you're talking about.

 

[Angel]

OceanBreeze, I have a question for you, i have notice this... every time Cheri post a story u always attack her. how come? She's entitiled to express her own opinon. and it is no need to attack her opioin.. just say nothing.

Yeah I've noticed that too, more of bashing her view and opinion and not respecting it........

 

[Angel]

All one has to do is listen to the news on a regular basis.

Well I don't watch the news on regular basis and I don't live in Florida, I know nothing about CPS in Florida, but you had to bashed right at her for not knowing this....

Everyone don't know alot of things, you could have said it more nicer but it look like you jumped all over her....What happened to respect these days?....

 

[Liza]

We all may reply differently, and have different experiences in light of this.. but we all fit together like a jigsaw puzzle... if we are willing to see a common key here.

We all can agree that it is always TERRIBLE that a child is abused in any way..... and it is also TERRIBLE that some of us have been abused.. it would be completely unfair to compare that, or to belittle another's experience...

furthermore, I feel we need to acknowledge that everyone needs compassion (oh yeah, that unconditional love.. the kind with acceptance, allowance, kindness, and all). Yourself, I, her, him, the kid next door to you..... right down to the dog mercilessly humping on your ankle (for goodness, Malfy, Gizmo needs love too! *snicker*) -- you never know what someone is going through, and even the smallest gesture can mean a lot to that person. All it takes is an open heart. I am.. learning that lesson. Not easy for me.

I know, I'm full of shit. Still going through it.. I was sexually molested at age 12. It is not an easy thing to admit in an open forum, and it is far less to read an article on a young girl being murdered after such extreme torture.. what does that represent to me? What does that represent to YOU? How may I deal with how others look at my experience? And me at their experiences? How do I deal with that poor kid's short life, full of horror and untold suffering? How do you?

My point being... we all have a responsibility.... when we start to see bogey(wo)men in our worlds... we have to learn to discern between those who mean us no harm and those who do. We have a responsibility to our own process, and we must own it. But I disgress... it is interesting how a news story can make us really think about what truly matters to us, is it not?

 

[Reba]

Is this topic getting off track?

Maybe this is part of the problem. Adults can't stay focused on the problem of child abuse because personalities and feelings get in the way.

The children hide and tremble in the corner while the adults rant. Sigh....

 

[Oceanbreeze]

Hmm? You know what I find odd here? Two people have accused me of attacking Cheri. Yet, I have not heard from Cheri herself. Let Cheri speak for herself if she chooses to. If she doesn't, leave it alone. I was not attacking Cheri or anyone. I was merely discussing how abissmal CPS is. If that upset you, so be it. Maybe, it should considering how badly people in this country treat children.

 

[nozobo]

Action do speak louder than words but sometime words do speak LOUD than action...

 

[Eve]

Sarah was placed in foster care for a time.

Okay, am I the only one who read the article in full? I keep seeing people saying that CPS didn’t do their job, but here it shows that the children were removed from the situation. Obviously the situation had changed or the children wouldn’t have been returned to their mother. The mother seems to have jumped from man to man, first her husband, then a boyfriend, then a different boyfriend. Unfortunately, each man was abusive to the children, but how is CPS to keep up with the mother’s love life?

Second, if you want to actually make a difference in this world, bitching doesn’t accomplish a damn thing. Get off your ass and DO SOMETHING! Write letters to your senators and congressmen. Make valuable suggestions to those in power about what could be done differently and concerns for new laws. My mother always told us that if you aren't willing to fix the situation, don't bother bitchin' about it.

OceanBreeze, I have a question for you, i have notice this... every time Cheri post a story u always attack her. how come? She's entitiled to express her own opinon. and it is no need to attack her opioin.. just say nothing.

Finally, from where I stand, it does not appear that OB is attacking Cheri or her opinion, as much as she is sharing her own opinion. AND, isn’t that what posting on a bulletin board forum is all about, the sharing of ideas and opinions? At least OB is making rational statements, which is more than can be said for some of the others posting here. I’m sure if OB intended to “attack” Cheri, she would be smart enough to do it in private rather than in the middle of a public forum. In fact, I could even be inclined to give her a few pointers.

 

[javapride]

Okay, am I the only one who read the article in full? I keep seeing people saying that CPS didn’t do their job, but here it shows that the children were removed from the situation. Obviously the situation had changed or the children wouldn’t have been returned to their mother. The mother seems to have jumped from man to man, first her husband, then a boyfriend, then a different boyfriend. Unfortunately, each man was abusive to the children, but how is CPS to keep up with the mother’s love life?

Second, if you want to actually make a difference in this world, bitching doesn’t accomplish a damn thing. Get off your ass and DO SOMETHING! Write letters to your senators and congressmen. Make valuable suggestions to those in power about what could be done differently and concerns for new laws. My mother always told us that if you aren't willing to fix the situation, don't bother bitchin' about it.


Finally, from where I stand, it does not appear that OB is attacking Cheri or her opinion, as much as she is sharing her own opinion. AND, isn’t that what posting on a bulletin board forum is all about, the sharing of ideas and opinions? At least OB is making rational statements, which is more than can be said for some of the others posting here. I’m sure if OB intended to “attack” Cheri, she would be smart enough to do it in private rather than in the middle of a public forum. In fact, I could even be inclined to give her a few pointers.

thats what i been doing writing to sentaors and congress to put a stop to child abuse i donated some money to the child abuse colation and am waving a blue ribbon in its honor we do not have to sit back and allow this to happen over and over again.

2ndly i agree with eve, ocean breeze was talking abt cps not cheri...... so why don't we let that go and get back on topic here please.

 

[Cheri]

Okay, am I the only one who read the article in full? I keep seeing people saying that CPS didn’t do their job, but here it shows that the children were removed from the situation. Obviously the situation had changed or the children wouldn’t have been returned to their mother. The mother seems to have jumped from man to man, first her husband, then a boyfriend, then a different boyfriend. Unfortunately, each man was abusive to the children, but how is CPS to keep up with the mother’s love life?

The point is Eve, She was remove for a short time, And then return back to the mother who's been report over 1,000 times, Come on use common sense when a family are report numberic of times, Mother would have lost rights of all her children because she did not protect her children from all her so-call boyfriends. So, Obviously Child Protection Service did not do their duty as protecting Sarah. Florida always been a messed up state anyway.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

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...
....

***nodding agreement***

CPS know exactly how Sarah had been through but do nothing. I really don't understand what those word "CPS" for.

"CPS"'s job task to protect the children from their abusive/neglect parents.

Yes, I'm agree that Sarah would of stay alive if CPS do SOMETHING like give her to foster parents to take care of.

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