FL - Somer Thompson, 7, Orange Park, 19 Oct 2009 #33

[NSC]

Never EVER will I understand poor little ST laying on the ground a crying mess with nobody there to comfort him --it breaks my heart thinking about how he must have felt one of the last people to see his sister alive, his twin, his friend -- gone and murdered TOO much for any 7 year old, child or even adult mind to wrap around ---unbearable for any person-- She walked in without comforting her kids, she let her child wail in pain without comforting them -- she is all about herself - plain and simple. Actions speak louder than anything -- I could not IMAGINE not holding onto my children for dear life, loving them, supporting them -- --

"Rumors" - have it that kids still playing outside unattended -neighbors outside- wonder how long it will be until neighbors really start pouring in with info of what life is really like on H Drive -- I wonder what they think that they are still the caretakers? Maybe they don't mind -maybe DT is still healing and can't be bothered yet, still, whatever...- I know IMO, if I were a neighbor I would be scratching my head.

Parenting is about selflessness -- something DT is not - she has only shown us her selfishness --

Former I commend your selflessness and your husband selflessness and I thank you for your families service and sacrifice to our country - God Bless -

 

[pinamia]

IF it is not DT, but those "neighbors" (a vague term), THE ONLY REASON POSTED HERE HAS BEEN:

- DT can't handle seeing the route Somer took to and from schoolWell, maybe she doesn't drive them because she doesn't like being "viewed like a circus act" (quoted from a former media interview);

...She is busy studying for nursing school

...she has sessions with her therapeutic counselor then...

...she doesn't want to get caught in the traffic at the car rider loop...

...it's been suggested by her lawyer not to drive the children...

...or other possible reasons_____________________________

DCFS recommended that she solve this problem. She allegedly left it up to neighbors before. Now, if she is indeed home, and she still leaves it up to neighbors, it's a sad commentary. Go ahead and defend DT all you want.

But in light of this cruel and tragic death, (and she allegedly does not know how Somer died or how much she suffered) no matter how much she is grieving, the common sense thing would be to personally supervise one's own surviving children.

IMO I would spend every possible amount of time with those kids, how many chances can one take? As she said, "tell them you love them because you never know what can happen..." "You think you are busy when you really weren't that busy..." If she is not accompanying them to school, then she is too busy for some reason.

Base this on her own insistence that the only reason the children walked home was because there were no buses for them, and that it is not her fault that it only takes a second for a monster to grab them. It will be her fault if a monster grabs another of her chldren because she was not there.

In DT's defense, she isn't the type of parent who puts her kids first, especially with Perry around. When she walked with Perry (not her kids) going into the funeral, she told the world whose number one. You can't give what you don't have. Not all parents put their kids first. Of course, it would have been best but not everyone can or will do that. DT is a different type of parent than we are. But I must say if it were my child, I would probably not survived it. If I did, it would be because I moved away from that area. DT is strong and a survivor. Who knows what role Perry plays in her life? He seems so controlling to me. Perhaps he's the reason she neglected her kids. Maybe he wants to be number one. Just my opinion.

 

[NSC]

Sorry about your teeth. Worst pain...

What about having CPC or grandma and grandpa (or the mysterious neighbor or neighbors) pick up the children either after school or from the after-school program? CPC was home by six, right? There were a lot of choices, IMO. DT states she made $14.00 per hour, and anyone is welcome to re-sleuth CPC's income. Suffice to say that they were not at the poverty level and would probably have to used the "reduced rate". Was she going to nursing school on a grant - or was she really going to nursing school at all? This information came from her MySPace page, if I recall. So it is what she posted there, period.

We are talking about the current situation now...apparently CPC has moved out, so now she only has the money from the fund raisers (anyone have an updated amount here) to use for reduced rate after school program. But then it would look strange if, having quit work, she put her surviving children in an after school program.

So which would be more strange? Putting kids in a program with activities and peer support and picking them up yourself, or continuing to just let neighbors pick them up and deliver them to your door?

Eating out, getting nails done, smoking, etc...I can't speak to that. We all have our little ways of coping in life. I am in no way prepared to judge DT for any thing she has ever said or done or thought or whatever that is not in the realm of compromising her chldrens' safety....especially after a DCFS investigation, which is a giant red flag and would rattle any parent's mind unless they were just stubborn. If DCFS doesn't make you re-think your priorities and do the right things, nothing will, IMO.

BBM, Chick P How about your daughter goes missing and murdered??? There is no BIGGER eye opener than this!!! AKA Terrible Lesson to learn in life!

Yes, DCFS should have sent off alarms -- but her CHILD WAS MURDERED!!!

