Sadness and Outrage: Man kills 4 yr old while both parents deployed in Iraq

[n2doc]

No bail for suspect in death of GIs’ son

By Matthew Walberg
Tribune staff reporter
Published May 26, 2007, 7:08 PM CDT
A Cook County judge ordered a Calumet City man held without bail Saturday morning on charges he murdered his girlfriend's 4-year-son, saying the beating death indicated the man had a "wanton disrespect for human life."

Donell Parker, 23, of the 500 block of Ingraham Avenue appeared in the Markham Courthouse before Judge Frank Castiglione, charged with one count of first-degree murder in the death of Cameron Smith.

Assistant State's Atty. Kathryn Morrissey told Castiglione that Parker had been caring for the boy and his 7- and 8-year-old siblings for the last several weeks. On Tuesday he "disciplined" the child by beating him with a belt and punching him in the head and body, officials said.

The boy was found lifeless in bed Thursday morning, police said.

An autopsy determined the boy died of the abuse, which left him with "multiple rib fractures, bruises to his head, face and chest, a subdural hematoma, injuries to the liver, spleen, kidneys massive internal bleeding," Morrissey said during the hearing.

Parker was the boyfriend of the victim's mother, Lavada Smith, who was serving in Iraq as a member of the Illinois National Guard. The slain child's two siblings have been placed in the custody of relatives, officials said. The child's father, Gary Smith Jr., also is serving with the military in Iraq.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070526boy-story,1,5395822.story

Comment BOTH parents in Iraq? Some "boyfriend". There is just no punishment enough for this scumbag....

[demnan]

1. So much for the family-friendly presidency

n/t

[bluedeminredstate]

2. My friend's daughter and son-in-law

served in Iraq and Afghanistan at the same time - shipping my friend's daughter off to Fallujah when the baby was less than four months old. The baby ended up leaving NC and going to New Orleans with her other grandparents. Of course then Katrina came and they had to move...
But none of this got the baby's mother or father home. They served over a year and he's on his way to Baghdad in less than a month for his third tour in this "GWOT."
I was under the impression that you had to have a plan for family to take care of the children if mom and dad both got deployed - I didn't think a boyfriend would count, but I suppose at this point the Army doesn't care as long as your ass is ready to leave when your orders say you have to.
This poor mother who has to come home from hell to find her life has blown up around her. I wonder how long they'll give her to get her affairs in order...not enough that's for sure, because I bet they send her back after this nightmare.

:mad:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. Another casualty of this godforsaken war. How damned sad. eom

[gollygee]

4. That is heartbreaking

How awful :(

[shenmue]

5. This is just unspeakable

:scared:

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[BattyDem]

will someone please explain to me why ONE of those parents could NOT serve here in the states?!

:grr:

Would leaving ONE soldier here to care for the children have burdened the military so much that it was just not possible??? :eyes:

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. This is a horrific tragedy

What I want to know is where were these family members before these kids were given to this boyfriend, who obviously had no business caring for them? They have the kids now, but one of them would be alive had they taken the kids when both parents left.

[bread_and_roses]

7. another victim of the nuclear family structure

why are we surprised? The human capacity for cruelty is infinite, and nothing seems to bring it out like power over the helpless. and that includes the power of adults isolated with small children.

[kurth]

8. He'll get a nice beating in prison

or worse.

[durrrty libby]

9. Where is the village when it's needed?

[Bluerthanblue]

10. a 23 yr old taking care of 3 children

under the age of eight, without either parent to offer guidance ore relief is a recipe for disaster.

That being said, there is no excuse for physically abusing a child under any circumstances. There is also no excuse for this f...ed up administration to have forced this situation on this family. The government's hands are stained with this child's blood.

I hope they get both of them home to help the two surviving siblings deal with what they've been through, and to be able to mourn their child....

This is so incredibly sad... and so unnecessary.