SKOWHEGAN, Maine — The Maine attorney general’s office has formally charged a 10-year-old Fairfield girl with manslaughter in the death of a 3-month-old baby this summer.
She appears to be the youngest person ever charged in Maine in connection with the death of another person.
The one-page petition was filed Tuesday in Skowhegan District Court, according to a press release issued Wednesday by the Maine State Police. A petition in juvenile court is equivalent to a complaint used to charge an adult with a crime in District or Superior Court.
Maine State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland said in the release that the girl was charged with one juvenile offense count of reckless or criminally negligent manslaughter.
She is scheduled to make her first court appearance at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 22 in Skowhegan District Court. By then, she will be 11 years old.
Although state police named the girl in its press release, the Bangor Daily News is not naming her or her parents, who were named in the petition, in order to protect the identity of the juvenile charged with manslaughter.
Brooklyn Foss-Greenaway of Clinton died on July 8 while under the care of a baby sitter in Fairfield. State police declared the death a homicide on Aug. 29.
The infant’s mother, Nicole Greenaway, said last month that a toxicology report stated that a medication was found in her infant’s system which was the same as the medication taken by the 10-year-old girl, who is the daughter of the baby sitter.
“ She [also] suffocated her by putting her hands over her face,” Greenaway said. “There are bruises all over her face.”
State police did not release any information Wednesday related to the baby’s death.
The girl is in the custody of the Maine Department of Human Services, according to the petition.
No one else has been charged in connection with the infant’s death.
If convicted, the girl could be sentenced to the Juvenile Services Division of the Department of Corrections until she turns 21. Adults charged with manslaughter, a Class A crime, face up to 30 years in prison.
I hope the legal system takes a serious look at the mother of the 10 year old. How is she not charged with anything at this point?
All people would look at this thing so much different if it was someone in their family that got killed
it is time we made the person that does these things responsible,not always look at some other person or way that makes the person who did it look ok.
Here is the thing though. Previous articles regarding this case made it very clear that the mother of the 10 year old child was aware that her daughter had problems that made it dangerous for a baby to be placed in her care for even a short period of time. But according to news reports, this mother did exactly what she had been advised not to do. How does she not share in the responsibility?
I will not say she should not be looked upon for some of the blame. But if you read peoples comments.Oh my she was only ten years old. Whats would make it any different if she was 19. 30,40 50 60 70 80 90 she was the one who did the wrong.
The difference is that a ten year old’s brain is not fully developed. The brain typically does not fully develop until a person is in their early to mid 20’s. That being said, the ten year old was not fully capable of making a sound decision. The mother, who knew her child had some issues was fully aware, yet allowed the baby in the same room as her daughter for several hours without checking on them, at least that was my understanding from the previous articles I have read. The mother is equally at fault if her daughter truly did hurt this poor baby.
You are so right!
A 10 year knows right from wrong and knows that killing is definitely wrong.
Thank you!
I did not say she did not know right from wrong. I said her brain is not fully formed. She was not able to make a clear and rational decision, if she did in fact do what they claim. Read a book or go to an educational website and read about children and the formation of their brains. Read how that affects their reasoning and decision making. Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Android phone
I was babysitting at 11 years old. I knew my job was to keep the little girl safe. I don’t buy your argument. This kid and her mother are messed up, no if, and or buts. I am not buying it.
You do not have to buy my “reasoning” it is, however, factually based. Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Android phone
I can’t even imagine. I would never trusted an 11 year old to babysit my child. I don’t know who was more irresponsible there – your parent or the other child’s parent.
In these days, siblings come home from school, lock the doors and call their mother at work. The oldest being 10 or even younger. They stay alone until a parent gets home from work.
She did this to another baby in June, but fortunately that baby lived. They knew this girl was and issue and she should never have been left alone with any other baby.
You are absolutely correct. She should not have been left alone. Yet another reason the mother is to blame as well. Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Android phone
Have you ever met a real 10 year old?! They know not to shove pills down an infant’s throat and they know not to suffocate an infant. I have a 10 year old and he treats babies like fine china, amazed at their tiny hands, blowing raspberries and so incredibly gentle because they are so fragile. The child in this story should have been charged with murder.
