GUILTY FL - Boy in a Box abuse trial - Parents, Timothy & Tracy Ferriter Arrested, Jupiter, Feb 2022

[Irishknit]

Did anyone have moments where you thought about times your own kids were acting their worst and YOU were at your wits end? I did.

Especially when the lawyer mentioned that they were waiting for a counseling appointment. We can’t always get in to see specialists for our kid and are often left feeling like we’re on our own and no one understands. Sometimes you face a wall and you’re like, I have no script for this.

In those moments, we try to ask older family for advice and then creatively problem solve. I feel like they didn’t talk to people and they didn’t try too many things.

Just a one way path for the Ferriter parents to be obeyed.

Absolutely there were days of frustration, but never built a cage.

 

[RickshawFan]

How? Look at the Magdalene laundries of Ireland. Money talked and the babies walked (carried) out the door.

Yes, but we thought differently about adoption in those days and had a lot less insight into child psychology. Babies were getting adopted in doctors offices and hospitals.

And then there was the blind eye about Catholic institutions and "god-fearing" adults who benefited from them.

 

[Irishknit]

Yes, but we thought differently about adoption in those days and had a lot less insight into child psychology. Babies were getting adopted in doctors offices and hospitals.

And then there was the blind eye about Catholic institutions and "god-fearing" adults who benefited from them.

For some, the mentality persists.
The local "home" where I grew up did not close until early 1980's.

 

[kaen]

Interestingly, this man built two boxes--one physically (for the child he adopted) and one criminally. He will be sitting in the criminally built one based on his own behavior and choices. Adopting children can require that you use mental health resources for the child and your self to aid in bonding, parenting, and creating plans when the mental health avenue is not working. They availed themselves of none of the resources that they could have. It is hard to tell what actions the other children had foisted upon them but I suspect that the other children also dealt with abuse in some fashion. At the very least, knowing that they could be put in solitary confinement with no access to light, food, toileting and human contact probably scared them into "doing what they were told" with or without a direct threat. I hope he goes to prison a long, long time.

 

[Swirlz]

I worked as an inpatient psychiatric nurse for over 30 years, and IMO, these folks had no idea how deep these boys' problems go. We have no idea how old this young man was when he was adopted, and according to this family's experience, some children are so emotionally damaged by the age of 2, the attachment disorder is irreversible without years and years of intensive therapy. This young man is extremely bright, and has learned how to charm, flatter and manipulate to get his needs met, and he will continue this behavior when dealing with people of authority.
Check out this short article...

Beth Thomas - Child Of Rage

In 1990, HBO released a documentary on Beth Thomas, a 6 ½ year old girl. The documentary, called Child of Rage, was extremely shocking. It included

practicalpie.com

The little girl in that famous video is being asked a series of VERY leading questions by an admitted child abuser named Ken Magid. The film was put together for the purposes of promoting the adults who appear in it and who practice a type of non-evidence based therapy called Attachment Therapy. A little girl named Candace Newmaker was murdered by colleagues of Magid's at the facility the interview takes place at. More info about this here: AT Proponent — Beth Thomas

There's also a Facebook group called Attachment Therapy Is Wrong with more info. A moderator there knew Beth Thomas and was abused at the facility Beth was surrendered to.

I don't believe Beth abused her little brother or killed baby birds or that there's any reason to believe she did those things. She's saying what the adult wants her to say.

 

[RickshawFan]

The little girl in that famous video is being asked a series of VERY leading questions by an admitted child abuser named Ken Magid. The film was put together for the purposes of promoting the adults who appear in it and who practice a type of non-evidence based therapy called Attachment Therapy. A little girl named Candace Newmaker was murdered by colleagues of Magid's at the facility the interview takes place at. More info about this here: AT Proponent — Beth Thomas

There's also a Facebook group called Attachment Therapy Is Wrong with more info. A moderator there knew Beth Thomas and was abused at the facility Beth was surrendered to.

I don't believe Beth abused her little brother or killed baby birds or that there's any reason to believe she did those things. She's saying what the adult wants her to say.

This other documentary, I think, gives another example where parents get fixated on "attachment disorder" when they adopt. They actually return their daughter to Russia, a different kind of "box". No spoilers from me, but in reality no evident psychopathy at all in the child.

IMO this documentary adds perspective to the Ferriters: slightly different style family, but many similarities with how they view children, self-congratulatory-ness for adopting (a narcissistic trait which I speculate the Ferriters have), expectations for children, , etc..

