GUILTY IN - Jada Justice, 2, Gary, 16 June 2009

[AmandaReckonwith]

Nothing made public about the meeting today?
Frustrating.

 

[daisy.faithfull]

:wave:Welcome to Websleuths AmadaReckonwith!!:wave:

 

[daisy.faithfull]

http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2009/06/23/news/top/doc2f8aa6c509f1399f862575de000682d2.txt

Reward up to $10K in missing child case
By Chas Reilly
Tuesday, June 23, 2009

As the search for Jada Justice reaches its seventh day, family and friends of the 2-year-old Portage toddler haven't lost hope they will see her again.

Volunteers went door to door Monday handing out fliers explaining Jada's disappearance. The child's family also increased a reward they are offering to anyone providing information that will lead to Jada's return to $10,000.

Jada has been missing since June 16, when her baby sitter -- and cousin -- Engelica Castillo said Jada was taken from the Glen Park Gas station at the Louisiana Street and Ridge Road intersection in Gary.

Volunteers tied a pink ribbon on a pole or tree at the end of each block they visited so people didn't hit the same area twice.

More at the link

 

[daisy.faithfull]

Can't sleep tonight, so I've been looking up information about meth use in Gary since there is a possibility that TT got his burns from "cooking" methamphetamine. I found this about a rise in meth labs in north eastern Indiana, it does different counties than that one EC and TT are in.

Anyway, here's a bit and there's more at the link:

Meth lab seizures spiked upward in 2008
Associated Press
March 08, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS -
The center of methamphetamine production in Indiana has shifted to the state’s northeastern corner as law enforcement agencies contend with a surge in clandestine labs manufacturing the illegal drug.

Indiana State Police and other agencies uncovered 1,092 labs last year in the state, a 31 percent increase from the 832 seized in 2007 and the second highest number since state police began tracking the statistics in 1995, The Indianapolis Star reported Sunday.

Noble County, northwest of Fort Wayne, led the state with 80 meth labs found in 2008, followed by Elkhart County, with 65.

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/mar/08/news/chi-ap-in-methlabseizures

It does say that most of the labs are in the rural areas. I don't know how that would work for these guys. I have heard of meth being produced in city homes.

I was also trying to find out what kind of injuries people receive if they are burned in a meth lab explosion. Couldn't find anything about that, but it does look like most people die and the explosion demolishes the home.

I don't understand how people that make drugs and deal drugs can live with themselves. I know that they are probably feeding their own habit, but it still disgusts me.

When I think of the dangerous situations that LE is faced with everyday, I've never really thought about meth labs. As if dealing with druggies wasn't dangerous enough. :shakehead:

 

[CarrieBean]

Here are a couple of photos of meth lab explosion burns. I haven't come across any photos before healing, yet.

 

[HesterMofet]

I'm wondering if the police are checking the old steel mills in Gary. The perps could have killed her (accidentally or purposely) and gone out there and used one of the old furnaces or the shell of a building (something to hide the flames). There's still some coal out there and they may have put it on her and burned the body. That would explain the burns on the boyfriend.

Did they check the boyfriend's car with the dogs? The fact that those dogs indicated that the baby was not recently in the cousin's car really says something to me. How often are these guys wrong?

It's sad when the best case scenario is that someone kidnapped her because they wanted a baby, will feel guilty and bring her back. I know, I know, I have a rich fantasy life, but I have to have hope.

 

[Charla]

For what it is worth, the DA may not have charged the cousin with child endangerment due to the fact that the cousin did not technically break a law. People think that leaving a kid in a car automatically equates to neglect, endangerment, etc...I will admit to having left my child in a car for a couple of minutes, either when it was late and he was asleep or when he was a little bitty baby and I could not carry him and what I needed from the store. Not sure about IN law, but where I live, in TX, the law is as follows:

TEXAS
Codes 22.10
Leaving a Child in a Vehicle

(a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly leaves a child in a motor vehicle for longer than five minutes, knowing that the child is:
(1) younger than seven years of age; and
(2) not attended by and individual in the vehicle who is 14 years of age or older.