AMEN sir
I did not say she should not be charged. I merely stated the mother is at fault as well. You people are crazy. I am done arguing with you. Clearly you have no inclination to understand how a child’s mind functions. And to answer your question, yes I have. I have a 16 year old myself. She knows right from wrong and gets in trouble when she has an error in judgement. This does not change the fact that her brain is NOT fully developed! EDUCATE YOURSELF please! Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Android phone
this was not a normal 10 year old.Thats the whole point. She didnt have the ability to reason it out,or to control herself.Comparing her to a normal 10 yr ols is absurd.Over and over again we read she wasnt normal.
Thank you for being so HONEST
A normal 10 yr old maybe,but it has been stated over and over,she wasnt a normal 10 yr old,and suffered from many emotional issues.DID YOU READ THE PAST ARTICLES?
Sorry but Bgrmom is right on about a 10yr olds frontal lobe of her brain not being fully developed. This is the “decision making” part of the brain. I’m quite sure that she is not the one that this poor mom asked to babysit her child. The 10yr old’s mom was responsible for the infant and because of her negligence the baby is dead. Not only is a 10 yr old not able to care for an infant but a 10yr old with known issues by no means should have been left alone with this baby.
That falls square on the adult babysitters shoulders. I have read in other articles that the baby was brought up to the 10y.o’s room and left there in a car seat and was not checked in on or monitered to see to the needs of this baby.
i knew right from wrong at ten
Thank you for being so HONEST
If you read further down you will see that I said yes she knows right from wrong, however, due to a child’s brain not being completely formed they can not make clear rational decisions. Clearly this child couldn’t since she did the same thing months before…the mother is just as much at fault. Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Android phone
Does that mean every child should know right from wrong at 10?If so why do 18 30 and 50 yr olds commit crimes? She was not a normal 10 yr old.She was an emotionally damamged child.
I will only say this. There are alot of adults that their brains are not developed. Just read most of the comments here and you will find this out.
I agree completely. Apparently they care only about ignorance considering they cannot understand an educated and factual concept. Lets form a Lynch mob for this disturbed child! Such mentality is the problem with today’s society, in my opinion of course. Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Android phone
Your opinion is entirely correct. Dont let the mob get you down. They cant understand the basic nature of brain development and mental illness. But, they can point fingers and yell “A WITCH!” really well. Also rather good at dressing people up as witches, too. Soldier on.
Thanks! It is beyond my understanding how people can post comments, yet not understand factually based information. Very frustrating. Seems as though they just post to get “likes.”
Thank you for standing up for the 10 yr old.Her mother,and the room mate,are the ones who need to answer for this.That 10 yr old is unable to reason things out,and punishing her is terribly unfair.Hold the guilty ones responsibel
Because she is 10 years old. It does make a difference!!!
AMEN TO THAT A TEN YEAR LOD KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG
What makes it different is that this 10 year old, just a few months before this happened, has bascially done the same thing with another baby that was living in the home at the time. The mother of the 10 year old should not have left this baby alone with her daughter for one single minute! I believe the mother should be held accountable for something.
I agree. Mom is as guilty as the 10 year old, if not more so.
The “difference” between being 10, and being 19. 30,40 50 60 70 80 90 is that a ten-year-olds brain is not complete. Do we allow 10’s to purchase alcohol? Do we allow them to drive? do we allow them to sign contracts, take a 40-hour-a=week job, or jet off to Disney World on their own? No, we do not. because we know they are deficient in the area of judgement. We are supposed to protect them from unsafe actions UNTIL they are old enough to navigate the world on their own.
If you see no difference between a ten-year-old child, and a 40-year old adult, I can only hope you are not taking responsibility for any children.
Thing is, we are not sure of the mental capacity of this child, or what kind of drugs she was on. Nor do we know the mental capacity of the babysitter, or what kind of drugs she was on. A tragedy has happened and justice will be dealt with. Now will we be satisfied with what comes of the legal decision, no we won’t. There are to many variables about this horrific incident. A mom and her child have been separated, she alone will have to deal with this, forever being traumatized. I to feel the babysitter should answer for the actions of her daughter, I, as everyone, do not have a say in the legal actions that will be taken against the girl, or her mother, if indeed there are any. Another sad entry into Maine history.