 

[RickshawFan]

I worked as an inpatient psychiatric nurse for over 30 years, and IMO, these folks had no idea how deep these boys' problems go. We have no idea how old this young man was when he was adopted, and according to this family's experience, some children are so emotionally damaged by the age of 2, the attachment disorder is irreversible without years and years of intensive therapy. This young man is extremely bright, and has learned how to charm, flatter and manipulate to get his needs met, and he will continue this behavior when dealing with people of authority.
Check out this short article...

Beth Thomas - Child Of Rage

In 1990, HBO released a documentary on Beth Thomas, a 6 ½ year old girl. The documentary, called Child of Rage, was extremely shocking. It included

practicalpie.com

The prosecution's expert witness (a Brown psychiatrist who specializes in juveniles), explains the opposite: RAD is remediable in the loving environment and symptoms abate.

I haven't seen any testimony or evidence that showed RF as someone who charms, flatters, and manipulates to get his needs met. I have seen that in his parents via presentations at trial. The parents are violent, too.

The child was somewhere under 2 when adopted.

 

[Weki]

In my opinion any behavior described as problematic or dangerous by the parents needs to be viewed with a healthy dose of salt. Let’s keep in mind this info is coming from the parents who have a vested interest in justifying their behavior. These people are deeply disordered imo. Their perspective is also likely to be disordered. And even if RF agreed with their view of his behavior I still have skepticism because he’s been so violated and is likely to blame himself and view himself in a harsher light.

It’s very common for abusive parents to label one child as a problem child and scapegoat that child. All the dysfunctions and problems in the family and among the parents is now transferred to this child. The way they spoke to him, the tone of their voices, is sickening and demonstrates a sadistic attitude.

JMO

 

[Swirlz]

Many yrs. ago I read former child kidnap victim Katie Beers' memoir Unburied Memories. Beers described being denied use of a toilet as being one of the most traumatic elements of her experience and as being more awkward to talk about in the aftermath than the sexual abuse. She spoke about how even after yrs. of therapy, she continued to experience anxiety anytime she was out somewhere where she wasn't positive where the bathroom facilities were located.

 

[cocomod]

There is a child that was recently murdered by her parents who were trying a therapy method for RAD. There is Candace Newmaker whose therapists were sentenced for her death. I think the radical therapy’s have proven more dangerous for the child than a more loving approach.

There are the Barnettes who adopted Natalia and claimed she wanted and tried to kill them. I don’t believe them for a second. I think they wanted the status and the “look” of a wonderful couple who adopted. Then, it wasn’t all sprinkles and fairy dust so they turned their evil onto poor Natalia.

These two were evil plain and simple. I am so glad he was found guilty and the jury saw through their cloud of throwing mud at the child they agreed to love and raise as their own. They had no business treating him with such distain, and they have zero conscience about it - which is probably the worst part! They do not have an ounce of guilt! That makes them even more evil - IMVHO of course

 

[iamshadow21]

There is a child that was recently murdered by her parents who were trying a therapy method for RAD. There is Candace Newmaker whose therapists were sentenced for her death. I think the radical therapy’s have proven more dangerous for the child than a more loving approach.

There are the Barnettes who adopted Natalia and claimed she wanted and tried to kill them. I don’t believe them for a second. I think they wanted the status and the “look” of a wonderful couple who adopted. Then, it wasn’t all sprinkles and fairy dust so they turned their evil onto poor Natalia.

These two were evil plain and simple. I am so glad he was found guilty and the jury saw through their cloud of throwing mud at the child they agreed to love and raise as their own. They had no business treating him with such distain, and they have zero conscience about it - which is probably the worst part! They do not have an ounce of guilt! That makes them even more evil - IMVHO of course

Skyler Wilson, too.

Kids don't belong in cages for the 'crime' of being, in the eyes of their 'carers', imperfect.

 

[Teche]

Did anyone have moments where you thought about times your own kids were acting their worst and YOU were at your wits end? I did.

Especially when the lawyer mentioned that they were waiting for a counseling appointment. We can’t always get in to see specialists for our kid and are often left feeling like we’re on our own and no one understands. Sometimes you face a wall and you’re like, I have no script for this.

In those moments, we try to ask older family for advice and then creatively problem solve. I feel like they didn’t talk to people and they didn’t try too many things.

Just a one way path for the Ferriter parents to be obeyed.

The father worked for a large medical device company which I’m sure the insurance covered mental health services. Yes, there might be a waiting list but not years.

 

[RickshawFan]

The father worked for a large medical device company which I’m sure the insurance covered mental health services. Yes, there might be a waiting list but not years.

There are plenty of counselors around. And nowadays, you can do zoom appointments. Maybe zoom isn't the best scenario, but it would be a start. The whole notion that "they were on the waiting list" is absurd.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

There are plenty of counselors around. And nowadays, you can do zoom appointments. Maybe zoom isn't the best scenario, but it would be a start. The whole notion that "they were on the waiting list" is absurd.