I pray DT makes better decisions and steps up into a role model position and showers her kids with all the emotional and mental support that they deserve!! I really want her to change for the good - I pray for this and for her children --

 

[ChickenPants]

Yes, I am serious. It only takes an instant.

Like I said in the post you quoted, I am not now or would I ever blame Adam's mom. My point is, children go missing and are murdered everyday.
Some parents look away for an instant, some parents let their children walk
home from school.
Looking away for an instant is not a crime. She should not be blamed.
Letting your child walk home from school w/ siblings and other children is not a crime. She should not be blamed.

Neither of these mothers IMO were neglegent. Their children are dead.
IMO the blame is on the monsters who killed them.

Now, if what DT did was criminal, lock her up.
But, there is nothing pointing that way for me right now.

I accidentally cut off the last sentece in your post sorry...

I do respect your opinion and see that you are trying to be fair on DT's behalf. But BBM the crime happened in an instant, the circumstances made the opportunity for the crime.

It is not just the children walking home. There is no proof that once they got there, supervision was available. The likelihood is NO. If there was nobody available to walk with them, there was nobody waiting for them - except the perp who is aware of all of it.

A DCFS investigation falls under the umbrella of a criminal investigation. It is concerning alleged child abuse or neglect. The person who called in stated she felt the children were generally neglected (paraphrase, see article). She did not specify walking as the only reason she called. Perhaps, being at the school, other triggers made her call. Perhaps it was what others told her.

In any event, the BIG PICTURE indicates a problem or set of problems with Somer, and the person responsible for that is DT. Now that Somer is dead, she still has a 7 year old twin who is not only vunerable but needs more support than ever. Unless the twisted thinking is that if the perp killed Somer he would be reckless to come back for the twin or AT. Who in their right mind would take a chance, no matter how slim?

As you and some others keep reiterating: If the neglect investigation results were "unfounded", DT is being singled out for judgment...because otherwise plenty of parents in OP and other places would be locked up for neglect...

MOO - there are plenty of parents getting away with neglect every day and the system is bursting. Does this make it right...if you're not caught, it's ok to keep on with whatever...

 

[ChickenPants]

If the after school child care was free why did DFS state in their report that she couldn't afford it? And another reason was it closed @ 6 and she wouldn't have been able to get off work and get there in a timely fashion. Her live in BF may have not been much help money wise if he had alot of bills of his own and child support to pay. Does anyone know and sorry if its been stated but did DT get child support from ST for these children?

GO back, yes, as has been suggested, and read the WHOLE ARTICLE...YES.
Two programs were offered. One FREE or reduced, the program closed at 6:00, she could have worked out a schedule with co-workers, there were others available to pick them up (retired grandparents); it has been documented that CPC did not pay his child support; the harley hobby is expensive...what bills would he have of his own to pay...two family income...

Compare CPC with ST? CPC is employed and living with DT (then) in a no-rent home paid for and given over as a gift to DT; ST is on disability and unemployed.

FInally, it was NOT stated in the DCFS report that she COULD NOT AFFORD IT. DT herself said she could not afford the YWCA program.

It was the supervisor (who did NOT make the home visit(s) but had to sign off on the file) who stated she would NOT have to have mandatory after-school care IF it posed a financial hardship.

Even though the reporter said he was SYMPATHETIC TO DT and originally wrote blogs in her defense, it was incumbent on him to follow up on this story.
You can (1) read it as a defense of this unfortunate mother (2) read it as a sad commentary on her lack of parenting or (3) read the facts. READ THE HEADLINE. Put it into context. Let's see what else emerges that was never known before.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

An an investigation is just that...an investigation.
You have to look at the outcome of the investigation. It was spelled out in the article yesterday.

Like I said before, there are a lot of innocent people who are investigated all the time.
Being investigated shows no guilt to me...the investigation leading to action against the parent does.

The case was closed. No wrong doing noted.

 

[ChickenPants]

It was a matter of priorities... does anything else really need to be said?

lol I agree with you. But DT's innocence here seems to be the issue, which confounds the priorities. There is objective and there is subjective. To me, it is what it is. Documented facts don't lie. You can spin anything forever.

 

[NSC]

I just want to say for the record -- I am not saying DT bad parenting was due to her children walking home -Kids have to walk sometimes - I understand this- that is the LEAST of where my opinion comes from it stems into a much bigger picture.