Maybe if she was 19 but 10 two different mind sets here!!
your asking an emotionally and or mentally challenged child to be responsible ???
if thats true,why is ritalin such an abused drug,and so valuable on the streets.What world do you live iN?Read the papers,and the facts.In this day and age,any child who isnt a sleep walker is calledADHD and Hyperactive.Meds are given so that parents dont have to deal with normal active kids.It takes alot of effort to teach a child,and you go through alot of ups and downs,but you dont medicate simply to keep from doing your job.
thats what people are doing.Looking at the guilty ones. The mother and room mate are the guilty ones.If I give a known axe murderer an axe,and he kills someone,I AM JUST AS GUILTY AND RESPONSIBLE. To expect a 1o yr old to control her own behaviors when she has known issues,makes them just as guilty. WHO leaves a baby alone with someone who has harmed other children,and who has been warned that her child is a danger. THE MOM DID,AND THE ROOM MATE IGNORED IT.
I am not sure what you mean by that. Do you mean that they would not think the mother of the 10 year old was not responsible for her daughter’s actions at all if someone in their family was killed? If anything, I think they would be more outraged toward the mother, not less. And I know I cannot speak for all people so I wonder how you can.
She may very well face charges in the future. Another article said that DHHS confirmed in a letter to the baby’s mother, that they feel the 10-year old’s mother is at fault as well.
Maybe it’s because she did not kill anyone Mimi2kool…
By her poor judgement, especially in light of the previous overdose of another infant, she was criminally negligent. She may as well have killed the baby herself with her extreme lapses in common sense.
Such a sad story. I agree Mimi2kool, why hasnt the mother of the 10 year old not charged with anything? Bless Brooklyn’s family and may they find peace.
What about the 10 year old’s mother and her responsibility to keep the baby safe!? DHHS has noted her responsibility in the death and taken both her kids. She was totally negligent to this poor little baby while in her care. It was not only the 10 year old’s actions as the mother allowed it to happen.
So whats the difference if the girl had been 20 and done the same thing. you cant blame others for what any person does. it is time we make people responsible for what they do themselves not others
The mother of the 10 year old was told by the mother of the baby not to leave the 10 year old alone with her baby. So what does the mother of the 10 year do, she puts the baby’s crib in the 10 year old’s room. All the while, the baby is upstairs with the 10 year old and the 10 year old’s mother is downstairs. Even after they retire for the night. In the middle of the night the baby is dead. The 10 year old nearly killed another baby by giving the baby her meds not long before Brooklyn was killed. The 10 year old’ s mother was negligent in caring for the baby knowing her own child’s behavior and actions prior to Brooklyn’s death. The mother was the babysitter not the 10 year old, instead the mother allowed the 10 year old to be the babysitter and look what happened.
I agree with everything you said, except for the fact that the mother knew about her child’s previous actions with her meds and another baby. An interview with that baby’s mother says that up until the death of this baby, everyone (including DHHS) thought the other infant had accidentally ingested the medication. It wasn’t until this incident, that they realized it had been done intentionally.
If that is true why would the baby’s mother tell the 10 years mother not to leave her alone with the baby?
I think we need more info before we throw this women under a bus.
Again, another article quoted the mother of the deceased baby saying something to the effect of (I’m going from memory, not actual quote)- “She (the 10-year old) loved to help with the baby. She changed diapers, fed her a bottle, etc. I didn’t mind her helping, I just didn’t want her in charge, she’s too young for that.” And the mother of the baby is right, a 10 year old IS too young to be put in charge, and that’s just what her mother did.
so by your argument …..How about the mother of the dead child? She knowingly put her baby in the house with a 10 year girl who had harmed another baby. Does she not deserve some blame also?
The mother of the infant that was killed knew nothing of the previous incident involving the ten year old.
So if someone you know was say a known pyro and you left them alone in a room with a book of matches, they start a fire, would you not be responsible in some way??
Mary Bell.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Bell
The connection?
Yes, that Mary Bell. It appears we have another one, or, someone rather similar. In Maine. Utterly fascinating, child killers. Far more interesting then adult killers. I wonder how hollow her eyes are and if she really meant to do it. Guess I’ll have to make it a point to make it to the trial. Things like this do not happen. Chance of a lifetime, this. Be wise not to miss it.
Her pic looks just as you described her. Interesting.
Bell’s mother Betty (née McCrickett) was a prostitute who was often absent from the family home, travelling to Glasgow to work. Mary
was her first child, born when Betty was 17 years old. It is not known
who Mary’s biological father was; for most of her life she believed it
to be Billy Bell, a habitual criminal later arrested for armed robbery
who had married Betty some time after Mary was born. Independent
accounts from family members strongly suggest that Betty had more than
once attempted to kill Mary and make her death look accidental during
the first few years of her life. Mary herself says she was subjected to repeated sexual abuse, her mother forcing her from the age of four to engage in sex acts with men.
