FL - Sarah Lunde, 13, murdered, Ruskin, 9 April 2005

[richandfamous]

O'Riley has youth minister on and will have Couey's neice on later!!!

youth minister says she loved her mother and family but asked for prayer for them
he says her life was troubled.
O'Riley says mother was charged with drugs
Everyone let this little girl down.


sounds like the youth minister has been counseled not to make remarks about the family irresponsibilty
sorry I'm not very good at transcribing

 

[txsvicki]

Nancy Grace had an older man on her show, a minister. I don't know if he is the youth minister or another, but I was very glad to see that he is not running his mouth. He answered the questions, and talked about Sarah. I was so offended at the reports of what the ministers were saying in the btk case, and in the Jessica Lunsford murder. Telling the church or the world to forgive the murderers is not appropriate in these cases and neither is running down the parents. Nancy Grace and the authorities can handle that and they should if necessary. There was even a spot of a woman who I guess was a church member showing anger at the murderer which in my opinion is healthy and appropriate. If Christians should choose to forgive something like this, then it is up to them, not some man blathering on television.

 

[txsvicki]

Well H**L !!!! What a bunch of low-lifes !!!!

I'm beginning to think the state should take all such kids away from parents such as Sara's. I know the kids love their parents...they don't know anything different but....we're seeing what can happen to them. Anything is better than living like that !!!

I'm raising 4 of them right now. The neglector is my own abused daughter who lived with a bum who provided no running water, no gas, no cookstove, no way to flush the toilet in the last months before I got them. They took my grandkids away and gave them to me, but it took 3-4 calls to CPS over a period of 7 years to get it done. I'd also take in a foster child, but it's all I can do to take care of these.

 

[Sheromom]

Kudos to you, TxsVicki! I know I posted earlier about my abused grandson. A police officer removed him from his home with hand print bruises and three days later, CPS gave him back. For six years I have filed complaint after complaint to no avail. I think they will give him to us when she finally kills him so that they won't have to pay the burial fee. Honestly, it is SO hard to deal with; the little guy is partially deaf because of his mother. His dad, my son, still lives with us and gets him three days a week but that is not enough!!! Somehow, we have got to get our agencies to ACT! I started an after school enrichment program at one of my daughter's schools (kids stay after school to learn things like ballet, cheerleading, etc. for only $3 for six weeks). We found volunteer instructors. People told me I would never be able to do it. Finding volunteers was not a problem; the worst thing I had to deal with was parents who put their children in the program and then wouldn't come back for them for HOURS after the classes were finished. The school Principal finally told me to tell all parents that if they were more than 15 minutes late, we would contact CPS. Well, I had four kids from the same family who had a habitually late mother. When she showed up two hours late, all the kids were crying and the oldest yelled that CPS would probably come and get them. That mother looked her daughter right in the eye and said: "Who cares?!" I was devastated myself! And those, of course, were the kids who REALLY needed the classes. And bless your heart, too, Rich and Famous! I gave one of my daughter's friends a ride home a few days ago and she told me he wasn't allowed to eat at home. His father is on cruise (we are a military town) and his step-mother refuses to feed him. He survives by going to the Help House for food! You are right to take in this child and, like you, I will do whatever I can for ANY child that passes my way in need. So sad to think our world is being filled with little Sarah's.

 

[GatorMom]

This case is so tragic, so heartbreaking.

I admire all of you who take in foster children or your own neglected and abused grandchildren.

In 2000, I called DCF about the 3 year old who lived across from me who was being starved, he weighed about 18lbs and was so hungry I caught him eating the cat food I put outside for my cats. I fed him every chance I got, I had to be sneaky about it because his mother would come and scream at me in Spanish when she caught me. We called her Fat Jackie, her fingernails were always manicured and she was dressed to the teeth but her 3 year old weighed 18lbs. I know this because I weighed him. Other neighbors were feeding him, too, because we were all worried about him. Several of us called DCF repeatedly.

When I moved away in 2001, he was still with his mother, still being starved and DCF was "looking into it". Instead of looking into it, they should have thrown her fat in jail and fed that little boy.

Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature had time to worry about Terri Schiavo. They must have time to do something about the sex offenders and the neglected children in this state. Something has to be done.

I'm starting in my own town. There is an election coming up this year. I'm sick and tired of my mayor spending all of his time on development and growth and none of his time on the heroin, gang and sex offender problems in this town. It's time for a change.

We can all make a difference.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Mom should have been more attentive and vigilant about her daughter but her Dad had a responsiblity as well.

One of the crimes on Dad's rap sheet is bigamy ... I don't think we're dealing with the most devoted husband & father type there. Possibly the best thing the mom ever did for those kids was to break up with that clown.

