GUILTY GA - Antonio Santiago, 13 mos, Brunswick, 21 March 2013 - #2

[JeannaT]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/26/baby-stroller-death/2021385/

This was just posted in USA Today where the moms daughter said she is questioning mom's actions re: life insurance and sequence of events.

I read that quote this morning in another media.

I think it's very possible that little Antonio's mother was mentally ill, had a checkered past, and answers questions in a very odd and suspicious way, AND two young men came up out of the blue and demanded money and then shot that poor baby point-blank.

Both things can be true. So sad.

 

[necco]

The mother is ill.

She has at least one diagnosis that can have substantial cognitive impairment. She may or may not be med compliant, either of which presents its own set of cognitive, behavioral and/or emotional side effects.

She is physically disabled and probably in constant pain.

She has lost TWO children to violence, one of which was shot in front of her.


Given these facts, I'm surprised she's as coherent and levelheaded as she is.

As for the life insurance, it could have been a gift. I know grandparents that buy it for children when they are born. Also, as sad as it is to say, but she's already had to bury one child so she is probably familiar with the costs involved. Add this to the fact that she wants to get the heck out of dodge, and I'm not shocked about the insurance inquiry.

 

[Yellow]

I read that quote this morning in another media.

I think it's very possible that little Antonio's mother was mentally ill, had a checkered past, and answers questions in a very odd and suspicious way, AND two young men came up out of the blue and demanded money and then shot that poor baby point-blank.

Both things can be true. So sad.

Yes in one of the articles the daughter says her mom is schizophrenic which might explain the strangeness. If someone is already troubled and this happens to them, what they say may not be what might be "normal" under the circumstances.

If they had the forensics on the boys case closed IMO, so hopefully that is the case and this can be resolved by plea sparing victims from further trauma. If not, any defense will try to capitalize on these sorts of questions from victims family.

 

[Yellow]

The mother is ill.

She has at least one diagnosis that can have substantial cognitive impairment. She may or may not be med compliant, either of which presents its own set of cognitive, behavioral and/or emotional side effects.

She is physically disabled and probably in constant pain.

She has lost TWO children to violence, one of which was shot in front of her.


Given these facts, I'm surprised she's as coherent and levelheaded as she is.

As for the life insurance, it could have been a gift. I know grandparents that buy it for children when they are born. Also, as sad as it is to say, but she's already had to bury one child so she is probably familiar with the costs involved. Add this to the fact that she wants to get the heck out of dodge, and I'm not shocked about the insurance inquiry.

I think too that they advertise baby insurance as more of a savings fund rather than life insurance. The commercials I have seen for Gerber life make it out to be any money not used is saved for future use, so that is why I think many parents sign up for it. Or they get it as a gift. Of course, if an insurance policy is for a million dollars that would be a different situation, but I suspect this was probably one of those Gerber plans for a minimal amount...

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

Just read this in one of the articles. I feel so much better. Just wanted someone to honor & cherish this sweet baby's remains.

The slain child’s body was cremated Monday morning at a funeral home north of Brunswick, said Wally Mathis, a neighbor and friend of his father Louis Santiago.

“Yesterday morning, Lou asked me to take him out there,’’ to the crematory, Mathis said.

Antonio was cremated after they arrived about 10:15 a.m., and someone from the crematory brought the ashes to Santiago Monday afternoon, Mathis said.

“Lou really loved that boy,” and he has his ashes, Mathis said.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/...er-suspect-charged-lying-police#ixzz2OgQjX5gT

 

[NinjaPoof]

The Media just cannot believe two admirable, "honor student,eagle scout, bible quoting" young men..as portrayed by THEMSELVES on Facebook...could possibly DO something like this.

They MUST be victims too. Darling boys!

Gotta be the Mom.

I dunno. But me thinks I see the sarcasm font here. :-D

 

[tlcya]

I understand Ms West not wanting those ashes, at least now, while she is so traumatized and heartsick. I get her wanting to remember Antonio as a happy, loud, smiling baby boy and not as a corpse or ashes.

