Last year around Christmas time I blogged about Phoenix Sinclair. A 5 year old girl beaten to death by her parents. Her little body had sustained so many injuries, the coroner stated they were the equivalent of injuries sustained during a severe traffic accident.
Numerous broken bones left untreated. Beaten with a metal rod. Shot with a pellet gun for “the hell of it” (said her older brother). Infected wounds left untreated. Her head was shaved and she went days without clothes. She was subject to starvation. Endured horrible verbal abuse. Stomped on until she just stopped crying. I would imagine that would have been until she passed out. Choked into unconsciousness while her mother looked on, laughing at their “game of chicken” (chicken because she would twitch on the floor in her blackout). Made to eat her own vomit. Forced to live in a blanket in the garbage filled basement, which had no heat. It was on that cold floor that she died, naked.
They wrapped her in plastic and left her in a shallow grave when she finally succumbed.
And then they applied to receive child welfare in her name.
Samantha Kemtach and Karl McKay were sentenced to life in prison.
* * *
7 year old Randal Dooley was also killed by his own parents.
“Randal’s 3-foot, 10-inch body was covered with “hundreds” of bruises, cuts and welts. Only his scalp, the palms of his hands and soles of his feet were spared from the vicious beatings.
He had pneumonia. He was as emaciated as those poor children you see on World Vision appeals, weighing just 41 pounds. When he vomited from his beatings at the hands of his stepmother, he was forced to eat it. A missing tooth was found in his stomach. His ribs and elbow had been broken, his liver lacerated, a vertebra fractured. He suffered four separate injuries to his brain, the last of which ultimately killed him Sept. 25 on the second floor of the Dooley’s McCowan Rd. townhouse.
A pathologist would testify that it appeared Randal had been stomped on or punch-kicked, spanked, whipped and roughly shaken. “This may be the worst case of child abuse in Canadian penal history,” he said.
Tony and Marcia Dooley were sentenced to 13 and 18 years respectively.
* * *
Both sets of parents are presently appealing. My tax dollars at work. (Both cases are Canadian).
In Phoenix’s case, her parents are claiming they didn’t force her to live naked in the basement, that the five year old girl chose to live down there. Therefore it wasn’t confinement, they deserve a lesser sentence.
Randal’s parents are claiming that the judge created bias with the jury by referring to the child as “poor pitiful Randal.” That the alliteration inflamed the jury. Therefore the jury was tainted by the judge, therefore they deserve a lesser sentence.
I know what I would do if I ever came across these people. I’ll say this: LESS LAW, MORE ORDER.
* * *
Samantha Kemtach, Karl McKay, Tony and Marcia Dooley were peoples neighbours, friends, relations. They were not isolated, they existed in communities. There would have been some indication to those around them that Phoenix and Randal were being abused. These children were tortured by the very people put on this earth to love and protect them. I can hardly bear to imagine it.
The holiday season is upon us. We will all be visiting friends, neighbours, relatives. Please, if you see signs of abuse, DO NOT IGNORE THEM. If you do not feel you can have a conversation with the potential offenders about their actions, please take the time to call your local child and family services. Your information will not be given to the family. Your actions will not cause children to be removed from a home without investigation and substantiated evidence.
While the four people I have named above are unquestionably responsible for their actions, the death of their children was due in some part to the inaction of others.
Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Right on. Especially at holiday time, when tensions fray and we see families we might not see at other times.
I’ll join you in the restoring order! I have had many a sleepless nights thinking about these people and there children they did not deserve.
My heart aches when I think about them.
Great Message Ashley about the holidays and families. Will do.
Hold your little ones close this Christmas.
It is beyond sad, and heartache, the harsh realities children have to face. We cross paths with so many people in our lives. Thank you, Ashley, for reminding me to always remain aware. Little signs may be a big cry for help. May the lives of these children not be forgotten.
Dear God, this is APPALLING to me! Granted I will admit I don’t watch the news and pay ill attention to the worlds issues at large (yes I have my head up my ass like that) however I have seen too many instances of these things and heard too many people say :”I don’t want to get involved”.
I totally agree with you in saying speak up for those that can not speak up for themselves!
It saddens me that the holidays on occasion bring out the worst in some people. There’s never any excuse for this type of behavior its not natural, its just not normal. I’m not a parent, nor do I have any desire to be one however maternal instinct comes naturally when it comes to my nieces and nephews whom I adore.
That made me cry. I feel so horrible for those kids and all the others around that world that have to endure stuff like that. It’s not fair and there is really no reason for it. I work with kids everyday and I try to keep an eye out for strange things.
