13-year-old charged as adult in death of 2-year-old sister

What in the world was going thru the 13 yr old's head to do something like this? This is absolutely heartbreaking. Their parents have got to be stricken with grief. :'(
 
Why was a 13yo babysitting four younger siblings? 13 isn't a baby, but neither is it adultish. I guarantee you - I GUARANTEE - they have seen signs of this prior to now. These things DO NOT happen in a vacuum. But people see what they want to see, and they believe the best of people. I will also note that the 2yo is a half-sibling, so there's some blended family stuff going on for starters. Then the neighbors called and said a boy was over there and the parents told the neighbors to tell the boy to go home. Apparently that set the 13yo off. Reading between the lines, but it seems pretty obvious.

Pitiful and tragic and utterly mind-boggling all the way around.
 
mei lan said:
Why was a 13yo babysitting four younger siblings? 13 isn't a baby, but neither is it adultish. I guarantee you - I GUARANTEE - they have seen signs of this prior to now. These things DO NOT happen in a vacuum. But people see what they want to see, and they believe the best of people. I will also note that the 2yo is a half-sibling, so there's some blended family stuff going on for starters. Then the neighbors called and said a boy was over there and the parents told the neighbors to tell the boy to go home. Apparently that set the 13yo off. Reading between the lines, but it seems pretty obvious.

Pitiful and tragic and utterly mind-boggling all the way around.
Click to expand...

I know many kids that babysit at the 12-14 year old range. Almost all the middle schoolers I know (they are that age) watch their younger siblings. I did at that age too. I have no issue with the parents making the decision to let her babysit. (on the surface, age is not an issue with me, I have no idea if their were other issues that would have led to the parents making a better decision of not leaving her with the younger ones.)
 
Age is important to me, but no where near as important as the mental & emotional maturity of the one doing the baby sitting.

I don't know why I say that, we've never hired a sitter. Overall maturity would be the number one consideration I'd have about someone if I did.
 
Between this and the Douglas County kid that killed his grandmother with a sword earlier this year, I just don't know what to think. It's so tragic!
 
mei lan said:
Why was a 13yo babysitting four younger siblings? 13 isn't a baby, but neither is it adultish. I guarantee you - I GUARANTEE - they have seen signs of this prior to now. These things DO NOT happen in a vacuum. But people see what they want to see, and they believe the best of people. I will also note that the 2yo is a half-sibling, so there's some blended family stuff going on for starters. Then the neighbors called and said a boy was over there and the parents told the neighbors to tell the boy to go home. Apparently that set the 13yo off. Reading between the lines, but it seems pretty obvious.

I so agree. I bet this type of violence had been done to the 13 year old in a lesser degree for a while. It doesn't happen in a vacuum. I was babysitting full time at 12 so I don't see anything wrong with that if you are a mature 13 year old but there probably was a hx of UNREPORTED violence to this 13 year old in the past.

1 of 4 girls / women have been victims of violence. That is sad statistics but true.
I have a special calling to work with Domestic Violence victims as I have been in 2 relationships like this in the distant past, along with growing up with a dad who did the same. Our society in general pays for all this and it's sad.
It's just horrible.
I worked in a major hospital in the late 80's and we had a girl brought to us, I worked PEDS, that was tied down with chicken wire in a closet and she was 18 years old. NOBODY knew she was even there. Even the DFACS worker who was assigned to a sibling and made home visits.
The system is broke to help this situation. We all hope that this kind of thing wouldn't happen but there are nutholes our there that keep it going.
I chose to live my life without violence and this ticked off my parents but I have no tolerance for any of it.
I wonder how she will be tried.
The legal system sucks as well usually in these cases. Alot of education needed for the legal system.

:pray

Pitiful and tragic and utterly mind-boggling all the way around.
Click to expand...
 
I do know some 13yo kids who would be mature enough to babysit, but not many. And esp. not four younger siblings with the youngest being 2. I feel sick every time I think about this situation. :(
 
mei lan said:
I do know some 13yo kids who would be mature enough to babysit, but not many. And esp. not four younger siblings with the youngest being 2. I feel sick every time I think about this situation. :(
Click to expand...

I agree. Not that many, and not that young. Very sad situation.
 
LisaC said:
Between this and the Douglas County kid that killed his grandmother with a sword earlier this year, I just don't know what to think. It's so tragic!
Click to expand...

Now add to that the 16yo in Pickens Co. that killed his step dad with a sword a few days ago.
 
silverchief said:
LisaC said:
Between this and the Douglas County kid that killed his grandmother with a sword earlier this year, I just don't know what to think. It's so tragic!
Click to expand...

Now add to that the 16yo in Pickens Co. that killed his step dad with a sword a few days ago.
Click to expand...

Yep. It's a damn shame the shape some families get into, much of it their own making.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top