IL - Child, 9, charged in fire deaths of 5 people, Goodfield, 6 Apr 2019

[gitana1]

I try to stay away from absolutes. Safer. Admittedly inclination to agree.

Yes. At least part of the reason I think.

 

[gitana1]

I am not even sure he was diagnosed with those things to begin with. Seems a lot of diagnoses for one child.

Yes and super serious ones. Kind of crazy.

 

[gitana1]

Could be she was raised this way, but that doesnt make it ok. Once you reproduce, you have a personal responsibility to the children to raise them. I was one of 5 kids and my mom always said we were poor but we were clean. I was blessed to have her.

That’s beautiful. Same with my grandma. She was so poor that when she was six her doctor asked my great grandparents if he and his wife could adopt her. They had a ton of money. My grandmother was a little beauty. They said they could give her a wonderful life and take her out of her drudgery. She began working professionally as a seamstress at age 12!

Obviously they didn’t give her away. And although very poor they were super clean.

And their lives were filled with love. So much so that my grandmother didn’t realize she was poor. The same doctor gave her a beautiful doll. My grandmother told her mom, “I want to give this doll to so and so.” “Why?” “Because she’s poor.”

I think these people were not just economically poor but poor of spirit. Sitting on the couch like that just braying like a mule at everyone. The dad hitting the small baby and mom doesn’t even get up off the couch. The filth. The crude language. The constant tv.

What utter chaos and deprivation.

 

[gitana1]

Didn't she say on one of the videos that she took away the one thing that made her kids happy? And then was laughing about how Jason always wanted to be with his little girl and now he would never be away from her?

I think they were talking about Rose. Rose’s mom likewise talked about how Jason treated her like he was her dad and said he would always be there for her and they were found together.

 

[mickey2942]

"What utter chaos and deprivation." Quoted from @gitana1 .

So true. This child reminds me of so many children, who basically just survive their childhood. It is really based on luck if kids who grow up in environments like this don't end up in prison.

 

[cherrymeg]

I think they were talking about Rose. Rose’s mom likewise talked about how Jason treated her like he was her dad and said he would always be there for her and they were found together.

The whole thing with the mom smelling something while in the bathroom that made her put on clothes and investigate with the 2 year old seems like she felt it was serious. Instead of getting kids out of the house first she gets separated from her niece, in an explosion or burst of fire. Depending on the story the boyfriend either got out with her or guided/pushed her out. They mom and boyfriend weren't trying to kill the two kids and grandmother, right? Maybe they thought they could sue and were tired of raising kids with disabilities. This is probably really crazy. Maybe Rose was supposed to be rescued by the dad and that way people wouldn't question the other deaths. My random thought only.

 

[jjenny]

Grandma was presumably getting social security benefits. So presumably the two children with disability. Presumably providing a source of living for mom and boyfriend, who in case of mom apparently never worked and in case of boyfriend quit a job. You don't kill a goose that lays a golden egg.

 

[jjenny]

Little Rose seem to have been more normally developing than the other two little ones. I guess that could have made her the favorite baby of the family.

 

[enelram]

"What utter chaos and deprivation." Quoted from @gitana1 .

So true. This child reminds me of so many children, who basically just survive their childhood. It is really based on luck if kids who grow up in environments like this don't end up in prison.

Yes agree. Also the video's help explain how and why these situations tend to become
generational unless there's serious intervention.
What insight into horribly dysfunctional household.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Snips:

But Minger might not have expected the mother of the accused to sabotage all the circumspection.

Boy, did she ever.

Sometimes, just because you can say something doesn’t mean you should.

We’ve been beyond hesitant in public to judge such situations. But this sorrowful family affair might be the very definition of dysfunction.

In addition to the CBS interview, the Alwoods also spoke to the Chicago Tribune. It reported the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services took custody of Kyle Alwood shortly after the fire and placed him in a foster home.

All the loose lips apparently prompted somebody to request a gag order among the parties in the case.

We don’t know which attorney asked for the ban. It might have been Minger. It might have been an Alwood legal representative. It might have been someone from DCFS.

Regardless, the gag order probably was a good idea, although we almost always advocate for more information, not less.

What Katie Alwood said might have been a natural parental reaction to such a heinous set of circumstances. The grief and stress she and her family have been through is unimaginable.