Not “fascinating” to me. If you treat ANY animal poorly enough they will become deranged and vicious.
they should charge the mother with negligence . she knew better to leave baby with daughter with health issues
I agree with you, Charge the mother with negligence and the 10 year old with murder
So the mother of Brooklyn should be charged as well as having lost her daughter? What are you Taliban?
The mother they are referring to is the mother of the 10-year old, not Brooklyn’s mother.
That is NOT clear. How do you know what they meant?
the mother of the baby was aware enough of the 10 year olds history to request to the mother of the 10 year old “not to leave her baby alone with the 10 year old” she showed this concern and still left the baby with them???
10 year old charged? Are you serious……………………insane and inhumane!
What are they supposed to do, dock her allowance?
you would think different if it was a loved one of yours that got killed
We’re talking about the killer, not the killed.
how do you say you dislike a comment?
You write a comment. I think you conveyed your thought. Of course I did like irish’s comment.
The D.A. needs his/her head examined. 10 years old. Get a clue.
What are they supposed to do, dock her allowance?
At 10 I knew not to suffocate babies. In a way it’s unfortunate, but ultimately you have to be held accountable for your actions, even at 10 years old.
Thank you for being so honest.
So, because YOU knew this, it follows that every 10-year-old knows it too?
At 10 I could rebuild a four barrel carburetor, I couldn’t read a word, and had negligible social skills. I assume many of my peers were different.
You’d have to live under a rock for the first 10 years of your life to not know that killing is wrong.
No You would have to live with people who never told you right from wrong.
It seems like this case might hinge on intent. If the 10 year old knew that her actions could harm the infant and did so anyway then there is a case for criminal charges.
It is possible that this is the best way to get this little girl the help she needs. Personally, I don’t see it, but I am not all that familiar with the law or the best way to get long term help for the girl. If this kid had access to her own meds, then she likely was not being supervised as carefully as she needed to be. NO ten year old should be in charge of her own meds. She should be able to remind her mother that she needs something at a given time, but she should not take it on her own.
I had an infant sibling at that age, and I knew not suffocate my sister, even though she was a very fussy infant. However, I still had the instincts of a ten year old, and the crying often drove me nuts. We were supervised and my mom and dad took care of the baby when she fussed. We were allowed to help, but only with the supervision of one of my parents. We were neither expected to or allowed to get up with the baby at night. Because she was such a fussy kid, she slept in my parents room, and she was happier in there, where she could hear their voices and be reassured.
Like many other posters here, I feel the 10 year old’s mother bears some responsibilty, but maybe her actions (or lack thereof) would be tough to sell to a jury. Or maybe, under whatever statutes exist, her behavior does not meet a criminal standard.
I really feel sorry for this family and their loss. I do believe the 10 year and her mother are responsible for the death. On the other hand I don’t believe I would have this person baby sitting my child if the 10 year old was such a danger to my daughter.
What if the babysitter is the one who gave the babies the medicine?
“babies”? What are you saying?
wasn’t the first time from what other stories said. found drug in another baby before. sad, Yes
Why did a 10 year old w/ADHD and other behavioral issues have access to medications, even medications she was prescribed? If another infant in that home was ‘overdosed’, it is very suspect. Who is administering these medications to quiet the infants, mother or child?
Why did the 10 year old even have her medication on her? Shouldn’t her mother have been holding onto it?
From the sounds of it, the 10 year old was trying to get the baby to stop crying. She probably gave the baby her medication because for the 10 year old it has a calming effect. Being only 10 she probably figured they would have that same effect on the infant. The baby also had bruises on her face – more than likely from the 10 year old trying to muffle the crying.
I get that killing is wrong no matter who you are, but a 10 year old’s thought process is entirely different from an adult’s. I am sure that this girl did not intend to kill the baby, but did what she felt she could to get it to stop crying.
Where was the mother who was SUPPOSED to be babysitting? Shouldn’t she have heard the cries of the baby, and gone to check it out? She also clearly ignored the baby’s mother’s requests to not leave the 10 year old unsupervised.
It’s because of the babysitter’s negligence, and inability to follow directions, that led to this baby’s death. Why isn’t she sharing some, if not most, of the blame?
