This story is truly shocking!! I am flabbergasted that $90,000 has been raised for the defence of this woman - as others have rightfully pointed out ....had those little ones died she would of been vilified for her actions -job prospect or not.
I can maybe understand people having a miniscule amount of sympathy ....being an working single parent with no support network is hard BUT no way should her poor judgment and irresponsible actions be celebrated or excused.
The money should be put in trust for the kids....the "victims" in this case. They ware the ones who should have the people's concern and sympathy. This could have very easily had a tragic ending.
BBM for focus. Regarding the "no support" comment-- ST had a LOT of support available to her at the time she left her kids in the car.
1. She is ex- military-- a Veteran, entitled to LOTS of different kinds and levels of benefits, job counseling, discounted home loans, health care if indigent or entitled by discharge criteria, etc. These resources and benefits are not a secret to her.
2. Her older child is from a different father (also military, IIRC) than the younger 2, who early articles stated was involved and paying child support, IIRC.
3. Her parents were essentially raising the older child, who lived with them, went to school, etc. before the birth of the 2 younger kids.
4. ST and her younger 2 children also lived with her parents (both at work) at the time that she left them in the car for the job interview.
5. The SUV she was driving daily originally belonged to her sister, who was incarcerated at the time ST left her kids in the car.
6. ST had a lively on-line presence on social media, and claimed to have many supportive friends, at the time she left the 2 very young children in the car. She also had posted lots of inspirational quotes and statements about being grateful for her family and friends, happy with her life, etc.
7. There was an open child protective services investigation that was started at the birth of her then 6 month old, due to the 6 month old testing positive for illegal substances at birth. So, social services/ CPS was already involved-- whether one considers that "support" or not is another issue. Social services certainly would have been a resource for a single mother looking for a job, who needed to find emergency child care to attend a job interview. That is, if she had asked for help.
Now, while I don't doubt that she had some issues finding child care that particular day, and some difficulties finding the kind of job she wanted to have, I also don't buy it for a minute that she was abandoned, alone, unsupported by family and friends as a single mother, and not knowing where to turn for help.
From where I'm sitting, it was a selfish and irresponsible decision of convenience that she made to leave the kids in the car, risking their life, and risking abduction. And JMO, but I highly doubt it was the first time. She wasn't even outwardly worried or panicked about the kids when she finally showed up, and police were there.
The question before the court now, is did ST do what the court directed her to do, and what she agreed to do, as part of her plea? And if not, she better have a
massively good reason for not doing that, AND for not satisfying that with the court thru ordinary out-of-court channels. When something like this gets to the point that it's actually back in court in front of a judge, it usually means the defendant has been chronically uncooperative or evasive out of court, and this is the last "wake up call" before criminal charges are reinstated, IMO.
