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

[Cappuccino]

Respectfully, that heinous act was murder and IMO, overkill.

32 scissor stabs and blunt trauma? Regardless of the circumstances, her crime is horrific and cannot be excused.

I am pro choice, but performing an abortion on yourself while in labor is a little outside my area of acceptance.

I'm not excusing her, Frayed Knot. I'm saying she should be dealt with as a juvenile, not that she shouldn't be dealt with at all.

There is always a possibility she had a boyfriend of the same age. In which case it's neither rape nor incest. Since dead infant was found I have no doubt they will do DNA tests to clear that up.

There is, but until that possibility is proven we really don't know how she got pregnant. Rushing to call for the harshest response possible from the criminal justice system at this stage seems a bit....Victorian, to put it politely.

 

[Flutterby80]

Not possible? Really? She is not the first to deliver a child by herself. We have several threads going on women delivering children by themselves to either dump somewhere or allegedly murder as in this case. There is one young woman accused of killing twins after she delivered them by herself.

Did someone say it wasn't possible?

 

[passionflower]

Was anyone home at the time with her?
From the news it looks like the home is a single wide
mobile home.
It may have 2 baths, but even if it is 12x60, you can here
even a grunt in a bathroom in that small space.
Did the baby never cry? Was it already dead from the head wounds?
She was able to deliver, kill, hide and do a big clean up?
How much time would she be in the bathroom???
When did she go to the hospital saying miscarriage?
She looks tiny, hiding her pregnancy would be hard even in sweats.
It is hot in Fla in the summer, no swimsuits? shorts? halter tops?
Is the father a young love? or someone older?
Lots of questions still........maybe I missed a few things.
Who would ever think of scissors to PRY a baby out of yourself?

 

[jjenny]

It was suspected that she was pregnant. But apparently her mother was in denial as well. She allowed her daughter to take two pregnancy tests in private. These tests came out negative. Obviously the 14 year old could have just poured some water on the test and no one would be any wiser.

 

[PHB]

SCOTUS recently struck down LWOP for juveniles, but according to this article, it's still a possibility:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...-on-juvenile-life-without-parole-is-weak.html

I'm no legal scholar, but I think the gist is that mandatory LWOP is unconstitutional, but can still be an option.

As for my personal opinion, unless some serious mitigating factors come to light, I think charging her as an adult is appropriate.

 

[FrayedKnot]

I'm not excusing her, Frayed Knot. I'm saying she should be dealt with as a juvenile, not that she shouldn't be dealt with at all.



There is, but until that possibility is proven we really don't know how she got pregnant. Rushing to call for the harshest response possible from the criminal justice system at this stage seems a bit....Victorian, to put it politely.

Gotcha, but a juvenile that stabs her own baby to death is still a murderer and IMO there is something pretty broken there that isn't likely to be fixed.

 

[Reader]

Very troubling case...I've snipped some of these posts just for space.....

Exactly....we seem to be missing something. Why was she not asked where the newborn was? or asked what she did with it? No one was looking for the recently delivered baby. The girls mother was doing laundry and noticed the smell and found it.....something is just not adding up with this!!!!!

When you get to read the pdf/criminal complaint, during the "hospital visit, C admitted to her mother she had a miscarriage and flushed the fetus down the toilet without looking."

She didn't get pregnant by drinking out of a cracked cup. What's the age of consent in Florida? Somebody must be responsible for this pregnancy, who and how old are they?

.........She was clearly unable to tell any of the adults in her life that she was in trouble and committed a heinous and tragic act through desparation and immaturity.

Here's a link about the age of consent in Fl.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America#Florida

"The age of consent in Florida is 18, but close in age exemptions exist. By law, the exception permits a person 23 years of age or younger to engage in legal sexual activity with a minor aged 16 or 17.

794.05 Unlawful sexual activity with certain minors.-- (1) A person 24 years of age or older who engages in sexual activity with a person 16 or 17 years of age commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. As used in this section, "sexual activity" means oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another; however, sexual activity does not include an act done for a bona fide medical purpose Florida code, Title XLVI, Chapter 794"

Who was the father is the question...C was under the age of consent no matter what the circumstances of getting pregnant but she made no claim of sexual abuse or rape in talking to LE...this is something we'll find out as the case proceeds, if the father is known, is an adult or minor, if abuse was involved and if charges will be filed against him.

The lack of communication and denial in the family is very disturbing...her maternal aunts had been telling the mother for the last 5 months they thought C was pregnant but the mother only took C's word/denial about it. She should have taken C to a doctor to find out, not just let the girl give herself a test!

I'm not sure if C was afraid of telling the parents or just didn't want to disappoint them with her pregnancy or some other reason. BUT she told LE she was aware of other alternatives/plans she could make but chose not do to anything. LE obviously think from talking to her that she deliberately killed the infant and that is why she was charged with murder...whether there are other circumstances that need to be taken into account remain to be seen...a lot will be told if and when they decide whether to charge her as an adult, and if the mother is charged also.