Why did this 10 year old have access to her meds anyway? Isn’t there a message on the bottle that says, “Keep this and other drugs out of the reach of children.”???????
The mother should be charged, as a co-defendant, with contributory negligence. See ME vs Beverly Montgomery – 1997 thru 1998
I was wondering the same thing, especially since this isn’t the first time she’s given her meds to a baby. I really can’t believe that the mother isn’t being charged for something.
It truly horrifies me to read this 10 year old girl held her hands over baby Brooklyn’s face. It takes minutes not seconds to die from asphyxiation. The baby would have been writhing, thrashing, moving her limbs trying to breathe. She would have been panicked, although not quite aware that she was being murdered. Try holding your breath longer than it’s comfortable. Eventually you’ll give in and breathe. Imagine how horrible it would be if someone was forcefully preventing you from taking your next breath. You would feel pain in your chest and pain in your face where the pressure is being applied. Probably you’d get a headache as your heart tries desperately to raise your blood pressure to send oxygenated blood to your brain. But you won’t be taking another breath. You would die knowing you already took your last breath. That is what happened to little Brooklyn. She just didn’t know she couldn’t breathe anymore and the reason was because she was being murdered. Yes, they call it “manslaughter” here. But it was murder alright!
Nice job of enraging the masses. You got your tar and feathers already?
BTW “murder” is a legal term, it isn’t “murder” until the court says it is, in this case never.
We all know the baby died a horrible death,no one would argue that.We all want to know who the responsibile person should be.
Since this was not called a homicide until the tox results came back several weeks later, I am hoping that the infant died of the medication and simply lost consciousness prior to her death. The older child definitely had put her hands on the infant’s face, hopefully just in an effort to stop the crying rather than causing the infant’s death this way.
I am thinking with ODD, she is probably not showing any remorse for causing the infant’s death and that is probably the main factor in her being charged.
I think it goes to what the ten year old was trying to accomplish. Was she really trying to make this infant die, or was she just trying to make it stop crying? Sadly, in this case, the end result was the same, but knowing what the child was thinking is what is important. The same goes for giving the baby the medication. Did she give the baby the medication because it helped her (the 10-year old) so much or did she have other ideas?
She did do this to another infant but that was not discovered until after Brooklyn had died and the tox results were in. Until that point, the other child was believed to have found a pill and ingested it. No one knew about that incident until after it was too late for the second infant.
The earlier articles indicated the girl had 3 major diagnoses: attachment disorder, oppositional defiance disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These are some of the criteria for diagnosing attachment disorder. Pay particular attention the the last criteria. If the child’s mother knew of this diagnosis, she must have known her daughter had the potential to injure the baby. The mother heard the baby crying and did not check on her daughter or the baby. The roommate whose daughter was given ADHD meds was there too, and heard the baby crying.
SYMPTOMS OF ATTACHMENT DISORDER:
Intense control battles, very bossy and argumentative; defiance and
anger•Resists affection on parental
terms•Lack of eye contact, especially with parents – will look into your
eyes when lying•Manipulative – superficially charming and
engaging•Indiscriminately affectionate with strangers•Poor peer
relationships•Steals•Lies about the obvious•Lack of conscience –
shows no remorse•Destructive to property, self and/or others•Lack of
impulse control•Hypervigilant/Hyperactive•Learning
lags/delays•Speech and language problems•Incessant chatter and/or
questions•Inappropriately demanding and/or clingy•Food issues – hordes,
gorges, refuses to eat, eats strange things, hides food•Fascinated with
fire, blood, gore, weapons, evil•Very concerned about tiny hurts but brushes
off big hurts•Parents appear hostile and angry•The child was neglected
and/or physically abused in the first three years of life
Now, look up diagnostic criteria for Oppositional Defiance Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder and add them all up.
Assuming the child’s mother had been advised of the diagnoses, do you think the child should have been left unsupervised with a three month old baby?
Sounds like ODD is the same as being a chronic a hole.
In my experience everyone in New England has Oppositional Defiant Disorder; which means that it isn’t a disorder here.
Sounds to me that we have too many diagnoses and not enough treatment.
Actually, it’s more like the parent or caregiver is a chronic a-hole. These symptoms develop when a child is severely neglected in the first three years of life. We do not give the label “sociopath” to people under the age of 20, but if we did, this child would have it – no remorse or regret – no conscience.
you have made more sense then anyone on here.You give a clinical description that makes it clear this kid was not able to reason,and control herself.Yet there are people who still say shes the only guilty one.Her mom is the one who is responsible for her childs condition,as well as her actions in life.Put the blame where it belongs.Ont top of the abuse and neglect she has suffered,she is now in a situation she doesnt understand.Her life is ruined no matter what happens.
