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

[Safeguard]

Hopefully, this child can grow up in a more stable environment. Being taken away from his Mother is probably the best thing that could happen for this kid.

bbm
Sad though that sounds, it really is its best chance. Slim though it is.

 

[squareandrabbet]

Yeah, I had not heretofore known about the video of her naked in bed with a 2-year-old, and it just shows how warped and what little judgment the mother had. It isn't even necessarily just the judgment of being naked together - some people do, for example, shower with their toddlers until the toddler is old enough to get along themselves, and that involves two naked humans - it's the entire decision that these are things that should A-OK be posted online for everyone to see (!). I'm not even sure from some of these descriptions and statements she's made, that this woman has an IQ above room temperature.

 

[Niner]

Can't access this article even with Outline - can someone give a 10% synopsis on this - if there is anything "new"? TIA!

The arson, murder charges against a 9-year-old boy are more complicated than they seem

 

[angelainwi]

Can't access this article even with Outline - can someone give a 10% synopsis on this - if there is anything "new"? TIA!

The arson, murder charges against a 9-year-old boy are more complicated than they seem

"The article also mentions Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services had made thirteen visits to the Alwood family home prior to the deadly fire."

Not sure if we had heard the number thirteen before. Besides that they just really talk about how it is hard to charge a child. There was no info on family dynamics or alternate theories or anything

 

[Niner]

Thanks a bunch angelainwi! Much appreciated!

13 times???!!!

 

[claudianunes]

13 times is a whole lot of times. 1 time can be just a mistake, nothing was proven and people move on. But 13 times?

 

[Suglo]

Seems the parents weren’t the only ones who failed these children

 

[Lexiintoronto]

"The article also mentions Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services had made thirteen visits to the Alwood family home prior to the deadly fire."

Not sure if we had heard the number thirteen before. Besides that they just really talk about how it is hard to charge a child. There was no info on family dynamics or alternate theories or anything

I recalled an earlier article that mentioned the 13 interactions as well, dating back to when KA was an infant.

It sounds as if people around the family were doing their best to intervene and report abuse or conditions the children were were living in.

The state’s Department of Children and Family Services opened an investigation into the circumstances of the deaths two days after the fire, according to an agency spokesman. Alwood said they took custody of her son shortly after the fire.

The agency had 13 previous contacts with the 9-year-old’s family before the fire, dating back to when he would have been an infant.

In most cases, the agency either referred Alwood to community services or determined allegations were “unfounded” after the family took some action to fix the situation.

9-year-old central Illinois boy charged with murder in fatal fire that killed 5 ‘made a terrible mistake,’ but he’s ‘not a monster,’ mom says

 

[Lynetta]

DCFS had 14 interactions with 9-year-old charged with murder since his birth

[...]

Prior Investigations

1/30/2010 [...] UNFOUNDED. Report alleged child was at risk [...] mother’s living arrangements would expose [...] son to a registered sex offender.

8/25/2010 [...] by MA and KA [...] UNFOUNDED. The report alleged [...] son is being cared for by a registered sex offender

10/13/2010 [...] allegation of neglect by KA [...] UNFOUNDED. [...] that there were dog and cat feces present in the home and suggested environmental neglect.

8/4/2011 [...] by FN and KA is closed as UNFOUNDED. [...] son was at risk of physical harm due to the presence of a male occupant of the home.

9/16/2013 [...] is closed as UNFOUNDED. Report alleged surviving son is exposed to risk from soiled pull-ups, blankets and the presence of dog and cat feces.

10/13/2014 [...] closed as INDICATED. Mother was indicated for environmental neglect due to the deplorable conditions of the home. [...] began receiving community services.

1/6/2017 Investigation of an allegation of neglect by JW and KA closed as UNFOUNDED. [...] the home was in a deplorable condition and children were not being fed. Food is present in the home and family indicated a plan for cleaning up the residence.

2/22/2018 [...] by KA, JW and MA is closed as UNFOUNDED. [...] environmental neglect due to the conditions of the home reported.
[...]

8/28/2018 Hotline was contacted concerning attendance issues at school with the surviving son. [...] Intake was added to the already open investigation.

8/30/2018 [...] by JW and KA [...] UNFOUNDED. The report alleged that KA and JW were in the community begging for money and food. [...] The family was referred to community-based services.

9/29/2018 [...] allegation of abuse by JW [...] UNFOUNDED. [...] son was being restrained by KA's boyfriend [...] family was offered community services.

10/8/2018 [...] by JW and KA [...] UNFOUNDED. The report alleged a dirty house. [...]

11/2/2018 [...] by KA [...] UNFOUNDED. The report alleged that the surviving son was scratched on the arm by KA [...] was unfounded after evidence indicated otherwise.

04/08/19 The death of three children related to a fire [...] is reported to DCFS.

[...]


*Snipped and abbreviations added by me to fit within the TOS copying rules.

