A 12-year-old boy beats baby to death with a bat because she was crying while he was watching TV

[trumad]

Ahhh Society!

A 12-year-old Lauderhill boy is accused of first-degree murder after police said he beat a 17-month-old girl to death with a wooden baseball bat because she was crying while he was watching TV.

Lauderhill police said the boy was baby-sitting his 10-year-old brother and the toddler at the little girl's house in the 1500 block of Northwest 31st Way on Friday. The victim, Shaloh Joseph, died from multiple hits to the head, police said.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbjuviemurder0107sbjan07,0,5681303.story?coll=sofla_tab01_layout

[Naturyl]

1. Disgusting and tragic, but you'll always have this.

I'm as critical of "society" as anybody you're likely to find, but I really don't think this can be pinned on anything but the fact that some people are just monsters. It's not "their fault" - they are either born or raised that way.

The kid needs to go away, probably permanently (because these types rarely "recover"), and I hope the family can get as much help as possible to get through their loss.

[DrDan]

2. a 12 year old should not be left to care for a 10 year old and a toddler . . .

[sandnsea]

3. 12 is an acceptable age in most states

Not for extended periods, but there's no reason in the world a 12 year old can't manage a toddler for an hour or two. Some 12 year olds weren't raised to accept responsibility, but that's not an age problem, that's a parent problem. There isn't any external condition I can think of that would drive anybody to beat a toddler in the head with a baseball bat. Something is very very wrong with this situation.

[PeaceNikki]

4. But typically that'd be a sibling and typically the 12 year-old would have some training.

That obviously wasn't the case here.

They're considering whether they will be charging him with first-degree murder as an adult? Oh boy...

[sandnsea]

5. The 12 & 10 yo were siblings

It sounds like they were left at someone's house while their mother was at work, and the mother of the toddler left for whatever purpose. Regardless, I'm sorry, you don't need training to not beat a baby to death with a bat. Terrible tragedy.

[DrDan]

8. it was not just the toddler

it was a 10 year old and a toddler . . .

a 12-year old who is expected to care for 2 children?

It might be legal in most states, but I find it far from acceptable.

[goddess40]

6. I agree - I think we are missing a lot of the story

12 is way too young for many kids to have this type of responsibility, no matter what training or parenting they've had.
It's very sad that this happened but the parents are at fault too. (I say parents because even if one parent is not involved they're still responsible for their children) I wonder if this was something this child had to do often or if this was something spur of the moment. What other adult responsibilities were thrust on this kid.

While this violent act is never acceptable we all know that adults snap and do heinous things like this and a 12 year old who's not ready shouldn't be left with minors so crap like this doesn't happen.

I also understand that sometime parents have no choice it's either lose your job or accept that someone less than capable has to watch your kids. I don't have any answers other then we need to change the way society is run so that people get paid decently so they don't have to make these non-choice choices.

[NavyDavy]

11. thats what i was going to say

[goddess40]

7. juvenile or adult crime - the kid is 12 it's a no brainer

"Maria Schneider, Broward's chief juvenile crimes prosecutor, said prosecutors are starting the process of deciding whether the case should be handled as a juvenile or adult crime. The boy has no prior record, she said."

It had gotten absolutely disgusting how we waive kids into adult court. If this kid is an adult I want my 14 year old to be allowed to vote!

[depakid]

9. Ah, Florida

Haven't heard a bizarre story out of there for a while, guess it was about time.

[Cronus Protagonist]

10. Treat the child, arrest the adults

IMHO, that's how it should go down.

[bdamomma]

12. how sick.