By the way… I remember reading earlier that Brooklyn’s mother allowed her to stay with the babysitter because the 10 year old had a tantrum and refused to go to summer camp the next day unless the Baby stayed. There are several people who can be held culpable for Brooklyn’s death
That’s an ignorant comment. These are mental illnesses and just because we can’t see mental illness doesn’t mean they are not legitimate illnesses.
Of course mental illness are real. I also believe that not only the child, but the mother will get pass on this one due to having a mental illness. It’s just a different version of pulling the Race card. bull cookies. maybe not the child, but the mother should definately be charged over this one.
Sounds to me as if she is a young psychopath….a disorder for which there is no cure.
why would the mother of the infant leave her child in that environment???????????????????
i think that the mother should be charged as well she had to of know.
I have to say, the youngest my son was allowed to be babysat by was a sixteen year old. I even had a severe problem with that! I had a problem when I learned the first daycare my son was in, the daycare provider was one year older than me. I thought she couldn’t handle my son, she was too young. He is now 18, obviously lived through it. I would not have left my child in the home where it was possible that a 10 yr old could be ‘in charge’.
The 10-year-old was NOT in charge, and for those who believe otherwise; most ten-year-old girls are gentle and caring with babies.
The child in question here has not yet been convicted of anything. Already there are people on this board calling for harsher punishment, including the death penalty. Guess what, even Iran and North Korea do not execute ten-year-okds.
If you place a baby in a room with a 10 yr old,and dont check,or respond to the crying of the baby,you have in effect left that 10 yr old in charge. I dont think anyone wants the 10 yr old charged.I would like to see her get the help she needs,and be away from the mother who caused her to be this way.The mother is the responsible party here.
Has DHHS been alerted? the children(s) of htem other should be removed from the home; excessive force to be used….I’m talking about the 10 year olds family
andy durfresne will be there to make a personal apperance
I still want to know why this 10 year old had access to these kinds of pills. The mother should be administering these pills to ensure she gets the proper dose! This kids mother should be responsible for what her ten year old does. Its not like the kid is 16 and issue free. I know a lot of 10 year olds and that is not normal behavior. The mother knew this.
Wish Maine had the death penalty, but since we don’t, lock her up till she’s 18 and then put her at Riverview.
Yea, lets execute kids, because you know, an adult killing a kid isnt as bad as a kid killing a kid, right? killing isnt killing so long as its for the “right” reasons, yeah?
Nut job.
Perfectly stated.
You can’t put her anywhere when she becomes an adult.
Would you give your child cocaine? Does that sound ridiculous? Giving your child an ADHD drug is the same thing. Actually Ritalin has been proven to be more potent to a child’s brain than cocaine. ADHD drugs are extremely dangerous & addictive narcotics!
OVER 6 MILLION CHILDREN IN OUR COUNTRY ARE CURRENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH ADD/ADHD & ARE BEING DRUGGED BY SUBSTANCE II NARCOTICS. THESE ARE HIGHLY ADDICTIVE, MIND ALTERING, DANGEROUS DRUGS. THEY SHARE THE SAME CATEGORY OF DRUG AS COCAINE. TOO MANY CHILDREN’S LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST & TOO MANY CHILDREN ARE CONTINUING TO SUFFER SEVERE PHYSICAL SIDE EFFECTS INCLUDING DRUG INDUCED PSYCHOSIS. The mother of this 10 year old is responsible for this baby’s death, and she has neglected and abused her own child.
Medications for ADHD are administered under a doctor’s care and are effective to help treat the symptoms of ADHD. The medications do not work on anyone who does not have ADHD. Would you deny your child medication for diabetes or heart disease? There is still a stigma in this country regarding mental illness and disabilities.
There is not one single scientific piece of evidence to prove the existence of ADHD!
ADHD is not a neurologicial disorder, it does not exist!
If you question the above, ask yourself this question. Are there really 6 million children in the United States born with a mental illness that causes behavioral problems?