Reader, in no way was I trying to pressure you about the pdf link. I had already found the pdf link, just could not open it because of the Adobe thing, and was planning to take care of it later.

I appreciate your thoughts about why the 14-yr old's name and photo has been published. Very strange doings by MSM.

<snipped by me>

southernnana, no prob, was no pressure to me...I just wanted to be sure it was OK with the mods first....

Hey Guys - let's not bicker here. This is an emotionally charged case and very, very sad. We have a child giving birth to a child, and from a very quick read, a mom that may also be facing charges.

We don't know what happened yet, so let's use a little restraint here, okay? As always, MSM and LE statements are usable and discussable. You may theorize and speculate. But please use a little caution in regards to the girl's name, changing it to initials when quoting from MSM. We don't know, yet, if she is a victim of child sex abuse.

This is not about defending her, this is about getting the facts.

Please let me or any of the mods know if you have questions. I will get caught up in the thead right away.

Salem

Thanks for your help! Yes, we need a lot more facts....

It was suspected that she was pregnant. But apparently her mother was in denial as well. She allowed her daughter to take two pregnancy tests in private. These tests came out negative. Obviously the 14 year old could have just poured some water on the test and no one would be any wiser.

I just don't understand what this mother was thinking...even the LE said she was in complete denial...she took the word of her daughter in everything, not taking into account what was in front of her eyes and dealing with it...I abhor what C did to her baby but she wouldn't have been able to keep the pregnancy hidden and not make a plan, without her mother also refusing to deal with reality of what was happening with her daughter. The lack of real communication in the matter makes me wonder what was going on with the family. Not being available when her dau. needed help, giving her support and medical attention....that is neglect to me, at the least.

 

[Oblio]

I'm not trying to dismiss or downplay the crime. I just don't think that she should be tried as an adult.

She does not have the mental capacity or the thought process of an adult. She doesn't understand that things don't go away when they are placed under the bed. She is of the age that disappointing her parents is scarier than giving birth alone and hiding it. Her choice simply wasn't an adult choice, it wasn't made with the reasoning skills an adult has.

While I feel that the crime was selfish, I don't think she understands the gravity of it. And I don't think she killed the baby to kill the baby. I think she was really just thinking if she could hide it, it would be gone, and she could go on with her life and her parents would be none the wiser. It's very frightening to think of, but I'm not sure what locking her away for life is going to do. Prison shouldn't be about retribution. Prison should be about rehabilitating those who can be, and protecting society from those who can't. I'm thinking that in time, she will grow and understand. One young life has been wasted here. I see no point in wasting another.

I know I'm likely of the unpopular opinion around here, but I'm sorry. This isn't the case of a juvenile that sought out a victim or has a long history of hurting others or animals. I think there is hope for her.

 

[sadnpod]

Its not a popular opinion, but its mine as well. She is not an adult. I dont care what the crime, if you are not an adult.. you should not be charged as one! MOOOOOOO

 

[FrayedKnot]

I'm not trying to dismiss or downplay the crime. I just don't think that she should be tried as an adult.

She does not have the mental capacity or the thought process of an adult. She doesn't understand that things don't go away when they are placed under the bed. She is of the age that disappointing her parents is scarier than giving birth alone and hiding it. Her choice simply wasn't an adult choice, it wasn't made with the reasoning skills an adult has.

While I feel that the crime was selfish, I don't think she understands the gravity of it. And I don't think she killed the baby to kill the baby. I think she was really just thinking if she could hide it, it would be gone, and she could go on with her life and her parents would be none the wiser. It's very frightening to think of, but I'm not sure what locking her away for life is going to do. Prison shouldn't be about retribution. Prison should be about rehabilitating those who can be, and protecting society from those who can't. I'm thinking that in time, she will grow and understand. One young life has been wasted here. I see no point in wasting another.

I know I'm likely of the unpopular opinion around here, but I'm sorry. This isn't the case of a juvenile that sought out a victim or has a long history of hurting others or animals. I think there is hope for her.

It's okay to be unpopular! I usually am in that club, lol.

But the repeated stab marks tell a different story than that of a scared little girl who just panicked.

And respectfully, my 10-YO daughter would know that putting the stabbed and choked to death body of a newborn infant in a shoebox does not mean it "went away". She probably would think that about a bad test paper but she is able to differentiate between that and a human being.

I still say something is broken there and can't be fixed.

 

[Oblio]

I don't think she panicked. I do think she intended to birth the child and hide it any way she could. And I don't think she ever looked at the baby as a human being. He wasn't a he to her, but an it, and an it she had to hide.

And I almost agree with your statement that there's something there that can't be fixed. I just don't think it rests solely on her shoulders. There's some mental deficit, there has to be. But that doesn't mean that she can't recover from this low point in her life.

 

[flipflop]

Very troubling case...I've snipped some of these posts just for space.....



When you get to read the pdf/criminal complaint, during the "hospital visit, C admitted to her mother she had a miscarriage and flushed the fetus down the toilet without looking."

