GUILTY FL - Lakeland girl, 14, charged with killing newborn son, 19 Sept 2012

[Shelby2]

And your opinion, along with those who agree with it, is why more innocent people will suffer by the hands of those who should have been dealt with permanently in the first place.

If you purposefully take the life of another then there should be no second chances. Why should they get a second chance when the one(s) they murdered will never have that opportunity?

Based on everything I know about this case so far, I am not ready to say 'lock her up forever and throw away the key.' If new facts come out I may change my mind. I highly doubt my opinion will put anyone in danger.

I agree that too many people get second chances they do not deserve and the consequences. But I am addressing THIS case and THIS girl.

 

[JeannaT]

I may be the only one here who doesn't see what she did as being all that different from a teenager who gets an abortion.

My guess is, had she had the resources and ability to get herself to an abortion clinic at 6 weeks along, she would have done it.

Procrastination - IMHO - doesn't make one act so very very completely different from the other.

(Note - I'm actually pro-choice, but have marched in protests on both sides. it's heart wrenching, and horrific, but I really don't see how a society that allows for abortion of healthy babies on demand up til (I don't know how many weeks) can lock a 14 year old up for life for "aborting" her baby at birth).

 

[flourish]

I may be the only one here who doesn't see what she did as being all that different from a teenager who gets an abortion.

My guess is, had she had the resources and ability to get herself to an abortion clinic at 6 weeks along, she would have done it.

Procrastination - IMHO - doesn't make one act so very very completely different from the other.

(Note - I'm actually pro-choice, but have marched in protests on both sides. it's heart wrenching, and horrific, but I really don't see how a society that allows for abortion of healthy babies on demand up til (I don't know how many weeks) can lock a 14 year old up for life for "aborting" her baby at birth).

Well, that's definitely an interesting perspective and provides some food for thought. Unfortunately, in this case, procrastination does make one act very different from the other, simply by the nature of the situation. Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy, not an infant. A newborn is a lot different than a 6-week old fetus. I'm sure we all know that. I just take a bit of issue with referring to stabbing and strangling a living, out-of-the-womb baby as an "abortion," regardless of the quote marks.

I see a big humongous difference between the legal abortion of a fetus, and the deliberate taking of a baby's life.

This was a birthed baby, not an unborn fetus. This baby could have lived on its own outside the womb, if his mother hadn't have taken his life.

I do agree that it's troubling that this girl may face a sentence that many will feel is too harsh. However, the idea that this deliberate slaying of an infant is essentially a form of abortion is really pushing it, IMO.

I am not trying to twist words here, so if I misunderstood, I apologize in advance, but...well, I've said what I needed to say

 

[Shelby2]

In any case, she was too young to consent to an abortion because she is considered too young to make the decision. She would have needed a parents permission. But she is not too young to be tried as an adult.

 

[Ausgirl]

From the mouths of babes... My 13-year old (who turns 14 this week) read about this case on a social network site (I don't discuss murder cases with her, generally speaking). This is what she had to say (I'm paraphrasing, but this is the gist):

"Well, obviously she's mental and her parents were total crap. But she killed her own baby - I'd lock her up for 15 years. And make sure she's had a minimum of 5 years intensive mental therapy before she ever gets out again."

^ Just thought I'd share that.

 

[jjenny]

Abortion obviously isn't the same. This infant was able to live on his own.
And there was no need whatsoever to kill him because of safe heaven laws.
Instead of facing a murder charge as an adult she could have gone with her life if she just left that infant in a safe place.

 

[PHB]

I may be the only one here who doesn't see what she did as being all that different from a teenager who gets an abortion.

My guess is, had she had the resources and ability to get herself to an abortion clinic at 6 weeks along, she would have done it.

Procrastination - IMHO - doesn't make one act so very very completely different from the other.

(Note - I'm actually pro-choice, but have marched in protests on both sides. it's heart wrenching, and horrific, but I really don't see how a society that allows for abortion of healthy babies on demand up til (I don't know how many weeks) can lock a 14 year old up for life for "aborting" her baby at birth).

BBM1: Do tell. How is stabbing a PERSON (yes, a living, breating, baby outside the womb is a person) to death any different from stabbing an older person to death?
BBM2: I never would have guessed.
BBM3: I wasn't an "abortion", it was a homocide (as per the coroner).
Lastly, to put it politely, I think it is in very poor taste to bring abortion politics into this.
JMO

 

[claudicici]

while I see it obviously as homicide not abortion,I don't think the 14 year old girl saw it that way.IMO in her mind the baby was part of her and not a person,the baby was still attached to her and as an adult she would have had rational thoughts as to what can I do about this,what are my options much sooner,the moment she found out she was pregnant..but as a child she needed guidance and involvment from her parents which she was denied.That's why I feel she should not be charged as an adult and her parents are partially responsible.Her mother KNEW she was pregnant,there's no way she did not.If the mother pretended this was not happening and not deal with it of course the child was doing the same thing.