 

[richandfamous]

Gatormom, txsvicki and Sheromom, God Bless All of you!

Sheromom, I am in the process of getting my grandson to...there are "other ways to skin a cat" if you know what I mean. Al Capone was finally sent to prison for tax evasion! They couldn't get him on murder so they got him off the street anyway they could. It might take some leg work but if your grandson's abusers are doing bad things to him, you can bet they have other indicretions...like drugs, welfare fraud, driving on a suspended license, no registration/tags, Probation violation, warrants,etc. I've used them all on my son-in-law drug dealer.
I know what you mean about the CPS. We don't even have CPS in our town. We have to call an 800 number and wait for a very long time. And nothing ever happens! I tried it! Nothing! Our gov has cut back on all our agencies so I have resorted to other legal methods!
Don't give up on your grandson...you are the only voice he has!

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Is anyone "in tune" with a trend happening, here??....

I have read more in the news of late "less" fortunate girls falling prey to the horrible monsters their mothers seem to have wlcomed and embraced with open arms?

I disagree with this. Yes, Sarah's mom dated Onstott. However, we have no idea if she knew that he was a registered sex offender or why they broke up, (several articles I've read sound as if Onstott broke up with Kelly but I don't know for sure). We also don't know yet how often he was around the house. I can't make a judgement as to how responsible it was or wasn't to have Onstott around her children. His one ex-girlfriend doesn't believe he killed Sarah even after he admitted it. So he might be really good at hiding his true self.

Was Sarah's mom negligent? Well, for leaving her kids home alone so much without teaching them how to be responsible for each other, (at the very least), yes. Did she willingly put them in harm's way by knowingly dating a registered sex offender? None of us really know.

 

[richandfamous]

I disagree with this. Yes, Sarah's mom dated Onstott. However, we have no idea if she knew that he was a registered sex offender or why they broke up, (several articles I've read sound as if Onstott broke up with Kelly but I don't know for sure). We also don't know yet how often he was around the house. I can't make a judgement as to how responsible it was or wasn't to have Onstott around her children. His one ex-girlfriend doesn't believe he killed Sarah even after he admitted it. So he might be really good at hiding his true self.

Was Sarah's mom negligent? Well, for leaving her kids home alone so much without teaching them how to be responsible for each other, (at the very least), yes. Did she willingly put them in harm's way by knowingly dating a registered sex offender? None of us really know.

Mornin' JerseyGirl, as I said yesterday, Andrew Lunde said in the video interview that he knew Onstott had some bad things in his past..or something like that. I'm paraphrasing...I'll go back and listen to it again. But if he knew, I am pretty sure Kelly knew. She also has a record of drugs, bad checks etc...so she would think nothing of her boyfriends having troubles with the law.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

God bless you Sheromom, txsvicki, and richandfamous, (and all of you that are in similar situations). These children need someone to love them & take care of them ... you guys are their angels. Your stories have touched my heart.

Sheromom, I'm so frightened for your grandchild. Please contact an attorney to really outline what your options are. Keep their phones ringing off the hook until they take you seriously. Make that your quest until no stone is left unturned. I'm sure you've done that already but I can't believe that there is nothing that can be done for that child! You are all in my prayers ... including that poor young boy that isn't allowed to eat at home. How horribly sad. I can't even find words for it.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Mornin' JerseyGirl, as I said yesterday, Andrew Lunde said in the video interview that he knew Onstott had some bad things in his past..or something like that. I'm paraphrasing...I'll go back and listen to it again. But if he knew, I am pretty sure Kelly knew. She also has a record of drugs, bad checks etc...so she would think nothing of her boyfriends having troubles with the law.

Good morning, r & f. I see where you're coming from. I agree that the mom is severely lacking from what we've heard. I just hate the idea of that boy thinking that this is his fault. If he had been home, there's a great likelihood that Sarah would be alive today. But it is true that teenage boys are very self-absorbed, and I think that they should be. At that stage of life, it is healthy to be that way in terms of development of self, etc. They shouldn't be completely selfish but they should focus on caring for their needs, (especially when no one else is). And at 17, we're invincible. We don't believe that anything bad is going to happen to us - it happens to everyone else. Andrew Lunde found out the extremely hard way that that isn't true. His life will never be the same. He's going to have a horrible road ahead of him in terms of the realizations of what's happened. I pray that he will be okay. He was just a child, doing what any child his age does by staying out all night while mom's away. His sister was killed as a result of being left alone, and I'm sure it's crossed his mind that he might have been able to prevent it. But he wasn't there, and he couldn't have known that it was going to happen. He was just being a kid, something he'll probably never be able to be again in light of what's happened.