 

[squareandrabbet]

"Surviving"...?!?!

That notation was made in 2013??

Do we know anything about this, or was I asleep when it was discussed previously? What about the "non-surviving" child?!?

I don't like this at all.

Thank you, @Lynetta, for doing all that grim reading and copy-paste work.

 

[Kakidoll]

My question too.... did she have another child that died? and how? DCFS did NOTHING.... WOW. House continually deplorable, abuse and Not one thing done... all closed. PITIFUL.

 

[Kiranerys]

And how could they environmental neglect cases keep coming up unfounded when we can clearly see for ourselves that they didnt make those efforts to clean up,or if they did wth did it look like before???
Child may be being cared for by a sex offender? Mum sure seems to have great taste in men huh!

 

[Lynetta]

"Surviving"...?!?!

That notation was made in 2013??

Do we know anything about this, or was I asleep when it was discussed previously? What about the "non-surviving" child?!?

I don't like this at all.

Thank you, @Lynetta, for doing all that grim reading and copy-paste work.

No problem, it actually didn't take as long I thought it would, thank goodness websleuths has auto save though because I accidentally closed the website half way through my snip fest

"Surviving son" was listed on almost all of them but I had to snip it out of some to cut the article down. I have no idea why it would say that other than maybe it's just the reporter's/journalist's words and not on the actual report. Maybe the reporter/journalist added "surviving son" to distinguish between Kyle and little DW that died.

*Edited to correct spelling

 

[Lexiintoronto]

DCFS had 14 interactions with 9-year-old charged with murder since his birth

[...]

Prior Investigations

1/30/2010 [...] UNFOUNDED. Report alleged child was at risk [...] mother’s living arrangements would expose [...] son to a registered sex offender.

8/25/2010 [...] by MA and KA [...] UNFOUNDED. The report alleged [...] son is being cared for by a registered sex offender

10/13/2010 [...] allegation of neglect by KA [...] UNFOUNDED. [...] that there were dog and cat feces present in the home and suggested environmental neglect.

8/4/2011 [...] by FN and KA is closed as UNFOUNDED. [...] son was at risk of physical harm due to the presence of a male occupant of the home.

9/16/2013 [...] is closed as UNFOUNDED. Report alleged surviving son is exposed to risk from soiled pull-ups, blankets and the presence of dog and cat feces.

10/13/2014 [...] closed as INDICATED. Mother was indicated for environmental neglect due to the deplorable conditions of the home. [...] began receiving community services.

1/6/2017 Investigation of an allegation of neglect by JW and KA closed as UNFOUNDED. [...] the home was in a deplorable condition and children were not being fed. Food is present in the home and family indicated a plan for cleaning up the residence.

2/22/2018 [...] by KA, JW and MA is closed as UNFOUNDED. [...] environmental neglect due to the conditions of the home reported.
[...]

8/28/2018 Hotline was contacted concerning attendance issues at school with the surviving son. [...] Intake was added to the already open investigation.

8/30/2018 [...] by JW and KA [...] UNFOUNDED. The report alleged that KA and JW were in the community begging for money and food. [...] The family was referred to community-based services.

9/29/2018 [...] allegation of abuse by JW [...] UNFOUNDED. [...] son was being restrained by KA's boyfriend [...] family was offered community services.

10/8/2018 [...] by JW and KA [...] UNFOUNDED. The report alleged a dirty house. [...]

11/2/2018 [...] by KA [...] UNFOUNDED. The report alleged that the surviving son was scratched on the arm by KA [...] was unfounded after evidence indicated otherwise.

04/08/19 The death of three children related to a fire [...] is reported to DCFS.

[...]


*Snipped and abbreviations added by me to fit within the TOS copying rules.

Thank you for compiling that from the article and posting it.

I don’t think KA realized it, but in posting his YouTube videos he documented the abusive conditions outlined in these complaints.

 

[jjenny]

I am not surprised DCF didn't do much of anything. We have seen cases where much worse abuse was happening, and they haven't removed the children there either, resulting in a predictable outcome. I am guessing in this case they felt kids would be better off with parents than in foster care, because parents did take at least some care of them, even if it were not perfect conditions. If they start removing children because house is dirty, they would be removing children day in and day out. I am not sure outcome in this case was predictable (fire allegedly set by one kid killing three other kids), unlike some of the other cases were abuse was much more evident.

 

[claudianunes]

DCFS had 14 interactions with 9-year-old charged with murder since his birth

[...]

Prior Investigations

1/30/2010 [...] UNFOUNDED. Report alleged child was at risk [...] mother’s living arrangements would expose [...] son to a registered sex offender.

8/25/2010 [...] by MA and KA [...] UNFOUNDED. The report alleged [...] son is being cared for by a registered sex offender

10/13/2010 [...] allegation of neglect by KA [...] UNFOUNDED. [...] that there were dog and cat feces present in the home and suggested environmental neglect.

