Monroe toddler left in car dead; victim identified

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Sunday, April 25. 2010

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An 18-month old Monroe County child died after being left for an extended period in a car in a school parking lot April 23.

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#1 Anonymous on 04/25/10 at 04:36 PM

Damn! wtf is these ppls thinkin!!

#2 Anonymous on 04/25/10 at 04:36 PM

It is terrible to hear even one more time that this happens to a child. In past cases, the mother gets very light punishment - usually using the "I was in such a rush or was not thinking". I do not understand how anyone can forget their child in a parked car. I have called the police in parking lots when I have seen people leave their child or children in their car while they go in and shop. Anything can happen and worst case death like this time!

#3 Kathy on 04/25/10 at 06:39 PM

That is so sad. I have an 18 month old grandson and it just breaks my heart to read this.

#4 It's Me on 04/25/10 at 09:42 PM

OMG

#5 Anonymous on 04/25/10 at 11:25 PM

Even though I know I have left my children were they are suppose to be, my rearview is affixed to their car seats! When I get out at work I even double check. I can't see how this can happen, but at the same time I can see how an over whammed mother could feel. I am always busy, and stories like this keep me double checking! I love all of my children, and hope and pray that I don't get into such a big hurry. This famly is in my prayers.

#6 Safety Concerns on 04/26/10 at 06:51 AM

Routine Welfare check? Hasn't one child suffered enough? The other child should immediately be taken away from this mother. Some people are not fit to raise children.

#7 Anonymous on 04/26/10 at 07:56 AM

Please Dear God, Would someone let us know if it was a baby boy.. And that he wasn't adopted from Lemar Co. DEFaC..Thanks

#8 Anonymous on 04/26/10 at 09:38 AM

I know the mother in this story. Please don’t judge her too harshly; she was dealing with more than you could possibly know. This is too terrible to think about, but she and her family need your prayers more than your criticism. I have a toddler myself and her son and mine have played together; so more heart is shattered because I experienced his beauty first hand; and he was a beautiful child. Believe me she hates herself more than you possibly can. So, for her and her family’s sake, I would ask for your support in lieu of judgment. Thank you.

#9 tick tock on 04/26/10 at 09:41 AM

What is a overwhammed mother. No such thing just an excuse. If you lay down, stand up, however you made that child it is your responsibilty to care for that child. So quit making excuses as to how overwhelmed a child made you.

#10 Safety Concerns on 04/26/10 at 10:06 AM

Don't judge her too harshly? She could have prevented this by taking the child with her into the school. It would be different if this was an accident, but it is not. Prayers are with the family.

#11 Mommy to be on 04/26/10 at 10:33 AM

I am a mother of two and a expecting again in November. My heart goes out to this family. Though I did not know this little boy or his "mother" and I use mother losely! I do know a relative in VA. My heart breaks for the family and my thoughts and prayers are with them, however I can feel no sympathy for the "mother" of this child! I never have and never will understand leaving a child behind in a car, in a store, at home, anywhere no matter what else you are dealing with. I have been a single mother with all odds against me and understand how stressful that is but still no excuse to murder your child!! I hope the older sibling is put in his father's custody immediately and the baby she is carrying as well. She deserves to feel lonely, like her older child, the children's father and the rest of the family. And to all who have children in her class pull them out immediatley until she is taken into custody by law enforcement. You never know what people are capable of!

#12 Anonymous on 04/26/10 at 11:08 AM

My prayers are with his family and especially with the other child. A responsible parent would not leave her child alone in a car nor would a responsible parent ever forget their child or the fact that the child was in the car.

#13 Anonymous on 04/26/10 at 01:02 PM

Prayers my ***. The only think I'd pray for is to see that woman restrained in a box in the sun until she suffered the same fate.

#14 Anonymous on 04/26/10 at 02:06 PM

It an accident.....

#15 Anonymous on 04/26/10 at 02:36 PM

This is so sad...I feel sorry for this family. I pray that God give them the strength to endure such pain. I pray for the mother ability to deal with this mentally. God bless the baby soul.

#16 Sonja Shabazz on 04/26/10 at 02:37 PM

I'm so thankful GOD is the judge and not the likes of some of you. Just when you think something like this couldn't happen in your family it does. It has happened in my family. Nothing a judge or anyone else could have done to her that was worse than when she has done to herself. To all you "Perfect" mothers out there be careful how you judge and keep in mind it may just be that your mistake was caught quick enough before true harm was done. In the mean time thank God your child hasn't fallen into harms way.

#17 sharon harrell on 04/26/10 at 02:43 PM

and this woman works at a school,,,,just think these are the kind of people we trust our kids with each day in our schools.......god please... help us all i am the mother of 1 and if you cat handle themfor god sake dont have any

#18 Citizen on 04/26/10 at 04:30 PM

What did she forget to drop the kid off at daycare? It didn't dawn on her all day long either?