 

[joanofarc]

But it is true that teenage boys are very self-absorbed, and I think that they should be. At that stage of life, it is healthy to be that way in terms of development of self, etc. They shouldn't be completely selfish but they should focus on caring for their needs, (especially when no one else is).

Hi JerseyGirl... :blowkiss:

and....I disagree with you on these points....

Although, I understand where you are coming from....there is some contradiction here..:waitasec: . Please don't get me wrong....I don't blame Sarah's brother but as parents if we don't teach our children from little on how to be compassionate/responsible towards others...where, oh where, will they learn this attribute...??

Do these boys (sorry didn't raise boys - have 2 daughters ) outgrow their selfishness...he is 17...soon to be an adult...could conceivably move out of the house, get married and have a family of his own soon....now that is disturbing...IMO

P.S. God bless the posters trying to intervene on their loved one's behalf...must be hard...my heart breaks for you.....

 

[packerdog]

Maybe we will hear something today on the autopsy, I thought I heard that they will know by tuesday what the cause of death is. He probably said that he had her in a choke hold because they will see marks or something on the neck.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Although, I understand where you are coming from....there is some contradiction here..:waitasec: . Please don't get me wrong....I don't blame Sarah's brother but as parents if we don't teach our children from little on how to be compassionate/responsible towards others...where, oh where, will they learn this attribute...??

I know exactly what you mean. I am simply having a hard time expressing what I mean. It makes a slight difference if he's recently 17 or almost 18. But what I mean is that at that age, they should be thinking about what they want to do with their lives, if they are going to college, what college they are going to, and so on. And at the same time, they ARE reaching the end of their childhood so they should be enjoying every last second of it before they meet their adulthood & real life.

But you're absolutely right ... we most certainly should be teaching our children about responsibility and compassion. But I know in my case, (16 year-old daughter), she is very compassionate towards people that don't live in her house! We are the annoying people that she's stuck with until she's old enough to move out! I think that that's fairly normal. If I were to ask her to stay & mind her siblings, she'd probably be very resentful and treat them badly as a result even though she would NEVER do that to someone else or their children.

I'm still not explaining it well but I hope you understand what I mean.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

WESH.com - News - Parents Demand Change After Girls' Murders

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Monday that the state needs to do a better job...

"It's heartbreaking that a precious child would die at the hands of a sick murderer," Bush said...

Funding for better communication between governmental agencies, there's more that we can do," Bush said...

"We need to build, sadly, bigger prisons. (We need) more prison beds so that we can put people away for a longer period of time..."

State lawmakers are also working to toughen the laws that punish sex offenders. On Monday, the House Justice Council discussed the Jessica Lunsford Act.

Legislators are also considering mandatory life sentences for sex offenders and requiring them to wear GPS tracking devices.

 

[joanofarc]

On Tuesday, he plans to ask his fellow commissioners to allow warning signs to be posted in neighborhoods, so residents know sex offenders are there.

http://www.wesh.com/news/4391202/detail.html?rss=orl&psp=news

Can you imagine if this was allowed in every neighborhood....you wouldn't be able to see the forest for the trees...there would be so many signs cluttering up the areas...This reminds me of "The Scarlet Letter"....are we reverting back to medieval times??....sometimes I wonder :doh:

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

This reminds me of "The Scarlet Letter"....are we reverting back to medieval times??....sometimes I wonder :doh:

I'd be okay with it in the case of sex offenders, though. Nothing else seems to be working.

 

[joanofarc]

I'd be okay with it in the case of sex offenders, though. Nothing else seems to be working.

I agree but the suggestion that we build more and bigger prisons doesn't seem to be the answer either....in the article it suggests that after one offense the person can rehabilitate if they so desire...I thought it was determined that there is no rehabilitation for these guys....who has the exact science on this...nobody knows...IMO...

I am praying (I'm Catholic - watchin' for that white smoke...lol) that we as a society can get back to some morality issues here...no more sex, sex, sex, from media, (sell sex) from advertising etc. We as "good people" need to assume these responsibilites and all that that entails, including providing unconditional love, and teaching our children right from wrong....

 

[packerdog]

I would never rent to sex offenders, I don't blame people being angry with this landlord. You can bet that the Van Dams would not have gone to Westerfields house to sell GS cookies if they had known he was a pedophile. I think signs are a good thing.

 

[Timex]

personally Im all for the isolated community for these folks. Put them all on an island somewhere, where they can be studied. They could farm and ranch to support the community in which they live. Would be cheaper than prison, yet would also keep them away from society. They could also be used to produce goods for a reduced price, which could then be used by the rest of society. Im thinking of something like a printing press, where textbooks could be printed, saving our schools thousands of dollars, as we all know how expensive text books are.