(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
** If the child is injured the charge is then child endangerment which is a felony. The penalties are six months to two years in jail and a fine up to $10,000. (How do we know if Jada is injured or not?)

I know the laws are different in each state, and some states do not even have explicit laws. In Illinois, the time limit is 10 minutes before leaving a child in a car is considered endangerment. Wow!
At any rate, I hope this beautiful little girl is found safe and unharmed!

 

[Charla]

Just to add to my previous post, when reading up on Illinois law it states

Illinois Law
SB28
State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

92_SB0028eng


(a) It is unlawful for any person to willfully cause or permit the life or health of a child under the age of 18 to be endangered or to willfully cause or permit a child to be placed in circumstances that endanger the child's life or health.
(a-5) A person commits the offense of endangering the life or health of a child if he or she leaves a child unattended in a motor vehicle. For purposes of this subsection:
(1) There is a rebuttable presumption that a person committed the offense if he or she left a child unattended in a motor vehicle for more than 10 minutes.
(2) "Unattended" means either: (i) not accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older; or (ii) if accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older, out of sight of that person.
(b) A violation of this Section is a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation of this Section is a Class 3 felony. A violation of this Section that is a proximate cause of the death of the child is a Class 3 felony for which a person, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 2 years and not more than 10 years.
(Source: P.A. 90-687, eff. 7-31-98.)


10 minutes!!!! wowowowowoww!

 

[Soulscape]

Just to add to my previous post, when reading up on Illinois law it states

Illinois Law
SB28
State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

92_SB0028eng


(a) It is unlawful for any person to willfully cause or permit the life or health of a child under the age of 18 to be endangered or to willfully cause or permit a child to be placed in circumstances that endanger the child's life or health.
(a-5) A person commits the offense of endangering the life or health of a child if he or she leaves a child unattended in a motor vehicle. For purposes of this subsection:
(1) There is a rebuttable presumption that a person committed the offense if he or she left a child unattended in a motor vehicle for more than 10 minutes.
(2) "Unattended" means either: (i) not accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older; or (ii) if accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older, out of sight of that person.
(b) A violation of this Section is a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation of this Section is a Class 3 felony. A violation of this Section that is a proximate cause of the death of the child is a Class 3 felony for which a person, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 2 years and not more than 10 years.
(Source: P.A. 90-687, eff. 7-31-98.)


10 minutes!!!! wowowowowoww!

For what it's worth, I suspect Engelica's 'story' was just that --- a story. I do not believe the child was even in the car...

JMO,


Thanks,
Soulscape

 

[Recovering-Lurker]

For what it's worth, I suspect Engelica's 'story' was just that --- a story. I do not believe the child was even in the car...

JMO,


Thanks,
Soulscape

ITA. LE doesn't buy the story either IMO. She didn't even have the milk and cigs she said she bought.

 

[tfrohning]

I don't think anyone has came forward and said that they seem a child was in the car.
All I have read that they not see a child in the car.

 

[hyldo]

Just to add to my previous post, when reading up on Illinois law it states

Illinois Law
SB28
State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

92_SB0028eng


(a) It is unlawful for any person to willfully cause or permit the life or health of a child under the age of 18 to be endangered or to willfully cause or permit a child to be placed in circumstances that endanger the child's life or health.
(a-5) A person commits the offense of endangering the life or health of a child if he or she leaves a child unattended in a motor vehicle. For purposes of this subsection:
(1) There is a rebuttable presumption that a person committed the offense if he or she left a child unattended in a motor vehicle for more than 10 minutes.
(2) "Unattended" means either: (i) not accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older; or (ii) if accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older, out of sight of that person.
(b) A violation of this Section is a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation of this Section is a Class 3 felony. A violation of this Section that is a proximate cause of the death of the child is a Class 3 felony for which a person, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 2 years and not more than 10 years.
(Source: P.A. 90-687, eff. 7-31-98.)


