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

[arielilane]

Noticed defendant speaking with TraF during trial? moo

edited: needed to edit comment

 

[RickshawFan]

I find this thread very interesting. Everyone seems to agree that what these parents did to their son is deplorable, and a form of child abuse, and I definitely don't disagree. What I do find intriguing is that if the child was a defendant instead of the victim, lots of us all over WS would be calling for him to be locked up exactly like this, the only real difference being that he would not be locked in the dark.
Obviously I am over simplifying it, but I hope you understand what I mean.

If you don't count the alleged beating, then how is this much different to prison?, which is where many people call for 14 Yr old children to be.

To be clear, I have no time for how these parents treated their son.

The psychiatrist does in fact compare the treatment to life in juvie. Conclusion: there's not nearly as much deprivation in juvie. There's light, food, toilet, ability to call for help, socialization.

 

[arielilane]

Recess until 4:30 PM ET, redirect next and then done for the day until tomorrow.

 

[arielilane]

#Ring video from inside the box of the #BoyInTheBoxTrial shows the arguments between Timothy and Tracy Ferriter and the alleged victim. The Ferriters are accused of locking up their adopted teenage son for up to 18 hours a day in an 8x8 cell.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1710028966550294623

 

[arielilane]

The State continues tomorrow - recess until 8:30 am ET, long day - going possibly until 6:00 pm ET.

Same bat time (actually different) - same bat channel...

Possibly start defense case tomorrow afternoon.

 

[lonetraveler]

Um, is this really the behavior that deserved locking this young man into a garage cell? Is there more to it?

Teenagers are not going to be great playmates for toddlers, sorry to say. I have a million stories like what we’re hearing about today. And this nonsense at school sounds to me like a bright young man who was bored and probably not being taken seriously.

I wonder if what really happened was the parents had this youngest child and instead of rooming those two girls together, which any reasonable person would, then giving the baby a room and the boy a room, they shuffled the “problem” child out of the way. Obviously this turned him into more of a problem.

I tell you what, if someone did that to me I would make SURE to be a problem. I mean, it’s not like he’s coming back into the house-there’s a baby in his room now.

Great post. There really is no reason to sanction him off to live in a box, IMO.

 

[lonetraveler]

The jury is getting a look inside the 8x8 room in the garage.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1709658102776438806

Personally, I think the jury should view the box in person in the dark. With a full pee bucket in the corner.

 

[Dhighsmith]

Super, I'll be looking out for it, Dhighsmith.

I’m still having issues and it may be connected with using my iPhone or simply my incompetence, I can’t even copy and past sections of the study.

It basically details the struggle of families in seeking support for loved ones usually a child diagnosed with a mental disorder and unable to locate facilities or resources for treatment, especially in cases where the family member refuses to voluntarily obtain treatment. They’re limited in the support of government agencies including LE and the court systems that are unable to force compliance over a certain amount of time allowed for holding the individual. Plus, the need of guidance for ensuring effective training for a safe positive home environment that includes monitoring the families of minor children with mental disorders especially those associated with state foster care and adoption systems.

I’m curious if you’re aware of any actions currently being pursued within the mental health system to address situations with a high risk of violent behavior?

The failure to properly treat mental disorders and the lack of training and guidance for caretakers seem to have widespread consequences for patients, families and communities. I’m always heartbroken when there’s a search for a missing loved one who struggles with mental illness and family suspects they’re living on the streets in area homeless compounds, which are known to experience higher rates of criminal activity- I’m sure it’s confusing and frustrating for the patient who may choose to hide from their troubled life. Even worse, are the cases like this Florida couple who as caretakers are ill equipped and unable and likely incapable of providing the positive support for responding to the mental disorders, which only creates additional stress and behavioral issues with greater chances of self harm or harm to another person or child.

So, I’m interested in your thoughts on how best can families obtain the much needed support to provide the care and protection of their loved ones?

Sorry, it’s a lot of questions I know and not exactly the responsibility of the mental health community to “fix” but from my view of outside looking in, it seems these families and children are almost forgotten. There are way too many criminal cases, one is too many and neither Congress or any government agency are recognizing the urgent need for action- the search for truth to the question of UFO’s and Aliens take center stage on Capital Hill while there’s minor children and adults struggling with behavioral issues that might end with them behind bars.

Thanks for any insight that you might have from your position working in the mental health system.

 

[Jurisprudence]

"I don’t have a bad image of Tim and Tracy. They just made a mistake. They were just acting out of frantic surprise of my actions. They were, I believe, they weren’t trying to do any harm," the teen said. "I believe that people should recognize that was a mistake and forgive them and move on."

The damage is clearly deep. jmo

'They just made a mistake': Teen who was locked in a box says parents should be forgiven

The adopted son of defendant Timothy Ferriter also described his treatment as abuse and inhumane.

www.wpbf.com

 

[Jurisprudence]

This child knows no different. It's sad. He's 16 now and this is all he knows. This isn't a he said, she said. There's video. There's the evidence of the box, and the lock. He's probably afraid of going into the system and figures he can "deal with them" and what they do as the lesser of 2 evils so he asks for people to forgive them. He deserves better, though he can't see this.

jmo

 

[lonetraveler]

I firmly believe that each of the parents should spend at least ten days inside of the box, without lights, without a toilet and only meager food and water and then aske them how it worked for them. And don't forget the pee bucket must be in the corner and used by each of them.