Some children are taught by their parents," don't talk to stranger," "stay with your group OR ELSE", "run to a neighbors house" etc.. How do you think you get children to listen? Rules and Consequences----- STRUCTURE!!!!! - it is called discipline - Somer didn't have any, the only structure she had was being in school (sadly we know she had issue while in school as well -fighting being one of them), But when you couple the walking into the recommendations from the school and dcf - there were obvious safety issues for these particular set of children.I feel as if some are being defensive about this and I understand this - maybe your kids are walkers too -- Dt her mother and herself have said - Somer knew NO strangers - All the "rumors' / stories that have been stated--cab drivers, crossing guards, neighbors etc... - All the blog posts - this child WANDERED her neighborhood at her own free will without adult supervision.

Do I really need to get into the discipline issues of what kids have been taught and so on and so forth? It is parenting 101. This is WAY bigger than kids walking home from school --

I remember asking people that knew DT about her punishment methods -- because I was wondering if she would have been capable of beating Somer to death in a rage - They said "NO-WAY" -- she didn't punish/discipline them ever in the first place that they had witnessed--

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I'd like to add, there are a lot of fathers on disability who still provide for their children.
There is no excuse for him not supporting them financially.
There is no excuse that he did not have a clue what was going on with them for 2 years.
I know he is disabled, but he found a way to get to Florida for Somer's funeral...why not before?

CPC not paying his child support is not an issue here IMO because it has nothing to do with DT's children. They are not CPCs children. They are ST's children.

Of course, that MOO

 

[ChickenPants]

Yes, that is one I was talking about. If you have anything you want me to poke around at let me know. I hope LE have had a chat with him.

Just reminding everybody that early on a newslink or something said that LE has a special computer division that sleuths 24/7 for anything connected to Somer. Which means they are prob sleuthing us, as well. So I am quite confident they have seen this video and have taken more than one look at "James" and other youths...they are on the job.

NCS, you and some others have theories about youths. Can you share some of them here?

 

[NSC]

Calling Chick P -- I KNOW there has to be stats out there about investigations done by DCFS that the families were "cleared" "Case close" where later the children end up deceased - HECK I SEE THIS EVERYDAY IN THE NEWS -- now I wanna see the numbers.

I also believe this was up to DT as she is the parent -- DCF takes children out of homes where their lives are physically at risk--they are the MOST HIGH RISK---- Shame on anyone that needs to have DCF police them in the first place and shame on all people who bring children to the world that purposefully cause them physical harm and indirect hard-

- I know plenty of people who don't have children - some people know they do not want the responsibility -- which is TOTALLY FINE normal and acceptable! Some choose to travel and have dogs - build careers - WHATEVER IT IS!!! They know what they want or their own capabilities -- This woman had 5 kids and didn't want the responsibility.

- The kids were not being PHYSICALLY beat with electrical cords, tied up and burnt with Cigarettes -- for a system that is overloaded -- these are the kids they focus on -- they can't save everyone -- that was DT job as a parent to protect her children --

 

[ChickenPants]

I have not heard she wandered off all the time.Children and Families did concluded the allegation about the children getting lost and being found with a stranger had no basis.They found no neglect and neither do I.The case really is closed.Maybe we should move on to the facts we do know.This is doing nothing to help find out who killed little Somer.Hopefully we'll hear of an arrest soon so Somer does get justice.

The sheriff himself said she had run off before. The 17 year old former babysitter quit because DT had a list of neighbors to call whenever Somer did not show up with her siblings. (Seven years old, going around the neighborhood). Numerous people have been quoted about Somer wandering around looking for someone to play with - going to different houses, etc. I find it hard to believe that you have never heard this before. This entire compliation of threads is loaded with quotes, links, etc. that validate it. A good place to start would be a thorough reading of Noway's links to these issues.

The facts that we do know...a school social worker (trained to recognize symptoms of abuse or neglect) placed a call to DCFS about this mother. School social workers and other school personnel do not just make random calls about parents; they have to have reasons to do so. BTW it is LAW that anyone in the school system or any other child care capacity MUST report SUSPECTED abuse or neglect. So far, only ONE instance of investigation has been reported. It has been documented that she was investigated and the particular investigator made recommendations for after school supervision, which the mother chose to decline. FACT.

Interesting point made by you: Children and families concluded that the children being lost and in the woods with a stranger was unfounded....based on a denial of getting lost by Somer (who knew her way around the neighborhood), little ST saying they had only gotten lost "once" (once is enough IMO) and not interviewing AT at all. And, of course, DT denying that anything happened, ever.

 

[Ms Suzanne]

The sheriff himself said she had run off before. The 17 year old former babysitter quit because DT had a list of neighbors to call whenever Somer did not show up with her siblings. (Seven years old, going around the neighborhood). Numerous people have been quoted about Somer wandering around looking for someone to play with - going to different houses, etc. I find it hard to believe that you have never heard this before. This entire compliation of threads is loaded with quotes, links, etc. that validate it. A good place to start would be a thorough reading of Noway's links to these issues.