I worry that she is making a lot of decisions in haste right now, due to grief and not really thinking things through. She is making a major move, packing up herself, sorting and donating baby's items, etc. It's all so fast. No judgment coming from me, just concern, that she is not doing well coping with this.

I am glad that Mr. Santiago has his son's ashes. I feel for him as well. I think he is not thinking terribly clearly either. One moment he is mad with grief and has to be taken into custody to calm down, the next, present during an interview and seemingly offering words of comfort to West, the next apparently blaming her for their son's death. One moment quoted as saying that he forgives Antonio's killer(s) the next calling for their deaths.

These are two parents who are mired in unimaginable grief. My heart hurts for both of them.

 

[TheDuchess]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/26/baby-stroller-death/2021385/

This was just posted in USA Today where the moms daughter said she is questioning mom's actions re: life insurance and sequence of events.

Also this one

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/...ck-victim-Sherry-West-questions-mothers-story

OMG...this is NUTS!!! Does the daughter not realize that LE has arrested 4 people involved in the murder of her little brother??? How dare she insert herself into the story by contacting the press and disparage her own mother, also a victim. She is only working against justice for her baby brother!!!

Geez...and I was aghast at how strangers suspected the mother so quickly-but her own daughter???

As far as the insurance check, I would imagine that the mother had no funds and the family had already spoken with funeral homes, etc... It costs money to bury a person and if she had insurance money coming from his death, I would imagine she was concerned about having those funds available for his burial and or cremation. Child's life insurance policies are typically only enough to cover these costs, as children are not typically "bread-winners."

But the bottom line is that this daughter is jeopardizing the case against the suspects by shooting her mouth off to the press. She called the police and hasn't heard back? Give them a chance!!! The police are currently dealing with 4 suspects in this terrible crime and have apparently located what they believe to be a murder weapon and are currently spending a great deal of time with investigating all of the people involved in the case. Apparently, LE is convinced that mom had nothing to do with this.

Shame on the papers for sensationalizing this story as well.

 

[MsFacetious]

Many people I know have life insurance on kids, through their workplace.
It is generally "a maximum of $10,000."

It isn't something I would seek out on my own, but when offered through work it just seems smart to have it.

 

[TheDuchess]

I understand Ms West not wanting those ashes, at least now, while she is so traumatized and heartsick. I get her wanting to remember Antonio as a happy, loud, smiling baby boy and not as a corpse or ashes.

I worry that she is making a lot of decisions in haste right now, due to grief and not really thinking things through. She is making a major move, packing up herself, sorting and donating baby's items, etc. It's all so fast. No judgment coming from me, just concern, that she is not doing well coping with this.

I am glad that Mr. Santiago has his son's ashes. I feel for him as well. I think he is not thinking terribly clearly either. One moment he is mad with grief and has to be taken into custody to calm down, the next, present during an interview and seemingly offering words of comfort to West, the next apparently blaming her for their son's death. One moment quoted as saying that he forgives Antonio's killer(s) the next calling for their deaths.

These are two parents who are mired in unimaginable grief. My heart hurts for both of them.

This family is in dire need of a victim's advocate PRONTO!!! There is obviously some family disfunction, mental health issues, etc..in addition to the terrible grief of losing their child. Someone from an authority needs to step in and counsel these people. Instruct them to stay out of the press, let LE do its job, seek the proper counsel for grief, etc...

 

[Hickory Born]

This family is in dire need of a victim's advocate PRONTO!!! There is obviously some family disfunction, mental health issues, etc..in addition to the terrible grief of losing their child. Someone from an authority needs to step in and counsel these people. Instruct them to stay out of the press, let LE do its job, seek the proper counsel for grief, etc...

This comment needs to be repeated. Thank you for posting it! I would think Brunswick or Glynn County would have a Victim's Advocate counselor...who should be doing his/her job.