 

[Jurisprudence]

I firmly believe that each of the parents should spend at least ten days inside of the box, without lights, without a toilet and only meager food and water and then aske them how it worked for them. And don't forget the pee bucket must be in the corner and used by each of them.

I agree - except I'd make it 4 years. The same amount of time they did this to him. Put them "in a box" for 4 years. Their box will be better. They'll get out for rec time; the lights will stay on longer; they'll have toilet; they'll eat their meals with others. They may even have a window.

jmo

 

[passionflower]

"It's malicious, it's cruel," Child psychologist Dr. Wade Myers from Brown University watched the videos of boy confined in the box room and says it was tortuous, solitary confinement and trauma inducing

https://twitter.com/x/status/1709991229386043577

And the sibling was so afraid her parents would kill him! This is abuse of the other children to live under fear!

 

[lonetraveler]

You know, Defense can dress this up as much as they like but it isn't going to change what happened to this boy.

 

[Jurisprudence]

All the credit in the world to this child who endured this kind of abuse and still manages to be in AP Calculus and AP Chemistry.

I wonder how many kids who have severe "behavioral problems" are able to maintain attendance and grades in these kinds (level) of (very demanding) classes. My guess would be little to none. It doesn't match up. And, their defense is "believe us" because this kid is nothing but a violent problem?

jmo

 

[wendybtn]

I’m still having issues and it may be connected with using my iPhone or simply my incompetence, I can’t even copy and past sections of the study.

It basically details the struggle of families in seeking support for loved ones usually a child diagnosed with a mental disorder and unable to locate facilities or resources for treatment, especially in cases where the family member refuses to voluntarily obtain treatment. They’re limited in the support of government agencies including LE and the court systems that are unable to force compliance over a certain amount of time allowed for holding the individual. Plus, the need of guidance for ensuring effective training for a safe positive home environment that includes monitoring the families of minor children with mental disorders especially those associated with state foster care and adoption systems.

I’m curious if you’re aware of any actions currently being pursued within the mental health system to address situations with a high risk of violent behavior?

The failure to properly treat mental disorders and the lack of training and guidance for caretakers seem to have widespread consequences for patients, families and communities. I’m always heartbroken when there’s a search for a missing loved one who struggles with mental illness and family suspects they’re living on the streets in area homeless compounds, which are known to experience higher rates of criminal activity- I’m sure it’s confusing and frustrating for the patient who may choose to hide from their troubled life. Even worse, are the cases like this Florida couple who as caretakers are ill equipped and unable and likely incapable of providing the positive support for responding to the mental disorders, which only creates additional stress and behavioral issues with greater chances of self harm or harm to another person or child.

So, I’m interested in your thoughts on how best can families obtain the much needed support to provide the care and protection of their loved ones?

Sorry, it’s a lot of questions I know and not exactly the responsibility of the mental health community to “fix” but from my view of outside looking in, it seems these families and children are almost forgotten. There are way too many criminal cases, one is too many and neither Congress or any government agency are recognizing the urgent need for action- the search for truth to the question of UFO’s and Aliens take center stage on Capital Hill while there’s minor children and adults struggling with behavioral issues that might end with them behind bars.

Thanks for any insight that you might have from your position working in the mental health system.

There aren't enough beds and programs for so many of our troubled youth. The only solution I know of in my state is to relinquish your rights and make the child a ward of the state.

 

[Snoopster]

I'm still catching up.
I can empathize with parents who have a very difficult child to handle with mental health issues. And we all know that it can be challenging to access appropriate mental health supports. Sometimes parents have few options and lose it themselves.

However, the Ferriters had a purpose-built room for their son when they arrived in Florida. Did they move there because they thought they could get better support for their 'problem child'? Or did they move their for other reasons and decided to deal with their son by locking him up. Perhaps that will come out in Defense arguments. Regardless, the sister's testimony was devastating. She worried for her brother and saw abuse.

If I had a child with major mental health issues then that would drive all strategies in my life. I wouldn't uproot them and move on without hope of a better solution.

 

[arielilane]

WATCH LIVE: Imprisoned Son Trial — FL v. Timothy Ferriter — Day Four​

Florida man Timothy Ferriter is accused of locking up his adopted son inside of a room he had built in the family’s garage. Ferriter faces charges of aggravated child abuse, false imprisonment and neglect of a child. Court records out of Jupiter, Florida show that the door to the room had a deadbolt on the outside, along with multiple other locks. Investigators also found video from a ceiling camera that showed Ferriter allegedly punching, throwing, and beating the son multiple times. When Ferriter's son wasn't in school, he allegedly was locked in the room — only allowed out to eat or sometimes use the restroom.

 

[arielilane]

WHO ELSE thinks the Ferriter’s need to go live in a box?! How about a box with bars!?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1710291111682490594

HOW?! Is this guy not embarrassed to have the jury hearing all this?! What a maniac!!!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1710285500605517900

 

[arielilane]

LIVE: Psychiatrist testifies calling boy's time the box malicious and cruel

https://twitter.com/x/status/1710276050662645963