 

[Reader]

I may be the only one here who doesn't see what she did as being all that different from a teenager who gets an abortion.

My guess is, had she had the resources and ability to get herself to an abortion clinic at 6 weeks along, she would have done it.

Procrastination - IMHO - doesn't make one act so very very completely different from the other.

(Note - I'm actually pro-choice, but have marched in protests on both sides. it's heart wrenching, and horrific, but I really don't see how a society that allows for abortion of healthy babies on demand up til (I don't know how many weeks) can lock a 14 year old up for life for "aborting" her baby at birth).

I'm sorry, I do not agree....there is a big difference between abortion at the legal time and what this girl did in killing her newborn BABY.....please to not bring politics into this discussion....TIA to everybody.....

 

[Reader]

In any case, she was too young to consent to an abortion because she is considered too young to make the decision. She would have needed a parents permission. But she is not too young to be tried as an adult.

while I see it obviously as homicide not abortion,I don't think the 14 year old girl saw it that way.IMO in her mind the baby was part of her and not a person,the baby was still attached to her and as an adult she would have had rational thoughts as to what can I do about this,what are my options much sooner,the moment she found out she was pregnant..but as a child she needed guidance and involvment from her parents which she was denied.That's why I feel she should not be charged as an adult and her parents are partially responsible.Her mother KNEW she was pregnant,there's no way she did not.If the mother pretended this was not happening and not deal with it of course the child was doing the same thing.

I agree and have said/agreed before that the mother was in total denial of the situation and should be charged with neglect, IMO.

However, the thing is, the girl decided on her own to conceal and deny her pregnancy to her parents and others (not everybody) and not to seek help from them or sources she was well aware of.....to me, she fed into her mother's denial and used it for her concealment of the pregnancy...by that decision of the girl, other solutions such as abortion, giving up the baby to foster care or adoption were negated...IMO

 

[flipflop]

I may be the only one here who doesn't see what she did as being all that different from a teenager who gets an abortion.

My guess is, had she had the resources and ability to get herself to an abortion clinic at 6 weeks along, she would have done it.

Procrastination - IMHO - doesn't make one act so very very completely different from the other.

(Note - I'm actually pro-choice, but have marched in protests on both sides. it's heart wrenching, and horrific, but I really don't see how a society that allows for abortion of healthy babies on demand up til (I don't know how many weeks) can lock a 14 year old up for life for "aborting" her baby at birth).

I will not get into an abortion debate.....as no one had one in this case.
She did not abort a fetus, she murdered a newborn baby with her bare hands and a pair of scissors!!!!

 

[Shelby2]

[/B]

I agree and have said/agreed before that the mother was in total denial of the situation and should be charged with neglect, IMO.

However, the thing is, the girl decided on her own to conceal and deny her pregnancy to her parents and others (not everybody) and not to seek help from them or sources she was well aware of.....to me, she fed into her mother's denial and used it for her concealment of the pregnancy...by that decision of the girl, other solutions such as abortion, giving up the baby to foster care or adoption were negated...IMO

I do not know if this is true or not, but neighbors said that an older sister got pregnant and was disowned.
The way this mother is, even if the girl did go to the mother and said "I'm pregnant" the mother would have said "no you are not!". Other adults, relatives, had told the mother they thought she was pregnant. In June she was "obviously pregnant" to other adults. This mother was living in La La Land and so probably was the girl.

 

[Shelby2]

http://m.xojane.com/issues/cassidy-goodson-is-victim-of-floridas-backward-sex-ed-curriculum


Is Cassidy Goodson a Victim of Florida's Backward Sex-Ed Curriculum?

 

[lisalei321]

http://m.xojane.com/issues/cassidy-goodson-is-victim-of-floridas-backward-sex-ed-curriculum


Is Cassidy Goodson a Victim of Florida's Backward Sex-Ed Curriculum?

Well thought article...

Sent from my Coolpad using Tapatalk 2

 

[PHB]

Well thought article...

Sent from my Coolpad using Tapatalk 2

I don't believe I have to repeat this, but this homocide has nothing to do with abortion, abstinance-only sex-ed, or Republicans. It is really, really tacky to attempt to politicize this.