 

[Elley Mae]

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/crime-law/mother-aunt-of-suspect-in-brunswick-baby-shooting-/nW4mh/

Mother, aunt of suspect in Brunswick baby shooting arrested

The aunt, booked at the jail under the name Katrina Elkins, told media outlets that her last name was Freeman. Her mugshot showed her to be the same woman, according to the AP.

 

[2door73chevy]

MOO, I think both are equally disgusting and both should be shut down. But Facebook isn't going to ask my opinion.

OPPS! I just posted on:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Execute-Demarquise-Elkins/354588987993308?ref=ts&fref=ts



I could not help myself.:furious:

 

[tlcya]

“We arrested them last night and brought them back to headquarters, where we afforded them the opportunity to make additional statements,” Doering told the AP on Tuesday. “They did, and that information led us to other witnesses … (who) led us to an area where the gun was disposed of.”

Doering would not provide details on what false statements either woman allegedly made.

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/crime-law/mother-aunt-of-suspect-in-brunswick-baby-shooting-/nW4mh/

lol, they afforded them the opportunity to save their arses from prosecution for impeding the investigation is what they did.

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

“I can tell you we found a gun. I can’t tell you if it’s the gun we were looking for,” Brunswick police spokesman Todd Rhodes said.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2013-03-26/gun-might-be-linked-ga-baby-shooting?v=1364313038

Wonder how long it'll take to know?

 

[tlcya]

this is a high priority case, so depending on how quickly those sorts of tests can be performed and yield results, it should be as quickly as the lab can conduct them. No waiting around behind backlogs of other tests I would imagine.

Wish we had a CSI or forensics person to weigh in on that.

What sort of testing would be being done? Probably ballistics (where they fire the thing and see what the bullet striations look like etc). Not sure if fingerprinting can be done to a weapon that has been submerged in salt marshes. Not sure how salt affects the tests they would want to do.

It would be interesting to know these things.

 

[lonetraveler]

No matter what he reason for killing the Baby...he canot be charged with a hate crime.

http://www.cafemom.com/answers/253807/Why_cant_White_People_be_victims_of_Hate_crimes

Why can't White People be victims of Hate crimes?

"Under questioning, Attorney Gen. Holder was surprisingly forthright in admitting that the hate bill is not intended to protect everyone, or even the majority. He said only historically oppressed minorities were to benefit. This means Jews, blacks, homosexuals, women, etc. Holder made it clear that if a white Christian male, including a serviceman or police officer, was the victim of a violent hate crime by any minority he would have to find redress from traditional law. He could not avail himself of the triple penalties and rapid government/justice system response given a protected minority."

I don't agree with AG Holder, white people have been killed simply due to them being white. I think the hate bill should be null and void and a law written to protect all Americans and not just a chosen few.

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

this is a high priority case, so depending on how quickly those sorts of tests can be performed and yield results, it should be as quickly as the lab can conduct them. No waiting around behind backlogs of other tests I would imagine.

Wish we had a CSI or forensics person to weigh in on that.

What sort of testing would be being done? Probably ballistics (where they fire the thing and see what the bullet striations look like etc). Not sure if fingerprinting can be done to a weapon that has been submerged in salt marshes. Not sure how salt affects the tests they would want to do.

It would be interesting to know these things.

They can retrieve far more info than you'd think. Salt or warm water is the least favorable, but fingerprints and even blood DNA can be retrieved. Even after 4 days. (Even after months.)

 

[tlcya]

that is encouraging PIM, I know we don't KNOW know that this is the murder weapon, but odds say it is, given the circumstances of it being located.

wow, I just realized how many twists and turns we have seen in this case in just a few short days.

Witness reports car driving from vicinity
That tip leads to DL auntie
Aunt leads to DL
DL leads to DE
DE's aunt claims he is with her
DE's mom claims he was at home
DE's aunt and mom end up leading to witnesses
who then lead to a gun tossed in the saltmarsh

that is a lot of LE work in a few short days.

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

It really is. Gotta hand it to them; they've been working their tails off!

So amazing to be searching that pond at 3:30 in the morning...but everyone is fired up over this. I can imagine they have a bit more drive than usual to see this horrific case get justice.