But their actions last week did absolutely no favors for a child who already is facing some heavy stuff.

That stuff probably will become heavier sometime next week, when Kyle Alwood is likely to make his first appearance — albeit closed to most of the public — in Woodford County Circuit Court.

May God have mercy upon everybody involved. And may he forgive at least some of them, because it’s obvious they know not what they do.
Nick in the AM: Boy's family helps turn Goodfield murder case into a circus

 

[Kittybunny]

The dysfunction...the horror of this case...the tragedy. I'm not even sure where to start with this.

The fact that LE has charged this boy with murder 6 months after the fire leads me to believe that they have to have evidence and a strong belief that he was responsible and that the set it with intent, right? One logical conclusion to me would be that the boy confessed to setting it. I could go either way on this one - either he has been pushed to take the fall for someone else, or he is seriously disturbed due to the lack of parenting and abuse and neglect that he was surrounded by.

The less said about the "mother", the better.

Just heartbreaking and infuriating at the same time, all around.

 

[Anicole]

Wait … recalling that the toddlers (except for Rosie) were found in their beds like they were asleep - am I remembering that correctly?

Yet mom was listening to them scream?

Aside from that … I hope law enforcement is holding out on the public with information, because the junk this woman is spouting cannot, just CAN NOT be the truth. This can't be how this family's story plays out.

 

[gitana1]

Grandma was presumably getting social security benefits. So presumably the two children with disability. Presumably providing a source of living for mom and boyfriend, who in case of mom apparently never worked and in case of boyfriend quit a job. You don't kill a goose that lays a golden egg.

Yeah. That’s my thought.

 

[Alethea]

The more severe issues are rocking, hand movements, cannot stand being touched, head banging , distress at loud noise, meltdowns at change in a room such as wven one object being moved.

There is nothing subtle about it

Subtle as in what makes it autism in particular and not another physical or mental ailment. 2 year olds can’t explain in full sentences what’s wrong when something is wrong. So a child with a physical disability may react to a loud stimulus or bright light or physical touch in just the way you are describing. Autism is a diagnosis of exclusion, regardless of anecdotes. There is a wide variety of “typical” behavior for 2 year olds. This isn’t my opinion, I posted the article from the leading early intervention specialist from UNC three times already.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Daemeon and Ariel were in their beds, looking much as they did when they'd gone to sleep.
Luciano: Mom recalls Goodfield inferno that killed five loved ones

 

[imstilla.grandma]

However, the magnitude and rapidity of the increase in treatment of youth bipolar disorder, the predominance of boys [66.5%] in this study treated for bipolar disorder, their young age [mean, 12.8 years], and the substantial co-treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD, 32.2%]—all suggest the possibility of overdiagnosis.
Increase in Bipolar Diagnosis in Youth Prompts Debates and Calls for Research

Medical and psychiatric conditions may mimic symptoms of bipolar disorder. Differential diagnoses to be considered include: thyroid disorders, neurologic disorders, substance abuse, ADHD, conduct disorder, schizophrenia, as well as Axis II diagnoses. Childhood-onset bipolar disorder is commonly comorbid with other psychiatric disorders, especially disruptive disorders. The major symptomatic difference between ADHD or conduct disorder and bipolar disorder is that disruptive disorders are chronic and may present insidiously, whereas mania is episodic and reflects a change in functioning. Disruptive disorders reflect aberrant attention and/or behavior while mania is primarily characterized by abnormal mood and activity. In addition, earlier age of onset is more commonly seen in ADHD.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents

 

[oviedo]

I still don't think we have the full story...IMO

 

[jjenny]

The boy likes to takes videos of whatever he is doing. I wonder what was recovered from his cell phone.

 

[MistyM]

Daemeon and Ariel were in their beds, looking much as they did when they'd gone to sleep.
Luciano: Mom recalls Goodfield inferno that killed five loved ones

mom really misses her man, doesn't she? almost the whole article is all about their relationship.

 

[EvilOlivE]

The boy likes to takes videos of whatever he is doing. I wonder what was recovered from his cell phone.

Agree. If he really did set that fire, I bet he would have videoed it. I can't imagine what it would be like growing up in that dysfunctional family.