 

[lisalei321]

Originally Posted by lisalei321<br />
Well thought article...<br />
<br />
Sent from my Coolpad using Tapatalk 2

<br />
<br />
<br />
I don't believe I have to repeat this, but this homocide has nothing to do with abortion, abstinance-only sex-ed, or Republicans. It is really, really tacky to attempt to politicize this.

I thought the article was well written, and explored the the options that were NOT available, to this girl.

It is still my opinion, that yes punishment is in order, but we still need to hold her mother accountable as well. And for her to be treated as the child she still is.

IMO, JMO, & MOO

Sent from my Coolpad using Tapatalk 2

 

[Shelby2]

I don't believe I have to repeat this, but this homocide has nothing to do with abortion, abstinance-only sex-ed, or Republicans. It is really, really tacky to attempt to politicize this.

It could have a lot with why she got pregnant in the first place.
I thought it was interesting and I was very surprised that there are actually still schools that teach abstinence.

 

[nao]

just moo - what would you do if you were her? you could talk to many services or school councillors - but you would not be offered a safe place, they would contact your parent, and all hell would break loose. Which is why kids don't talk.
She did kill a child, but it was'nt a child to her, it was something she would get in trouble for.
not seeing anything about the boyfriends family being involved, so i guess he hoped the problem would disapear too. -he also did not communicate with his parents - i guess.

 

[Seajay]

It's just a really sad and tragic case. I'm not making excuses for her but I think that maybe it wasn't a real thing to her, a human being, I think she was in denial of her situation and that she ignored it for the most part. We are thinking here with rational adult minds, we know it was a baby, a child, a human being and we know this child mattered. But maybe not to her in her tweeked little 14 year old mind. She may have just seen it as an extension of herself that she got rid of. I don't think she viewed him as a baby, a separate human being.

I say this because otherwise I don't see how she could have done what she did.

And 14 is young. She is a child herself. She needed the guidance of a parent, and Lord knows she didn't have that. She obviously was afraid to tell her mother for reasons that right now are only clear to her. Fact is if she wasn't afraid to tell her mother, she would have.

She made an adult situation, yet didn't have an adult to help her make the right decisions. I believe if she had that, the outcome would have been way different.

I do hope someone takes responsibility for this baby and names him and gives him a decent burial. Someone has to care about this poor soul. May he RIP.

 

[Reader]

It's just a really sad and tragic case. I'm not making excuses for her but I think that maybe it wasn't a real thing to her, a human being, I think she was in denial of her situation and that she ignored it for the most part. We are thinking here with rational adult minds, we know it was a baby, a child, a human being and we know this child mattered. But maybe not to her in her tweeked little 14 year old mind. She may have just seen it as an extension of herself that she got rid of. I don't think she viewed him as a baby, a separate human being.

I say this because otherwise I don't see how she could have done what she did.

And 14 is young. She is a child herself. She needed the guidance of a parent, and Lord knows she didn't have that. She obviously was afraid to tell her mother for reasons that right now are only clear to her. Fact is if she wasn't afraid to tell her mother, she would have.

She made an adult situation, yet didn't have an adult to help her make the right decisions. I believe if she had that, the outcome would have been way different.

I do hope someone takes responsibility for this baby and names him and gives him a decent burial. Someone has to care about this poor soul. May he RIP.

Good post, Seajay! I agree with what you say but still have to go back to the statements she made to the LE/prosecutors and their decision to charge her as an adult.

They saw something in her statement and demeanor that made them think/feel that C made the decision to kill the baby deliberately and conceal the death, and this decision was made in spite of their knowledge of her lack of support from the parents, other relatives and lack of resources available.

From what the sheriff and other LE said, it seems it wasn't the birth itself, even with the use of the scissors, that led them to charge her with murder, but the fact that she admitted then taking up the baby and strangling him.... as the sheriff said, he 'just can't get over that' and neither can I. And he made the point of saying this decision was very difficult for them to make.

When is the next court date, does anybody know? Will there be a preliminary hearing? I'm hoping that all of these factors pointed out by those against her 'adult' status will be taken into consideration then and during the trial, so she can receive a fair determination, along with appropriate justice for the lost baby.

I am the last person to want a child of 14 to be unjustly prosecuted but what C did was so shocking and abnormal to me that it just calls for justice for this poor baby...yes, we've seen teens and young women kill their unwanted babies before, but not in such a violent and deliberate way....I just can't get over it either.....