The waiting list scenario is actually very real in some areas of the country. I have read about wait lists of 3-4 months for adults and children where I'm located in the northeast. I personally had some family trauma 3 years ago and my GP suggested I see someone, but she actually said, "And good luck - they're all short staffed, many are not taking new patients, you've got a long wait. If you're in a crisis, call 911 or go to the ER." Gee, thanks. I wasn't in need of that type of care, but it proved there was no assistance in the meantime other than self-help and many aren't even able to do that or their situation needs something more intense. Sad state our country is in.

Edited to add - I have no idea what excuse his parents were given, or what they perhaps made up. Just was stating my experience and what I've read about the state of mental health care here in the US in general.

 

[cocomod]

The waiting list scenario is actually very real in some areas of the country. I have read about wait lists of 3-4 months for adults and children where I'm located in the northeast. I personally had some family trauma 3 years ago and my GP suggested I see someone, but she actually said, "And good luck - they're all short staffed, many are not taking new patients, you've got a long wait. If you're in a crisis, call 911 or go to the ER." Gee, thanks. I wasn't in need of that type of care, but it proved there was no assistance in the meantime other than self-help and many aren't even able to do that or their situation needs something more intense. Sad state our country is in.

Edited to add - I have no idea what excuse his parents were given, or what they perhaps made up. Just was stating my experience and what I've read about the state of mental health care here in the US in general.

I think the reason most of us do not believe in the waiting list is that he was in that box for YEARS! They could have reached out for help before putting him in the box. We ALL know they were not on a waiting list for years.

 

[angelainwi]

The waiting list scenario is actually very real in some areas of the country. I have read about wait lists of 3-4 months for adults and children where I'm located in the northeast. I personally had some family trauma 3 years ago and my GP suggested I see someone, but she actually said, "And good luck - they're all short staffed, many are not taking new patients, you've got a long wait. If you're in a crisis, call 911 or go to the ER." Gee, thanks. I wasn't in need of that type of care, but it proved there was no assistance in the meantime other than self-help and many aren't even able to do that or their situation needs something more intense. Sad state our country is in.

Edited to add - I have no idea what excuse his parents were given, or what they perhaps made up. Just was stating my experience and what I've read about the state of mental health care here in the US in general.

No idea if waiting lists were actually an issue in THIS case but right now waiting lists are a HUGE issue all over the country. So many therapists are not taking new clients. WE ARE SWAMPED!

 

[kaen]

Waiting list or no waiting list, as soon as that young man spent time in that box, they knew they would be up on abuse charges. Finding a therapist became less of an option because any therapist would have to report them. Like families that start abusing a child that recognize that any form of intervention is going to get them charged, these two new they were not getting out unscathed.

 

[Rolypolyoly]

I think the reason most of us do not believe in the waiting list is that he was in that box for YEARS! They could have reached out for help before putting him in the box. We ALL know they were not on a waiting list for years.

Plus the fact that this was his second box, in a second state!

*Eta And they didn't just lock him up and deny him basic human decency, they beat and belittled him and threatened to take away his schooling.
These were not parents at a loss and doing what they thought was best, I could almost give them the benefit of the doubt if *all* they had done was confine him. I wouldn't agree, but I could maybe understand, but what they did was not that. JMO

 

[RickshawFan]

The waiting list scenario is actually very real in some areas of the country. I have read about wait lists of 3-4 months for adults and children where I'm located in the northeast. I personally had some family trauma 3 years ago and my GP suggested I see someone, but she actually said, "And good luck - they're all short staffed, many are not taking new patients, you've got a long wait. If you're in a crisis, call 911 or go to the ER." Gee, thanks. I wasn't in need of that type of care, but it proved there was no assistance in the meantime other than self-help and many aren't even able to do that or their situation needs something more intense. Sad state our country is in.

Edited to add - I have no idea what excuse his parents were given, or what they perhaps made up. Just was stating my experience and what I've read about the state of mental health care here in the US in general.

The Ferriters were on a waiting list, for what, 12 years? They never got treatment for their son, just a couple of quickie assessments from low-level professionals, years ago. Per the prosecution witness.

The Ferriters have plenty of money, and likely mental health insurance coverage.

 

[RickshawFan]

Waiting list or no waiting list, as soon as that young man spent time in that box, they knew they would be up on abuse charges. Finding a therapist became less of an option because any therapist would have to report them. Like families that start abusing a child that recognize that any form of intervention is going to get them charged, these two new they were not getting out unscathed.

Great point that they would be in the arena of mandatory reporting, so they couldn't ever let their child see a therapist.