The facts that we do know...a school social worker (trained to recognize symptoms of abuse or neglect) placed a call to DCFS about this mother. School social workers and other school personnel do not just make random calls about parents; they have to have reasons to do so. BTW it is LAW that anyone in the school system or any other child care capacity MUST report SUSPECTED abuse or neglect. So far, only ONE instance of investigation has been reported. It has been documented that she was investigated and the particular investigator made recommendations for after school supervision, which the mother chose to decline. FACT.

And they did not find anything wrong.Again the case was closed.

 

[ChickenPants]

This is the integrated, multi-disciplinary protocol for following up on suspected child neglect (abuse), found under situations where said neglect has resulted in death of a child.

For those of you who have the inclination to deal with a lot of FACTUAL reading.

http://www.frc.merced.k12.ca.us/ChildrenAction/Resources/FVP_Module_3_ChildAbuse&Neglect.pdf

 

[ChickenPants]

Her babysitter said so on the news. Someone else made that comment who lived in the neighborhood. And Somer did wander the day she died. School made a complaint on October 12, 2008 that led to the investigation. Case being unfounded doesn't mean that she didn't wander just that her mom was cooperative. That's proof enough for me that she wandered.

I am very upset because the signs were there and no one stopped this behavior. This is important because signs need to be recognized. This child didn't have to fall prey.

I AM UPSET because not only did the child wander, she did it frequently, complaints were filed about the "general safety and well being of ALL of the children", mom lied on TV about Somer "never having wandered off" when SHE had provided the list of neighbors to call if the child did not return home with her siblings, she lied to the investigators, she still is not taking full responsibility for monitoring her children, and PEOPLE ARE STILL DEFENDING HER.

THE CHILD IS DEAD.

 

[Ms Suzanne]

This is the integrated, multi-disciplinary protocol for following up on suspected child neglect (abuse), found under situations where said neglect has resulted in death of a child.

For those of you who have the inclination to deal with a lot of FACTUAL reading.

http://www.frc.merced.k12.ca.us/ChildrenAction/Resources/FVP_Module_3_ChildAbuse&Neglect.pdf

None of this was found in Somers case.

 

[pinamia]

None of this was found in Somers case.

Yet the 7 year old was unsupervised when falling prey to a killer. She was allowed to roam unsupervised for one hour at a time. The time window of a 7 year child being missing was almost 2 hours before an adult searched for her (2:30 dismissal to let's say 4:30 when DT searched for her). IMO

 

[ChickenPants]

An an investigation is just that...an investigation.
You have to look at the outcome of the investigation. It was spelled out in the article yesterday.

Like I said before, there are a lot of innocent people who are investigated all the time.
Being investigated shows no guilt to me...the investigation leading to action against the parent does.

The case was closed. No wrong doing noted.

If you have nothing to hide, you don't have to lie.
If your children are safe, there is no probable cause for a trained social worker to call in a complaint. Or to make up a fairy tale about children in the woods with strange men.

If you are a child caregiver or school personnel, it is FEDERAL LAW that you call in a complaint of any suspected neglect.

If a complaint is called in, DCFS must investigate.

If DCFS investigates and makes recommendations, those recommendations are based on their protocol. They don't pull them out of the thin air.

If recommendations are made, and you choose to decline to "cooperate" with them, the consequence will follow the choice.

The child is dead. The bottom line is that no matter what is proven about her vulnerability, we keep hearing that the mother is blameless in every way.

I have a question. How many complaints, founded or unfounded, would it take for some people to realize that things were not right? What would be satisfactory proof that Somer and her siblings were not properly supervised?

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I know what the federal laws are, I was a preschool teacher for many years.
I understand the whole chain of reports of abuse or neglect. Trust me.

The article stated DT did cooperate. Where is all the info regarding lies found?

 

[pinamia]

If you have nothing to hide, you don't have to lie.
If your children are safe, there is no probable cause for a trained social worker to call in a complaint. Or to make up a fairy tale about children in the woods with strange men.

If you are a child caregiver or school personnel, it is FEDERAL LAW that you call in a complaint of any suspected neglect.

If a complaint is called in, DCFS must investigate.

If DCFS investigates and makes recommendations, those recommendations are based on their protocol. They don't pull them out of the thin air.

If recommendations are made, and you choose to decline to "cooperate" with them, the consequence will follow the choice.

The child is dead. The bottom line is that no matter what is proven about her vulnerability, we keep hearing that the mother is blameless in every way.

I have a question. How many complaints, founded or unfounded, would it take for some people to realize that things were not right? What would be satisfactory proof that Somer and her siblings were not properly supervised?

This was an unsupervised, vulnerable child being targeted. IMO