I realize that, BUT why didn't the Doc and nurses question where the newborn was, they should be able to tell the difference between a recent 9.5 lb delivery and a miscarriage that was small enough to flush it down the toilet.

 

[flipflop]

A FB group has been started...

https://www.facebook.com/#!/PrayForCassidyGoodmanHerSon?fref=ts

 

[Reader]

Its not a popular opinion, but its mine as well. She is not an adult. I dont care what the crime, if you are not an adult.. you should not be charged as one! MOOOOOOO

I don't think of opinions as 'unpopular', just different. But I do think that there are times when it is appropriate to charge a juvenile as an adult...as I said before I'm thinking this is one of them unless there are very valid extenuating circumstances yet to come out....

I don't think she panicked. I do think she intended to birth the child and hide it any way she could. And I don't think she ever looked at the baby as a human being. He wasn't a he to her, but an it, and an it she had to hide.

And I almost agree with your statement that there's something there that can't be fixed. I just don't think it rests solely on her shoulders. There's some mental deficit, there has to be. But that doesn't mean that she can't recover from this low point in her life.

BBM....this very idea of her not thinking of the baby as a human being/baby attached to her (he was still connected by the cord when she strangled him) that makes me think she is not capable of empathy and may be beyond help..

What do you think of the mother's responsibility in this situation?

Why did C say she 'didn't want to change the relationship with her parents'? What does that mean?

Very troubling case...I've snipped some of these posts just for space.....

When you get to read the pdf/criminal complaint, during the "hospital visit, C admitted to her mother she had a miscarriage and flushed the fetus down the toilet without looking."

I realize that, BUT why didn't the Doc and nurses question where the newborn was, they should be able to tell the difference between a recent 9.5 lb delivery and a miscarriage that was small enough to flush it down the toilet.

Oh, I agree and have no clue as to how they missed this...I hope somebody is doing a review of the ER staff who handled this case to see how that happened.

 

[grace60]

Reader, in no way was I trying to pressure you about the pdf link. I had already found the pdf link, just could not open it because of the Adobe thing, and was planning to take care of it later.

I appreciate your thoughts about why the 14-yr old's name and photo has been published. Very strange doings by MSM.

<snipped by me>

The local paper theledger.com was on the internet @ 09/28/12 @ 7:37 am. (Friday) It was modified @ 1:13 pm. I saw it early and was surprised they had her name and pic. I searched for other articles and found none. I was going to post it but felt if I waited their would be more about it. I figured if the local paper had it on the front page they knew what they were doing.

Here is the first link I saw

http://www.theledger.com/article/20120928/NEWS/120929363?tc=cr

http://www.theledger.com/article/20120928/NEWS/120929363?tc=cr

 

[flipflop]

I really have to question the parenting skills in this household. It is very sad that this 14yr old had no support system when a crisis arises. How did this mother not notice, the 2 aunts even went to the mother to question that CG looked pregnant. How did the mother not notice that CG missed her period for that many months, she would have to buy the feminine products for her, I assume. Dressing in sweaters during the summer in the state of FL would raise red flags as well. This mother must have been in a great deal of denial to miss all of this or she just plain has zero parenting skills.

 

[jjenny]

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.
Mother sounds like she was in deep.
She should have taken her daughter to a doctor instead of allowing her to take pregnancy tests in private.

 

[Reader]

The local paper theledger.com was on the internet @ 09/28/12 @ 7:37 am. (Friday) It was modified @ 1:13 pm. I saw it early and was surprised they had her name and pic. I searched for other articles and found none. I was going to post it but felt if I waited their would be more about it. I figured if the local paper had it on the front page they knew what they were doing.

Here is the first link I saw

http://www.theledger.com/article/20120928/NEWS/120929363?tc=cr

http://www.theledger.com/article/20120928/NEWS/120929363?tc=cr

Thanks...new info from your link:

Detectives are working on determining who the father of the baby is, Judd said. He said they may have an idea of his identity, but don't have confirmation yet.

Goodson showed little or no emotion when she was interviewed by detectives, Judd said.

-------

Judd said detectives are still investigating and haven't ruled out the possibility of charging adults who may have known about the pregnancy of the underage girl and helped keep it a secret.

The state Department of Children and Families is also investigating.

 

[flipflop]

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.
Mother sounds like she was in deep.
She should have taken her daughter to a doctor instead of allowing her to take pregnancy tests in private.

If she was my daughter I would have dragged her into the bathroom and made her do a preg test infront of me.....someone should have told Momma G. that she is responsible for her 14yr old daughter and her well being, as she obviously does not understand this role of the parent!!!!

 

[Lilachaze]

That’s horrible! ‘She took a pair of scissors to "pry the baby out."’ I’m just shocked and sickened. I can’t understand what was going through her head that she thought murder was the only way out. Part of me feels sorry for her she must have been scared and alone YET part of me is asking WHY! How could she? Plus she hid the baby in a shoebox so she knew her actions were wrong.