Exposing the ADHD fraud is simple. Ask the child’s doctor to show you a test to prove the child is mentally ill. You will never get one as not one single test exists! Is there not a test for diabetes? Is there not a test for cancer? There are tests for REAL illnesses. Wouldn’t you want proof of an illness before you decide to give dangerous, addictive, mind-altering, brain changing, heart damaging drugs to your child?
OUR CHILDREN ARE DEFENSELESS AGAINST THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY & CORRUPT PRACTICES WITHIN THE PSYCHIATRY PROFESSION
I totally agree with your statement!! My son is 10 and we have been fighting with the school for the last three years because they claim he is ADHD. His pediatrician completely disagrees with this. We fought all the way up until this past spring with them. Come this school year, he is focused and is up to grade level. He never once showed any other signs of ADHD besides have a hard time focusing. He is a little boy and they take a bit longer to catch up. He is up to grade level thi syear and now I am so happy that I never let the school get to me. I think it is a way to make children like little zombies in class so the teachers do not have to work so hard. I do realize that there are kids that actually are ADHD and need to be on the medication but 6 million children – that is outragious!
I have so much respect for you for standing up and telling them it was normal childhood issues.We dont let kids be kids anymore.We lable them,and medicate them.Thank-you for being a great parent,and not allowing them to mess with your child.
The school should be able to point out that a child is not behaving or keeping up with his/her peers. Most schools have a psychologist that do the necessary testing to determine if a child is showing symptoms of a behavioral variant.
However, every parent should evaluate his or her own child’s situation and have their pediatrician involved in the decision to medicate or not. Many kids who cannot or simply do not conform their behavior are also bullied. The decision to medicate or even not to medicate should be made in conjunction with a physician’s help. If your pediatrician is willing to give your child meds without significant discussion, then find a new pediatrician. But if after a pediatrician has spent some time with you and feels that medication might be the BEST option, at least consider it.
I am in favor of some kids having meds because of my own experience. But I am not in favor of doing so if the child is only having a problem in one class, or with one teacher, but if a child is performing poorly overall and is having problems at school, then I am in favor, with a physician’s approval, of giving a kid a chance to succeed.
I agreed with you until last December. My son, who was 17, stopped going to school. I could not force the issue. Physically, he is much larger than me, although he is gentle. But he simply refused to get out of bed or go to school. He was also severely depressed. He had been failing in school anyway.
Fearing that he might hurt himself, I finally got him to agree to see a doctor. I was thinking he might need an anti depressant. That prescription was written after the doctor spoke to us. As he handed me the script, he asked if my son had ever been diagnosed as ADHD to which we both responded yes. The doctor took the script right out of my hand and stated that could be very dangerous.
He handed my son a questionnaire and when he was done, the doctor looked at it and said he needed meds for ADHD. I was opposed because of a family disposition to a genetic heart problem, although through four generations only women had been affected, myself included. After some discussion, we decided to go ahead and try something for my son.
In less than one week, I had a whole new kid. He was no longer depressed, was back in school and in less than two weeks he had all the make up work given to him, completed, and had pulled up failing grades to nothing less than a C.
There are brain disorders, ADHD is one. I am not sure I would classify it as a mental illness so much as maybe a neurological issue. My son still has some catching up to do after losing so many credits in the last two years, but as a senior, he is carrying eleven credits and is on track to graduate with his class. He could not do this without the meds he is taking. ADHD may not be the most over diagnosed issue, but maybe the most poorly understood.
Last spring, my daughter was hospitalized for weeks, and I told one her nurses my son’s story. She had shared that she had a son on the fast track to jail. I suggested she talk with his pediatrician, or even ours. She did and her son was prescribed the same med. Her son also returned to school, got a haircut, cleaned himself up and was doing well, all before my daughter was discharged from the hospital.
Parents need to use caution before putting their kids on these meds, but to deny a child help that is available isn’t going to help in the long run. Parents also need to be responsible for making sure the medication is secure.
To Joy, I am happy for your son that he is doing well and I will pray that he continues to do so. I do hope that other parents can learn from my mistake. If one other child can avoid the misery I put my son through, then something good has come from his suffering.
if thats true,why is ritalin such an abused drug,and so valuable on the streets.What world do you live in?Read the papers,and the facts.In this day and age,any child who isnt a sleep walker is calledADHD and Hyperactive.Meds are given so that parents dont have to deal with normal child hood issues.To say these are not dangerous mind altering drugs is very ignorant.Read up on these drugs,they are not innocent little happy pills.