I saw your blog about this last year and cried, then read it to my husband.
Your blogs have made me laugh, cry, smile, think and change more then anything else I have read in the past year.
Thank you for posting this, it is a reminder that while the children I live with are well taken care of and surrounded by love, not all are.
I promise to do my part in my own community when it comes to children in need.
One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was to call the DCF (dept of children and families) on one of my former neighbors. I could hear the 4 year old boy screaming through the walls as his grandmother verbally and physically abused him…she would hit him and drag him around the yard, calling him a nigger and “half-breed bastard” as if we weren’t standing right there watching them.
A 7 month old baby girl was murdered by her 19 yr old mother’s boyfriend only 2 blocks away from me a couple weeks ago…makes me so sad. I have a 7 month old baby boy at home. I can’t understand why anyone would ever hurt a child.
http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/119524
This is so sad. It’s when I read things like this I desperately hope there is a heaven where these children can find peace after a life of abuse and neglect. My heart goes out to them…
I just bursted in tears reading you.
I could have been one of this children, considering what I suffered from my parents… lucky me, I’m still alive.
Nowedays, at 25, I’m breaking all the links will my family relatives. Because it is to hard to keep contact with people who keep on making themselves blind or who say such things as “that was normal”, “that was really not that bad” or (the winner!) “you were provocative” (at 4? sincerely? and so you should mean I was deserving all that violence?)…
To be honnest, that’s the big question which remains and will probably do for a long time…why did any one of them never said anything?
I can manage to live with the painful memories of nights on the cave ground, frozen shower because I dared to cry while being beaten or bones broken without care for days. I can even deal with the fact that I didn’t received much love in words or actions, and lear how to make my life beautiful by myself. I accept my past and try to put as much joy in my life today that i wanted to feel while being younger.
But I will never understand those who prefer to close their eyes. Or why they did it this way. And i guess that it will remain something that hurts.
Thank you Twwwly. I’m reading you pretty often, and it is very inspiring and making me feel more peaceful to see that there is some people – and parents – like you. You are one of those who proves me that there is good, respectfull and shinning people on this earth.
Wishing all the best, for you and your beloved ones, for this end of year and the new comming one.
I just bursted in tears reading you.
I could have been one of this children, considering what I suffered from my parents… lucky me, I’m still alive.
Nowedays, at 25, I’m breaking all the links will my family relatives. Because it is to hard to keep contact with people who keep on making themselves blind or who say such things as “that was normal”, “that was really not that bad” or (the winner!) “you were provocative” (at 4? sincerely? and so you should mean I was deserving all that violence?)…
To be honnest, that’s the big question which remains and will probably do for a long time…why did any one of them never said anything?
I can manage to live with the painful memories of nights on the cave ground, frozen showers because I dared to cry while being beaten or bones broken without care for days. I can even deal with the fact that I didn’t received much love in words or actions, and learn how to make my life beautiful by myself. I accept my past and try to put as much joy in my life today that i wanted to feel while being a child.
But I will never understand those who prefer to close their eyes. Or why they did it this way. And i guess that it will remain something that hurts.
Thank you Twwwly. I’m reading you pretty often, and it is very inspiring and making me feel more peaceful to see that there is some people – and parents – like you.
You are one of those who proves me that there is good, respectfull and shinning people on this earth.
Wishing all the best, for you and your beloved ones, for this end of year and the new comming one.
Well put!
I cannot imagine standing idly by knowing a child or adult is being abused (or even suspecting abuse). Who on earth truly believes that the “I didn’t want to get involved” excuse is acceptable? Closing your eyes and turning your back will never be acceptable.
Thanks for standing up and reminding people that they should too!!
~M~
Great Reminder to everyone to stay aware. It make take two people to make a child but it takes more to bring that child into the world and to shape and nurture that child. If more people realized this and got involved we would have less violence against children and more hope in the world today.
ALWAYS speak out when you suspect violence in a home ESPECIALLY if there are children involved. You might save someone’s life.
Thanks for posting this. I was a victim of child abuse and as an adult, it pains me to think that maybe someone knew and never spoke up. I know that it’s really just a matter of chance that I am alive today. When I read about Phoenix last year I cried, because of her suffering.
I wish more people would be aware and speak up, instead of saying “It’s none of my business.”
I remember hearing these stories, and another local story that was so shocking the news dared not talk about it – it made people sick to their stomachs to hear the details. Like averting eye contact with the homeless, we often turn a blind eye and choose not to see.
Everyone deserves love, safety, food, warmth and respect.
Thank you for the reminder!
Amen.