FL - Henry Sengaroun for rape of 8yo girl, St Petersburg, 2006

[SewingDeb]

This was a neighborhood park I'm wondering if the mom and her little ones didn't frequent it often. If so, some of the same people in the neighborhood are probably also frequent visitors. I wonder if when the mom realized that she had left her stove on she didn't ask someone that she knew from being at the park at the same times to keep an eye on the kids while she ran home to turn the stove off.

The article said that the kids saw a man watching them and they got scared and started to run home. Maybe if someone was watching them she didn't see them taking off when they did. Instead of the kids running to an adult they headed for home and mom. This could very easily have been the case.

My concern here is with the little girl. I hope the mom got her into therapy right away. Well, after seeing a doctor. It's so important. I'm sure that the mother is being eaten alive with guilt and she doesn't need me to attack her.
The mom can't go back and change what happened. None of us can ever go back and right wrongs in our lives. No matter what the wrongs were. My prayers are with this whole family. Especially for the healing of this little girl.

Good point, Bobbi. I hope she did ask a neighbor to watch the children. If she did, she shouldn't be blamed at all. JMO. Of course, she will feel guilty nevertheless.

 

[Paladin]

From the sounds of it, this guy was cranked on something, and if he wanted to rape a child in his current state of mind, he was going to find one, whether they were with a parent or not.

I have to take Southerngirl's side on this. I thought we at Websleuths didn't "bash" victims. The mother is a victim in this too.

If I were to go to the Natalee Holloway forums and say that her mother is at fault for letting her daughter go to Aruba out of her supervision I would probably get a warning from a moderator. Why is it any different here?

 

[southerngirl]

I have been thinking of Natalee and her mom this morning, Paladin. Although an ardent supporter of Natalee and her mom, I've always said, "If only she hadn't gotten into the car with those 3 boys...." Natalee AND her mom are 100% innocent victims. I still say that many of our everyday choices are only poor in hindsight..."If only I'd not let my daughter go on that trip...." "If only I'd locked the door...." "If only I'd not left my children alone for 5 minutes...." For most of us, second-guessing ourselves and suffering for our decisions is part of life and so-called "consequences." As other posters on this thread have pointed out, probably this mother is feeling intense guilt and pain over her choice and has to live with this for the rest of her life.

Years ago I sent my son to a summer church camp and his camp counselor, 16, was disturbed. He locked his four charges in a dark closet, he stripped one boy and threw him out in the hall, he told one boy "if you run around the room nude I'll make your bed up for the rest of the week." When my son wanted to call home he was told, "the phones are broken." This camp counselor was an Eagle Scout and honor student. When we picked our son up he cried all the way home as he told us of his experiences. My husband called everyone the second we entered the house, from LE to the camp director to the Methodist bishop. There was a court proceeding, and the boy was placed on probation as well as directed to mandatory counseling for one year. I felt intense guilt that I had sent my son to summer camp. My dh didn't want him to go, but I insisted. I went to the same camp as a child, and had great fun. But dh told me later, as I unloaded my guilt onto him, "It was a reasonable decision." The church provided us with free counseling. I didn't really blame the church, either. They had strict guidelines as to who became a camp counselor, and this boy's credentials and references were impeccible. We all made choices in this situation. In hindsight, of course I wish my son had not been through this experience. I regret my decision to send him to camp. Yes, he suffered because of my decision. But, as dh said, it was a "reasonable decision." Same with this mom. To leave 7 and 8 year olds for 5 minutes in a park 1/2 block away from home while you quickly turn off a stove was, IMHO, a "reasonable decision." which as southcitymom so eloquently stated, resulted in a "terrible collision with evil."

 

[SewingDeb]

I agree totally with you, Marie. As you said, parents need to consider all factors such as the safety of their community, the maturity of their children, etc. when making decisions about when and where to leave their children alone. To paint all mothers who leave their children alone with a wide brush as "irresponsible" or "negligent" is unfair and wrong. I am sure this mother will not be blamed by the legal system either. I too feel it is detrimental to the wellbeing of children to make them live in constant fear and to keep them on too tight of a leash. I teach my children safety rules and we have communication tools always available such as cells and walkie talkies. Something could still happen, but we've done our best to minimize the possibility. My heart is with this child AND her mother.

If this little girl had a cell phone with her, do you think it would have changed anything?