A 21st century version of “Mothers little helper”. In this case though, the pill is given to the child.
the 10 year old’s mother is just as responsible as the 10 year old herself…….sad no matter how you look at it….god bless that little baby and her mother as well….
This is so sad the loss of an infant and the miserable life that this 10 yr old child will now endure for the remainder of hers-2 children lost forever.
Thank you so much for that. It was becoming difficult to read through these posts where everybody wants to get right to placing blame on someone, yet I couldn’t even seem to focus on that as the thought of 2 lives cut way too short keeps clogging my thinking. Very sad indeed.
The child involved is just that a child, her mother who is suppose to be an adult should be held fully accountable for her daughters actions. This child has ADHD with oppositional defiance disorder the MOTHER knew she had issues she was told not to let her daughter babysit and did it anyways. Because she is the adult involved she should be the one charge not the child and the child should be in a psychiatric facility until she is deemed no longer a threat to society.
I am wondering if they need to charge and/or convict the little girl to be able to have her placed in a hospital for a long term. Maybe this is how they can get her the help she really needs and have ongoing supervision until she is no longer a threat to herself or others.
ADHD was invented by schools who enjoy drugging up kids how are hyper. Imagine a child being hyper.. They kid them on drugs until they get through school then cut them off cold turkey.. We have a nice bunch running this country ya think.. I blame it on the drugs the school gave this girl. and the parent who played the game to disable her child for the paycheck.
Schools do not get drugs for kids, parents do from the kid’s doctor. It is totally the parents choice to give their kid drugs or not.
Pure evil! The mother should be locked up also!
This girls mother should be charged . she was not watching the kids if this young girl had the time to do this and not be seen.
Both mothers should share responsibility. The mother of the 10 yr old for letting her daughter alone with the baby, and the babies mother for leaving her child there, knowing this had happened before with another child.
Irresponsibility is not criminal but maybe should be sometimes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Objectivist_Epistemology
I agree with Bgrmom.. read above book.. very explanatory on how we develop over age and how thoughts and feelings are formed…
Ignore the Ayn Rand part.. I know that would discredit it in many eyes..
This is not manslaughter, which infers the action causing death was UNintentional. She not only stuffed drugs down this baby but also suffacated her. Two PURPOSEFUL actions meant to cause death- at 10, she is old enough to know that. She should be charged with murder- this was no accident.
of course it was no accident, but it wasn’t malicious, imo. The mother of this girl is OLD ENOUGH to know she should be responsible – the MOTHER is the one who was babysitting these children. A TEN year old NEEDS a babysitter!
OK, what will charging a 10 year old with murder do?
Come on man, the way kids are desensitized to violence these days she might not have known what she was doing was wrong. Welcome to America where most people live in fantasy land anyway…
this makes me so angry. When I was 10, there was so much going on in my life (thx to alcoholic parents, etc), I didn’t understand death or anything. This is a TEN year old. A TEN year old NEEDS her own babysitter. The authorities are now traumatizing this little girl and will continue to do so. You may, at that age, have an “idea” of right and wrong, but SHE is not responsible!!!! Why are they not charging the true criminal – the MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why is it everyone but the so called Mother and Dept of Safety the only ones who can’t see the real truth here? I hope the Judge turns things around this 10 year old obviously needs psychological help but not criminal justice. The Mom is the criminal! Prevent future crimes and love and nurture your children, Love is an action verb!!
the mother of the 10 year old should be charged
Totally agree. At the very least a child endangerment charge.
How in hell do you charge a 10 year old kid with such a thing? Is the state going to lock her up for the next 8 years? I don’t have a solution here but prosecuting a 10 year old for manslaughter seems to be a serious waste of resources and time.
I wouldn’t imagine they would “lock her up”, rather, given the circumstances, get her the psychological help she needs. Perhaps this is the reason for the manslaughter charge, to place her where she can get the help she needs with out a parent dictating the situation.
Very very tragic. Two young lives lost.
I don’t think a 10yr old is gonna understand the charges against her .What about the parents shouldn’t they be responsible for there minor child?
The mother,and room mate are as guilty, if not more guilty, then the 10 year old. It is heartbreaking to think that a helpless baby was left in that home,and the adults not oonly put her in harms way,but make deplorable excuses as to why they didnt step up.It seems from what I read,the room mate has no conscience.
looks like we have a lot of perfect parents hanging out here.
If this baby was intentionally suffocated to death, isn’t that murder?