8/4/2011 [...] by FN and KA is closed as UNFOUNDED. [...] son was at risk of physical harm due to the presence of a male occupant of the home.

9/16/2013 [...] is closed as UNFOUNDED. Report alleged surviving son is exposed to risk from soiled pull-ups, blankets and the presence of dog and cat feces.

10/13/2014 [...] closed as INDICATED. Mother was indicated for environmental neglect due to the deplorable conditions of the home. [...] began receiving community services.

1/6/2017 Investigation of an allegation of neglect by JW and KA closed as UNFOUNDED. [...] the home was in a deplorable condition and children were not being fed. Food is present in the home and family indicated a plan for cleaning up the residence.

2/22/2018 [...] by KA, JW and MA is closed as UNFOUNDED. [...] environmental neglect due to the conditions of the home reported.
[...]

8/28/2018 Hotline was contacted concerning attendance issues at school with the surviving son. [...] Intake was added to the already open investigation.

8/30/2018 [...] by JW and KA [...] UNFOUNDED. The report alleged that KA and JW were in the community begging for money and food. [...] The family was referred to community-based services.

9/29/2018 [...] allegation of abuse by JW [...] UNFOUNDED. [...] son was being restrained by KA's boyfriend [...] family was offered community services.

10/8/2018 [...] by JW and KA [...] UNFOUNDED. The report alleged a dirty house. [...]

11/2/2018 [...] by KA [...] UNFOUNDED. The report alleged that the surviving son was scratched on the arm by KA [...] was unfounded after evidence indicated otherwise.

04/08/19 The death of three children related to a fire [...] is reported to DCFS.

[...]


*Snipped and abbreviations added by me to fit within the TOS copying rules.

First of all, thank you so much for posting this.
Regarding the part bolded by me, does it state that someone reported that Kyle was scratched on the arm by his own mother? Since they have the same initials it gets a little confusing.
This is absolutely revolting. All of the "unfounded" stamps slapped on these reports seem to be nothing more that pure laziness on the part of whoever visited the home.
So, someone reports that a registered sex offender is not only living in the same house, but also caring for Kyle and the report gets classified as "unfounded" because that person was not present at the time of the home visit? Really? Because I doubt mom didn't know about people talking and being concerned, after the first visit she kind of knew to be alert.
It was reported that the children were not getting fed and, because there was food in the home, the report was classified as... "UNFOUNDED". Because having food in the home totally means that they are feeding the children. Yeah, right. Come on.
There are back-to-back reports about the disgusting state of the home, when visiting, it's clear as day that the home is, indeed, in a disgusting state but the reports get classified as "unfounded" because they pinky promised that they would clean the house, over and over again? On top of that, they are given community services, they receive help and, yet again, everything stays the same.
They had a dirty house because they wanted to. These children were being abused and neglected. Kyle was not even being taken to school. They couldn't even do that, the bare minium, sending a child to school. This kid never had a chance.

 

[Niner]

Friday, November 22nd:
*Hearing (@ am CT) - IL – Ariel Wall (1), Daemeon Wall (2), Rose Alwood (2), Jason Wall (34) & Kathryn Murray (69) (April 6, 2019, Timberline Mobile Home Park, Goodfield) - *Kyle Alwood (9) charged (10/7/19) with 5 counts of murder, 2 counts of arson & 1 count of aggravated arson. The aggravated arson charge is based on the conclusion that the child knew people were in the home at the time the fire was started.
The suspect, if convicted, could be put on probation for at least 5 years, but not beyond the age of 21, and could be eligible to receive therapy & counseling. Prison time is not an option. If the juvenile is under 12 years old, police can only hold him or her for 6 hours, and an attorney will be appointed for the child and the verdict & possible sentence would be decided by a judge (bench trial).
Kathryn Murray is his great-grandmother, Jason Wall is the stepfather, Ariel & Daemeon are his siblings, and Rose is his cousin. The other person who survived was his mom, Katrina Alwood (27). Mom says Kyle was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia, ADHD and bipolar disorder, and showed interest in fire and lighters.
10/21/19 Update: Hearing to be held behind closed doors. Katrina subpoenaed to attend & gag order placed on her. As Judge read the charges Kyle asked his attorney what the words “alleged” “arson” or “resident” meant. Next hearing is on 11/22.

 

[squareandrabbet]

Can the judge mandate that Katrina get a psychiatric evaluation? I'd like to know her diagnosis, frankly.

 

[Lmustang89]

Seems to me the 12 year old was given pointers on how to do all of this by his mother (more like threatened) knowing he would get in less trouble that she would. She is a narcissist that is projecting on her son.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Seems to me the 12 year old was given pointers on how to do all of this by his mother (more like threatened) knowing he would get in less trouble that she would. She is a narcissist that is projecting on her son.

What makes you think he was instructed by his mother to do this? I'm just curious.