BTW: You can supervise your children without instilling constant fear in them. It is the parent's duty to protect their children.

 

[southerngirl]

If this little girl had a cell phone with her, do you think it would have changed anything?

BTW: You can supervise your children without instilling constant fear in them. It is the parent's duty to protect their children.

Quite possibly. The children could have called the mom and said, "This creepy guy is staring at us" and not left the park, which is when he took the opportunity to attack. Mom could have hurried back. So yes, we'll never know for sure, but cells are one safety precaution that I believe could have maybe prevented this crime. But the perp would have found someone else. He was trolling and actively looking for a victim. One block over he may have found a little girl retrieving mail from her mailbox and decided to attack her instead. Would you have blamed her mother too?

 

[SewingDeb]

Quite possibly. The children could have called the mom and said, "This creepy guy is staring at us" and not left the park, which is when he took the opportunity to attack. Mom could have hurried back. So yes, we'll never know for sure, but cells are one safety precaution that I believe could have maybe prevented this crime. But the perp would have found someone else. He was trolling and actively looking for a victim. One block over he may have found a little girl retrieving mail from her mailbox and decided to attack her instead. Would you have blamed her mother too?

No, not if she was home supervising her child.

 

[southerngirl]

No, not if she was home supervising her child.

My point, what if the child was unsupervised for 5 minutes to go to the mailbox?(Mom was home but not directly watching the child during that 5 minutes). These moments happen millions of times a day to millions of families across the U.S. Although some posters here claim they never take their eyes off their children, I have found that to be literally impossible in my years of motherhood.

 

[SewingDeb]

My point, what if the child was unsupervised for 5 minutes to go to the mailbox?(Mom was home but not directly watching the child during that 5 minutes). These moments happen millions of times a day to millions of families across the U.S. Although some posters here claim they never take their eyes off their children, I have found that to be literally impossible in my years of motherhood.

You're right. It is impossible to never take your eyes off your children but I do see a difference between a child being attacked in their own front yard compared to the attack happening when they are left alone in a park.

I am just about positive that this particular mother will never leave her children alone in a park (or anywhere) again. It's a hard way to learn that it is never a good idea.

 

[kidzndogznme]

Good and he is legally an adult so he can be tried as one. I agree Mama, the bigger and hornier the better for a cellmate.

I hope he has a very large, very horny cell mate who knows exactly what he did to get there!

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=35803

 

[MrsMush99]

I'm so glad they caught him. I hope he rots in jail.

 

[Floh]

I'm so glad they caught him. I hope he rots in jail.

Don't count on it - apparently Henry Sengaroun has 'mental health issues'

defence enough to save him from jail?

Kenny Miller knew Henry Sengaroun was mentally disturbed, and even his own mother was afraid of him. Sometimes, the 18-year-old would wander the neighborhood aimlessly, said Miller, a community police officer.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/21/Southpinellas/Man_is_arrested_in_ra.shtml

 

[southerngirl]

I would be interested in his history, specifically whether he has been accused in the past of assaulting children. Since he is just 18, his juvenile record (if he has one) may be sealed. I would guess he has some sort of history, maybe as a peeping-tom or public indecency. I doubt he began so suddenly with child rape in broad daylight. What type of home did he come from? Any history of mental illness? Was he sexually assaulted as a child? We may never know, unfortunately.

 

[Paladin]

Don't count on it - apparently Henry Sengaroun has 'mental health issues'

Um, call me crazy, but anyone who rapes a child has mental health issues. It should NOT be a defense of any kind. Lock him away, we don't need him and we don't want him.

 

[Floh]

Um, call me crazy, but anyone who rapes a child has mental health issues. It should NOT be a defense of any kind. Lock him away, we don't need him and we don't want him.

I heartily agree - but you know defence lawyers.

 

[MrsMush99]

Um, call me crazy, but anyone who rapes a child has mental health issues. It should NOT be a defense of any kind. Lock him away, we don't need him and we don't want him.

I agree with you 100%. But you know the defense will throw anything out there to try and make it stick.

 

[bakerprune64]

Not in most school districts. My son began learning it in the 3rd grade and it was required to be used last year in 4th grade. That seems to be the norm among many of our friends' kids scattered across the US - including Florida.

Same here in California Jules.