#19 Anonymous on 04/27/10 at 05:25 AM

Very well said, I agree, this family is and is in need of prayers! I can't stand all these "PERFECT PEOPLE"

#20 Mother on 04/27/10 at 06:29 AM

I am not here to judge anyone only to put my two sense in. As a single teen mom of a toddlder I get that stress plays a huge roll in motherhood, however I do not understand how you just forget your child is in the car with you. I always put my child in the back seat where I can see him. I can not imagine forgetting that my son was in the car with me, even when he was smaller. I may forget to grab his juice when we get out of the car but NEVER have I even begun to forget that he was in my car. Maybe if there is so many things going on in a parents life that you cant remember your child is with you, you probably should get help for your children or find a better situation for your children to live in. Chances are they are being neglected in other ways too. My prayers go out to the family and everyone involved.

#21 Safety Concerns on 04/27/10 at 07:07 AM

There is no mom on this earth that is perfect, but responsible is a different story. I can't see how the mother drove an hour and a half to work and not hear the child in the car either. That is a long drive to work every morning for a child to have to ride that long.

#22 Concerned Citizen on 04/27/10 at 07:16 AM

This is sad that young people push the limit and have too many children that they can not mentally or physically care for the way a child should be. She is very young to have 2 children and one on the way. Can you say birth control?

#23 momofone on 04/27/10 at 08:28 AM

We are all perfect parents... until we have kids. What a horrible tragedy for all involved.

#24 Anonymous on 04/27/10 at 09:58 AM

Was this an accident or was the van a babysitter?

#25 Concerned on 04/27/10 at 01:02 PM

No, this was not a babysitter/daycare van or they would have been charge for the crime. Since it is the mother who left the child in there she is not being charged with any crime. I don't see the difference if it was a daycare worker or the mother neglect is neglect no matter which way you say it.

#26 Anonymous on 04/27/10 at 03:50 PM

You have got to be kidding this child is dead because of her stupidity how can anyone feel sorry for her, she sould be charged with murder. She should be suffering if she has other children i hope DFACS takes them away from her.

#27 Anonymous on 04/27/10 at 05:44 PM

MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THIS FAMILY. THANK GOD FOR NOT BEING LIKE MAN. WE DON'T NO IF THIS MOTHER MEANT TO DO THIS. THUS SAID THE LORD,BEAR EACH OTHER BURDENS AS IF IT WAS YOU GOING THRU AND IF THIS WAS INTENTUALLY DONE THE LORD WILL HANDLE THE MOTHER BUT WE AS PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE SO QUICK TO JUDGE. MAY THE LORD HAVE MERCY ON US ALL.

#28 Anonymous on 04/27/10 at 06:00 PM

I can see how this could happen, this poor baby, and I think it was an accident and the Mother will live with it for the rest of her life. I will pray for all.

#29 Anonymous on 04/27/10 at 06:43 PM

Heartbreaking....with a child of my own, how can you not remember your baby in the backseat.

#30 Mother of Three on 04/27/10 at 07:19 PM

It sickens me to hear what some of you have to say. I really wish they would require you to list your name. Better yet, if you have the balls to talk so much crap have the balls to sign your name. I am a single mother of three and, though I have never had this happen to me, I have made other mistakes as a mom. I refuse to judge her. Period. It is not our place and if more people would realize that the world would be a better place. I'm already praying for this family, the mother (and I don't use the term loosely) included, but I will also be praying for all the people who think they have the right to judge others......
Laurie

#31 linda on 04/28/10 at 12:42 AM

Show mercy to this poor mother and grieve the life of this innocent baby. I have to believe this was a horrible, careless, yet truly accidental tragedy until proven otherwise. I don't see how this could have happened yet I have learned through the years, never say it would never happen to someone in my family-By the Grace of God go I.

#32 A.Bennett on 04/28/10 at 03:57 AM

although I could not imagine EVER being that distracted, I pray that God watches over this child.

#33 Anonymous on 04/28/10 at 04:41 AM

What does it matter if he was adopted from Lamar or not? Are you worried because you laid down and got pregnant but was to sorry to take care of your baby? It is a sad situation no matter where the baby came from. I cannot imagine how this mother is feeling? She has to look at herself,her husband and her other child everyday and face what has happened in her life. And I know most of you are saying you would never forget your child but it happens more than you hear about, it just doesn't always end up to be tragic! Probably the ones of you being so mean, don't have a job at all so you are not stressed about anything but you are being taken care of by the government!

#34 Billy Howard on 04/28/10 at 06:52 AM

When I was in law enforcement I cannot tell you how many times people would leave a child in a car in the parking lot while they go shopping. I would arrest them every time..The people just could not understand why I was arresting them, always saying, "I was only in the store for a few minutes". I would arrest them for leaving dogs in hot cars too. Even with the windows cracked open in a 80 % outside temp, the inside of a car will heat up to over 104 in just 20 mins causing a terrible death to the pets. PEOPLE JUST DON'T THINK !!

#35 Anonymous on 04/28/10 at 07:13 AM

Mother of Three is your real name? Lucky for you you married a guy with the last name "Three". Makes more sense then if his last name was like "Smith". Then your name would be Mother of Smith, which would sound silly. But man, must have been rough going through school with the first name "Mother". Did the kids call you Mom for short? Bet that was awkward.

