Mom accused of locking 7-year-old in car trunk

[lazarus]

From the utterly disgusting file:

A woman accused of locking her 7-year-old son in the trunk of her car while she celebrated her birthday inside an Ocean Beach bar pleaded innocent today to child abuse and false imprisonment charges.

Sara Marie Powell, 27, was arrested after San Diego police got an anonymous tip about midnight Sunday that the child was locked in the trunk of her gray 1985 Volvo. The car was parked outside Winston's Beach Club, authorities said.

Officers knocked on the trunk but got no response, prosecutor Jeffrey Dort said. A dog was also in the car's passenger compartment, the prosecutor said.

Police went into the bar and an announcement was made for Powell to go to her car outside. She responded and the boy was freed, authorities said.

A sleeping bag and pillow were in the trunk. Dort said the child, who had been there about four hours, sat up and said he hadn't made any noise.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20040825-1627-momarrested.html

[LiberalVoice]

1. sick

[Ripley]

2. Ack...she drives the "Safe" Volvo car around yet...

Locks the child and dog in the car for hours. :crazy:

If she had done that around here...they wold both be dead from heat stroke. Lucky for them San Diego doesn't get that hot.

[lazarus]

3. It can

But this was at night, down at Ocean Beach, so it was quite cool.

This kid is going to be messed up, I imagine. I just can't comprehend needing to "party" so badly one would put one's child in the trunk of the car.

[TX-RAT]

4. This kid is going to be messed up

The moms already messed up. She needs a full psychological evaluation.
This is sick.

[chromotone]

7. That has me baffled as well...

I just can't comprehend needing to "party" so badly one would put one's child in the trunk of the car.

I work in a public library. As homelessness increases, so does the number of people using the public library. Many of the area's homeless use the library as a kind of refuge; to read newspapers and magazines or to use the computers for internet access for email and to access social services. Many use the computers for find employment opportunities.

In recent years, the number of families hanging out at the library has increased.

We used to keep toys for children to play with while their parents used the library's resources for "self-improvement," i.e., looking for jobs or working on (continuing education) school assignments. I often found picture books for the kids to keep them occupied while their parents worked.

Now, however, it isn't uncommon to see a parent on the computer listening to music or watching music videos, while the children sit nearby with nothing to do. Often, the children wander off through the library, while the parent sits and "grooves to the sounds."

We all need recreation, but it's pathetic to see the need for entertainment surpass the needs of the children.

[okieinpain]

24. that's because most of the parents haven't grown up.

[shanti]

22. jeez

the woman never heard of a BABYSITTER???

[KurtNYC]

5. How much you wanna bet she's a "home schooler"?

That poor kid.

Plus she was probably going to drive him home drunk.

[Carson]

8. Puh-leeze

No inane inferences, please.

[KurtNYC]

11. So youre taking my bet???

Yeah!

They are also looking for an orange-and-white, 1977 Dodge motor home that the couple apparently had been occupying, with California license plate 2ALH655, Villalvazo said.

Very unlikely he was in school.

[jayfish]

6. The Dog Gets The Passenger...

compartment and the kid gets the trunk? Amazing! I'm not a big fan of removing children from the custody of their parents but this sure does make a great case for it.


Jay

[progressivebydesign]

15. I worked in a home for abused and neglected kids...

.. I'm not opposed to the concept of removing kids from their homes, after what I've seen. You have no idea of what the combination of wanting to be left alone to pursue their own interests (usually a romantic interest, alcohol, drugs, or television), addictions, anger issues, and ignorance, can do to a child at the hands of their "parent". A 7 year old that attempted suicide twice because of their home environment comes to mind. Just because someone gives birth, does not make them a good parent. Dogs give birth, too.. doesn't give them the capacity to raise a child.

It makes me ill to think that the dog got better treatment. But she KNEW that someone would not question a dog in the car for long periods of time. She's lucky the child did not die of suffocation.

[msmcghee]

18. Yeah, dogs don't know how to get out. n/t

[LWolf]

9. "The boy is now in protective custody."

For how long? Will he eventually end up with his mother?

It takes more than biology to make a parent.

[yellowcanine]

10. But I bet she isn't married to her lesbian lover. So Rick Santorum should

be happy with her, because she isn't a threat to the sanctity of marriage and the family as we know it.

[DoktorGreg]

12. Obviously baiting me, so I guess I'll bite...

Its very telling that all the "marriage protection" furor starts and stops with homosexual marriages.

[truthspeaker]

14. I think he was agreeing with you, not baiting.

[yellowcanine]

16. how was I baiting you - you have no other messages on this thread

[DoktorGreg]

17. I ment it in a friendly sort of way...

From the other posters point, maybe we agree, so nevermind:)

[AmerDem]

13. That is just awful!!!!

:puke: Unless something happens soon this country of ours is all but finished. What the fuck has become of it?

[fujiyama]

19. Disgusting

This woman should spend many long years in prison. The child is lucky to be alive.

[Killarney]

20. That's sick!

I won't even say what I truly think should happen to her because I'll be flamed.

[proud patriot]

21. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ! ! !

as a mother of an extrememly Challenging
Brilliant Child .

I cannot understand what this woman was thinking .

:grr: :mad: :grr:

[redqueen]

23. I can't read the article... I can't even read this thread

Here in Dallas a woman was arrested for starving her child to death.

I'm not ready to come back to GD, yet... I don't think.