RiverRat
Patsy Ramsey to the Left
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FL - Coralrose Fullwood, 6, found murdered, North Port, 17 Sept 2006
- Thread starter Beyond Belief
- Start date
RiverRat
Patsy Ramsey to the Left
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http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060920/NEWS/609200770
Ellen-Beth Fullwood said she will never return to the house on Calabash Lane, but that it wasn't usually as dirty as it was on Sunday.
"I'm a lousy housekeeper," Fullwood said in court.
She said she and her husband, who both work long hours, struggle to keep up with laundry and dishes. Two of the boys, a 4-year-old and a 10-year-old, are autistic, she said, and require extra care.
Fullwood said her 10-year-old son has a medical condition that sometimes prevents him from controlling his bowel movements, which is why there was feces in the bathtub and a foul stench of urine. She said she usually gets messes cleaned up right away. But she worked two shifts back-to-back on Friday.
She and her husband hired an exterminator and plan to get the carpets cleaned, she said.
"OK, it's a dirty house, you can clean it up," said the couple's attorney, John Coleman. "Case closed."
She has two older children who do not live at home, a 21-year-old son who is in college and a 17-year-old daughter who lives with her grandparents in Lee County.
Before he ruled, the judge asked whether Ellen-Beth Fullwood suffered from some psychological problem because of the "disgusting" conditions inside the home. The family had only been living there for six weeks before Coralrose's death.
"Letting a house get like this leads me to believe mom may have an emotional or psychological problem," the judge said.
Fullwood sobbed and rocked in her seat throughout the hearing, and at one point said the situation was "emotional hell."
Seaton Roth VanderWoude, Ellen-Beth Fullwood's oldest child from another marriage, said outside the courtroom that the probe into the family's home was "a smack in the face."
"I have a sister murdered and this only adds insult to injury," said the 21-year-old college student.
But the judge's ruling left Coralrose's parents feeling like they had won a small victory. The couple was making plans to see their four children.
"We got the family back, minus one," Dale Fullwood said.
He declined further comment.
Ellen-Beth Fullwood said she will never return to the house on Calabash Lane, but that it wasn't usually as dirty as it was on Sunday.
"I'm a lousy housekeeper," Fullwood said in court.
She said she and her husband, who both work long hours, struggle to keep up with laundry and dishes. Two of the boys, a 4-year-old and a 10-year-old, are autistic, she said, and require extra care.
Fullwood said her 10-year-old son has a medical condition that sometimes prevents him from controlling his bowel movements, which is why there was feces in the bathtub and a foul stench of urine. She said she usually gets messes cleaned up right away. But she worked two shifts back-to-back on Friday.
She and her husband hired an exterminator and plan to get the carpets cleaned, she said.
"OK, it's a dirty house, you can clean it up," said the couple's attorney, John Coleman. "Case closed."
She has two older children who do not live at home, a 21-year-old son who is in college and a 17-year-old daughter who lives with her grandparents in Lee County.
Before he ruled, the judge asked whether Ellen-Beth Fullwood suffered from some psychological problem because of the "disgusting" conditions inside the home. The family had only been living there for six weeks before Coralrose's death.
"Letting a house get like this leads me to believe mom may have an emotional or psychological problem," the judge said.
Fullwood sobbed and rocked in her seat throughout the hearing, and at one point said the situation was "emotional hell."
Seaton Roth VanderWoude, Ellen-Beth Fullwood's oldest child from another marriage, said outside the courtroom that the probe into the family's home was "a smack in the face."
"I have a sister murdered and this only adds insult to injury," said the 21-year-old college student.
But the judge's ruling left Coralrose's parents feeling like they had won a small victory. The couple was making plans to see their four children.
"We got the family back, minus one," Dale Fullwood said.
He declined further comment.
RiverRat
Patsy Ramsey to the Left
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Timeline of Sept. 17
2 a.m. Sunday. Dale Fullwood returns to his Calabash Lane home from work and checks in on his five children, including Coralrose, 6. He sees her sleeping.
7 a.m. Fullwood checks again on Coralrose and discovers her missing, along with a flower print black comforter. The family calls the North Port Police Department to report her missing.
8 a.m. Fort Myers resident Doreen VanderWoude gets a call from her daughter, Ellen-Beth Fullwood, who says Coralrose is missing. Ellen-Beth asks her mother to come help look for her. Charlotte Countys K-9 unit and helicopter join the search. Utility employees search canals using airboats. Firefighters and police search nearby streets and the rest of the city.
10 a.m. Grobe Street resident Judy Perez hears Charlotte County Sheriffs Offices helicopter overhead and calls North Port police to inquire. A dispatcher tells her there is a child missing. Perez jumps on her bicycle and yells at neighbors to join the search. An estimated 100 neighbors join the search on their own.
11 a.m. City sends out a codeRED alert to every home in the 103-square-mile city, alerting residents by phone that there is a missing child. Residents are asked to call the department with information.