10 minutes!!!! wowowowowoww!

This happened in Indiana, and here is the applicable statute:

(a) A person having the care of a dependent, whether assumed voluntarily or because of a legal obligation, who knowingly or intentionally:
(1) places the dependent in a situation that endangers the dependent's life or health;
(2) abandons or cruelly confines the dependent;
(3) deprives the dependent of necessary support; or
(4) deprives the dependent of education as required by law;
commits neglect of a dependent, a Class D felony.

I can't count the number of times all summer that the news reports a parent has been arrested at a shopping mall or department store for leaving their kid in the car.

 

[panthera]

Nancy Grace just covered Jada's disappearance on her show tonight. The program will be repeated again at 10pm ET.

From what I've heard so far, it does sound suspicious, since it seems no one was seen near the car while it was parked there at the store. MOO

 

[FifthEssence]

For what it's worth, I suspect Engelica's 'story' was just that --- a story. I do not believe the child was even in the car...

JMO,


Thanks,
Soulscape

Just watching NG. Says the babysitter refuses to take a poly!
Jada's mother, Melissa is on the show.

 

[jnTexas]

Just watching NG. Says the babysitter refuses to take a poly!
Jada's mother, Melissa is on the show.

She better be glad she's in jail. I'm sure Jada's daddy could get it out of her if he could get a hold of her.

 

[eyes4crime]

She better be glad she's in jail. I'm sure Jada's daddy could get it out of her if he could get a hold of her.

I couldn't agree more! Daddy clarence is one determined, loving daddy who wants his baby back, like yesterday! Those kids better come clean with polys, and with information about the burns. mho

 

[nursebeeme]

refuses to take a poly. what an idiot! Wonder if burned boyfriend has also been offered to take one????

 

[hoosier_mama]

I live in NW Indiana, not far from where this has happened. I can't stop thinking about beautiful little Jada. I have a feeling that the boyfriend did something to her. Maybe he (or the cousin) shook her and she died, then he burned himself in the process of disposing of her little body. I don't know. But as much as I hope and pray that Jada is alive and will be found and reunited with her family, I just don't have a very good feeling about it. I hope I'm wrong.

I believe that the gas station "kidnapping" was a cover story--something else happened to that baby.

It is a rare occasion when I go through Gary, but I don't even ride through that city without locking my doors (mostly I just avoid going there.) I could not imagine anyone leaving a baby in an unlocked car at a gas station there. Heck, I wouldn't even sit in an unlocked car at a gas station there.

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

She better be glad she's in jail. I'm sure Jada's daddy could get it out of her if he could get a hold of her.

Engelica was released without charges.

 

[panthera]

I live in NW Indiana, not far from where this has happened. I can't stop thinking about beautiful little Jada. I have a feeling that the boyfriend did something to her. Maybe he (or the cousin) shook her and she died, then he burned himself in the process of disposing of her little body. I don't know. But as much as I hope and pray that Jada is alive and will be found and reunited with her family, I just don't have a very good feeling about it. I hope I'm wrong.

I believe that the gas station "kidnapping" was a cover story--something else happened to that baby.

It is a rare occasion when I go through Gary, but I don't even ride through that city without locking my doors (mostly I just avoid going there.) I could not imagine anyone leaving a baby in an unlocked car at a gas station there. Heck, I wouldn't even sit in an unlocked car at a gas station there.

I'm watching the repeat of Nancy's show, but it seems there wasn't an explanation given as to why the car wasn't locked. Also was it a 2 dr. or 4 dr. car? It seems strange that with an unlocked car that the "perp" who "allegedly" took Jada didn't try to take the car instead since that would usually be the first thing somebody hanging around a gas station at night might try. MOO