"Hey Mom!" no not you Mother, I was actually saying hey to my Mom.

#36 Amber E on 04/28/10 at 08:18 AM

Until it is a family member of yours that this tragedy happens to no one will understand. We as parents have days where we have so much to do and we do tend to get side track. We think we've paid this bill we think we've stopped here to do this or that. In the back of your head after all is said and done we continue to think that there is something we forgot to do maybe it's turn off the stove, close the garage door. To you that this has never happen to may think that these few forgetful things are minor but imagine how easy it is to forget those. Now that you have realized that you to have forgotten somethings It may not be your infant that was the victim of this tragedy you might be the reason your family doesn't have a house b/c you are so "careless that you went to sleep cooking or better yet smoking in bed.

So before any of you talk about this mother or father unless you know them personally look at yourself and your whole family and think about how many times you may have or could have been a victim to a tragedy. Yes we as parents shouldn't forget the obvious but we as parents do.

#37 concerned citizen on 04/28/10 at 07:49 PM

As a matter of fact I do have a job and I am a teacher as well. I don't think blaming pressure of the CRCT is the answer either. If it is too much pressure then maybe she should seek employment elsewhere. It should not affect her family life. Maybe the problem is other factors that she lives entirely too far from her job that is a major stress factor. As far as the person wanting to know why someone from Lamar County would be concerned about this boy, maybe it was a DFACS worker who became attached to this child. Yes, the mother will have to live with this the rest of her life and hopefully will learn from this mistake for the sake of the other child.

#38 Amy on 04/28/10 at 08:04 PM

Update from Monroe County Newspaper:
Mulling charges in boy's death

#39 cats on 04/29/10 at 04:50 AM

This is a terrible thing.
The sad deed is done now.
I pray the child didn't suffer very much.
I wish the mother peace in life. She will need it.

#40 Anonymous on 05/01/10 at 03:36 PM

MY HEART GOES OUT TO THIS MOTHER NO MATTER WHAT PUNISHMENT SHE RECEIVES THERE WILL NONE COMPARE TO WHAT SHE IS FEELING HERSELF SHE WILL NEVER GET OVER THIS AND PROBABLY WANTS TO DIE TOO. NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE WHAT WALK OF LIFE WE ARE ALL HUMAN AND CAPABLE OF MISTAKES INSTEAD OF BLAMING AND CRITICIZING WE SHOULD PRAY FOR THIS FAMILY

#41 bj on 05/06/10 at 11:56 AM

Obviously this poor mother didn't mean to leave the baby in the car. Unless you have ever been in the position of having more than you can juggle and accidently doing absent-minded things, you could never understand how it could happen. Believe me it can and does happen every day, fortunately not with the same tragic outcome. It never amazes me how hateful some people can be. This lady needs our prayers and comfort. She will have to live with what happened for the rest of her life. I pray that the Lord will give her peace.

#42 Gina on 05/06/10 at 01:14 PM

Hello...if you could read, she did sign her name at the bottom...LAURIE!!! Too many people are to quick to judge. I am also a mother of three and I know from experience that it is easy to be driving down the road on your way to work and be thinking about a million other things that is going on in your life. Rather you are thinking about family problems, financial problems or if your just thinking about how your going to cram football and cheer practice, homework, dinner, laundry and baths into what few hours you will have left at the end of the day. I can only imagine what this woman is feeling and just like someone else said, I am so glad GOD has the final judgement and not you people.

#43 Anonymous on 05/06/10 at 01:58 PM

And you think she's is not suffering? You honestly think she is sitting around going "whew, one less stop in the morning... whew, no more changing diapers... lucky me!" What kind of obtuse animal are you? Whatever the "justice" system does or does not do with her, I bet she is suffering plenty. May the blood-soaked vengence you so freely wish upon others come home to roost upon you.

#44 shontoria on 04/06/11 at 07:34 PM

i'm only 12 year and im in the 6th grade, mrs.chatmon was my teacher when i went to samuel e hubbard elementray school, my tears,pain,goes out to her and my prayers. i miss you joe,R.I.P LIL BRO.

#45 Jenna on 04/14/11 at 10:24 AM

I know this mother, she was a good friend of mine in high school and have keep in touch since. She DID NOT attend to leave that baby in the car. She has had alot going on in her life, but still this could have certainly been prevented. Its amazing how people are quick to LASH OUT about things/people/happenings that they don't fully know about. We are HUMAN, people make mistakes, some little and some more serious like this! How about we all live the best we can and encourage others, not tear them down in order to feel better about ourselves. Again, I agree it's a terrible thing and could have been prevented and I don't understand it either, but it is possible and happened and can happen to another mother or father. So do something useful and LOVE someone in your life, maybe she was stressed out about things and didn't have support which put her in an unstable frame of mind. Anyways, I had to say something after reading many negative and hurtful responses, but I see why people would be angry.

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