Noon. A resident walking a dog finds Coralrose in a wooded area behind a home under construction two blocks from Coralroses house. The search ends and the area is marked off the area with police tape.
Timeline of Sept. 18
11 a.m. Monday. At press conference, Police Chief Terry Lewis announces that no arrest is imminent in the case, and says it is being investigated as a murder.
2:30 p.m. Officials from the state Department of Children and Families arrive in Fort Myers, where the Fullwoods are staying, and say they want to question the children. Family members say they want to see a court order.
5:30 p.m. Having obtained a court order, DCF workers take the children.
11 p.m. Detectives are back at the Fullwood home on Calabash Lane house, and remove several black garbage bags full of possible evidence.
Timeline of Sept. 19
9:30 a.m. A custody hearing regarding Coralrose's four siblings is postponed.
11 a.m. At a press conference, Chief Terry Lewis announces that leads developed on Monday prompted police to search the house again on Monday night.
1:30 p.m. Custody hearing begins. State officials say the living conditions at the Calabash home were hazardous to the children. After five hours of testimony, the judge gives Coralrose's grandparents custody of the four children, ages 4 to 12. The Fullwoods are allowed supervised visitation and ordered not to talk to the children about the disappearance or death of Coralrose.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060919/NEWS/60919008
2 a.m. Sunday. Dale Fullwood returns to his Calabash Lane home from work and checks in on his five children, including Coralrose, 6. He sees her sleeping.
7 a.m. Fullwood checks again on Coralrose and discovers her missing, along with a flower print black comforter. The family calls the North Port Police Department to report her missing.
8 a.m. Fort Myers resident Doreen VanderWoude gets a call from her daughter, Ellen-Beth Fullwood, who says Coralrose is missing. Ellen-Beth asks her mother to come help look for her. Charlotte Countys K-9 unit and helicopter join the search. Utility employees search canals using airboats. Firefighters and police search nearby streets and the rest of the city.
10 a.m. Grobe Street resident Judy Perez hears Charlotte County Sheriffs Offices helicopter overhead and calls North Port police to inquire. A dispatcher tells her there is a child missing. Perez jumps on her bicycle and yells at neighbors to join the search. An estimated 100 neighbors join the search on their own.
11 a.m. City sends out a codeRED alert to every home in the 103-square-mile city, alerting residents by phone that there is a missing child. Residents are asked to call the department with information.
Noon. A resident walking a dog finds Coralrose in a wooded area behind a home under construction two blocks from Coralroses house. The search ends and the area is marked off the area with police tape.
Timeline of Sept. 18
11 a.m. Monday. At press conference, Police Chief Terry Lewis announces that no arrest is imminent in the case, and says it is being investigated as a murder.
2:30 p.m. Officials from the state Department of Children and Families arrive in Fort Myers, where the Fullwoods are staying, and say they want to question the children. Family members say they want to see a court order.
5:30 p.m. Having obtained a court order, DCF workers take the children.
11 p.m. Detectives are back at the Fullwood home on Calabash Lane house, and remove several black garbage bags full of possible evidence.
Timeline of Sept. 19
9:30 a.m. A custody hearing regarding Coralrose's four siblings is postponed.
11 a.m. At a press conference, Chief Terry Lewis announces that leads developed on Monday prompted police to search the house again on Monday night.
1:30 p.m. Custody hearing begins. State officials say the living conditions at the Calabash home were hazardous to the children. After five hours of testimony, the judge gives Coralrose's grandparents custody of the four children, ages 4 to 12. The Fullwoods are allowed supervised visitation and ordered not to talk to the children about the disappearance or death of Coralrose.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060919/NEWS/60919008
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packerdog
Well-Known Member
I am glad those children were removed from that filthy, roach infested, unhealthy home. Look at all the negative things said about the DCF, how they could have saved some children and did nothing, now some are saying they were wrong in trying to protect the children. Any parents that would have their children live in this digusting home doesn't deserve children. If I had been their neighbor I would have reported them. This isn't the first house they lived in that was a disgusting mess, there is no excuse.
nanandjim
Former Member
From the article: Police found feces in a bathtub, rotten food in the kitchen and cockroaches all over when they arrived at the Fullwood home in North Port to investigate the disappearance of 6-year-old Coralrose Fullwood.packerdog said:
The mother says that she is a lousy housekeeper, that the mess is usually cleaned up right away but she had just worked a double shift. Sorry--but I am not buying it. The living conditions make me want to puke.
I FEEL THE SAME WAY, and hope my gut feeling is correct- I dont think they are involved-PrayersForMaura said:I was just reading the article above. Wow, the parents are getting ripped apart...
I feel bad that these parents are getting ripped apart.
I still don't feel in my gut that they did something to that little girl.
concernedperson
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nanandjim said:From the article: Police found feces in a bathtub, rotten food in the kitchen and cockroaches all over when they arrived at the Fullwood home in North Port to investigate the disappearance of 6-year-old Coralrose Fullwood.