 

[Hez]

This sick freak (which doesn't qualify as a valid defence in my opinion) did this in broad daylight in front of several witnesses. I think he would have done this even if the mother would have been in the park with her kids, the mother merely an obstacle to subdue or even kill so that he could catch his prey. Did she display poor judgement? Absolutely. Should she be vilified for it? I don't think so. She is probably already doing that to herself. I am so sick of hearing about kids and babies being raped. I don't believe pedophiles can be rehabilitated. I seriously hope this lowlife stain on humanity is getting a severe a$$-pounding in jail right now. He deserves nothing more for the rest of his life, 'mental' issues or not. :behindbar

As a parent I feel so hopeless and helpless knowing that there are predators like this in every neighbourhood and that law enforcement is already strained trying to deal with this problem. I commend anyone in law enforcement who takes on this type of work, because I know I wouldn't have the stomach or the resolve for it. One thing I know for sure is that when my son is old enough to use a computer, he will NOT be getting one in his room. He will use the one and only computer in our house that is located in the living room where I can keep an eye on absolutely everything he is doing online. And absolutely NO #$%@# CHAT ROOMS. If he wants to 'chat' with his friends, he can pick up the damn phone and call them, I will never ever waver on this. I saw a re-run of Oprah the other day and a Detective who posed as a child online to trick pedophiles said to keep your kids out of chat rooms because there is always someone there preying on kids and the conversations almost always become sexual. I apologize for the long rant as my first post, but as you can see it is an issue I have very strong opinions about. :innocent:

 

[southerngirl]

This sick freak (which doesn't qualify as a valid defence in my opinion) did this in broad daylight in front of several witnesses. I think he would have done this even if the mother would have been in the park with her kids, the mother merely an obstacle to subdue or even kill so that he could catch his prey. Did she display poor judgement? Absolutely. Should she be vilified for it? I don't think so. She is probably already doing that to herself. I am so sick of hearing about kids and babies being raped. I don't believe pedophiles can be rehabilitated. I seriously hope this lowlife stain on humanity is getting a severe a$$-pounding in jail right now. He deserves nothing more for the rest of his life, 'mental' issues or not. :behindbar

As a parent I feel so hopeless and helpless knowing that there are predators like this in every neighbourhood and that law enforcement is already strained trying to deal with this problem. I commend anyone in law enforcement who takes on this type of work, because I know I wouldn't have the stomach or the resolve for it. One thing I know for sure is that when my son is old enough to use a computer, he will NOT be getting one in his room. He will use the one and only computer in our house that is located in the living room where I can keep an eye on absolutely everything he is doing online. And absolutely NO #$%@# CHAT ROOMS. If he wants to 'chat' with his friends, he can pick up the damn phone and call them, I will never ever waver on this. I saw a re-run of Oprah the other day and a Detective who posed as a child online to trick pedophiles said to keep your kids out of chat rooms because there is always someone there preying on kids and the conversations almost always become sexual. I apologize for the long rant as my first post, but as you can see it is an issue I have very strong opinions about. :innocent:

Welcome to Websleuths, Hez. I do agree parents should keep a close eye on their children's computer activities. We too have one computer in a central room and my children will get their first laptops when they go off to college. The MSNBC predator show (where LE lures internet predators to meetings with LE who the predator thinks is a child he has been conversing with online) really opened my eyes to the scum enticing our children. They come from all walks of life, like teachers, rabbis, doctors, paramedics. They are young, old, and middle-aged. They are caucasian, black, Indian, of oriental descent, etc. They look like the guy next door. I hope these sting operations broaden and continue to ensnare these child predators.

 

[MREG2]

If this little girl had a cell phone with her, do you think it would have changed anything?

BTW: You can supervise your children without instilling constant fear in them. It is the parent's duty to protect their children.

Yes, it is the parents' responsibility to protect our children but dear God you can not be beside them 100% of the time. I'm learning this now when my oldest goes off to preschool and I will be leaving her in the hands of people, whom I hope are decent and respectable. After reading this, I am petrified that if something happens to her, then I will be to blame. After all, won't it be me leaving her there and not physically there to "protect" her???

 

[MREG2]

My point, what if the child was unsupervised for 5 minutes to go to the mailbox?(Mom was home but not directly watching the child during that 5 minutes). These moments happen millions of times a day to millions of families across the U.S. Although some posters here claim they never take their eyes off their children, I have found that to be literally impossible in my years of motherhood.

Isn't that the truth. And let's pray that that mom who is watching her child get the mail doesn't need to blink.....