The mother says that she is a lousy housekeeper, that the mess is usually cleaned up right away but she had just worked a double shift. Sorry--but I am not buying it. The living conditions make me want to puke.
I'm not buying it either. Rotting food on dishes and in the refrigerator didn't happen over a 24 hour period. Not setting up the children's beds in 6 weeks and a house that is invested with roaches is neglect.It is almost like they were camped out vs. setting up a home.
Doesn't mean they did anything to their daughter but I can understand DCF taking the children to a healthier environment.
packerdog
Well-Known Member
julianne said:
Funny that she had time to do her nails but not enough to clean that filthy house. Maybe she didn't want her nail polish to chip.
jubie
Former Member
packerdog said:
I'm sad they lost their little girl but if while at the home investigators find the home as they have described do the parents get a free pass? :waitasec: That doesn't make sense.
My home gets a bit messy during a busy week but you would NOT find my children sleeping on a mattress without bedding, rotting food and roaches in my FRIDGE. That is disgusting!!
Having a murdered child does not mean they are not responsible for the unacceptable living conditions their other children have to endure.
The mom has time to do her nails? What the heck?
Jubie
jubie
Former Member
RiverRat
Thanks for all the updates. I appreciate it.
Jubie
Thanks for all the updates. I appreciate it.
Jubie
bakerprune64
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Yep Jubie, you summed it up nicely. I have day to day clutter...not filth in my house. Dishes are done before I leave the house in the morning and after dinner. Nothing sits in the sink for more than a couple of hours if that. How could somebody let their house get so bad in just 6 weeks?jubie said:I'm sad they lost their little girl but if while at the home investigators find the home as they have described do the parents get a free pass? :waitasec: That doesn't make sense.
My home gets a bit messy during a busy week but you would NOT find my children sleeping on a mattress without bedding, rotting food and roaches in my FRIDGE. That is disgusting!!
Having a murdered child does not mean they are not responsible for the unacceptable living conditions their other children have to endure.
The mom has time to do her nails? What the heck?
Jubie
That being said, I am still not sure that they had anything to do with CoralRose's murder. Neglectful and disgusting living conditions yes, but murderers??? Jury is still out for me on that.
ETA: Snip...Children were on DCF radar
The Fullwoods have been the subject of six child neglect investigations by state officials in the past -- five because of filth in the home, and one time because medicine was left in reach of children, state officials said in court.
The family remedied the situations in the past without losing custody of the children.
When North Port Police Department Detective Brian Chippendale arrived at the Fullwood's house Sunday morning to investigate the report of Coralrose's disappearance, he said the smell of urine was so overwhelming that he could only stay inside for minutes at the time.
*********************
This could possibly be why DCF said the children were in danger there.
nanandjim
Former Member
It is for me, too. From the little that I have read, I am suspicious of the father. However, if the house were open and the kids were allowed to roam free or whatever, a murdering opportunist could have snuck into the house, I guess.bakerprune64 said:
RiverRat
Patsy Ramsey to the Left
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No - thank you. It is hard to provide these reports without commenting on my thoughts as it IS still early, so you just helped me out with your post by asking some good questions. Some friends of mine and I joke around that we work outside of the home as house-cleaning is not our forte' - having said that - there is a huge difference in a cluttered or messy home and one that is hazardess and worthy of so many prior complaints.
Think what you want of me for saying it outloud - but the family is being portrayed as a religious family.........however - the filth, the black nail polish and the bartending set off my Hinky Meter.
Only RR's opinion-
RR
Think what you want of me for saying it outloud - but the family is being portrayed as a religious family.........however - the filth, the black nail polish and the bartending set off my Hinky Meter.
Only RR's opinion-
RR
I am originally from Florida and to have a house infested would take a long time for the roaches to blatently come out during the day. If anyone knows more jump in but roaches live in the walls and under the counters and were more than likely in the house when this family moved in. 6 weeks is just to short a period of time to have the house INFESTED just because of this family. IMO
packerdog
Well-Known Member
mom3dd said:
It could be that the roaches were there prior to them moving in, why not get an exterminator in there. I think those roaches are attracted to filth. What about the poop, urine, spoiled food, dirty dishes, dirty clothes, and gosh knows what else? That is sick and there is no way they cared about those children living like that. They both worked, why not hire a cleaning lady? Someone could be as poor as can be yet still have a clean house.
jubie
Former Member
mom3dd said:
It's more than just the roaches. There was feces in the tub and on a mattress, rotting food on the counter and in the fridge, piled up dishes, so much laundry one offcer states he had to jump over it.... he couldn't just walk around a small pile....
Like I said I'm sad for their loss I just don't think they get off the hotseat for such a disgusting environment the other children are living in.
Oh and the roaches were IN the fridge, that is a current issue, not something that had to be there before they moved in.
Jubie
jubie
Former Member
RiverRat said:
RiverRat,
Post away!! You have great thoughts, do share.
Jubie