IN - Unknown boy, 2, Found in forest in Greene County, 10 Aug 2013

[Strangeworld]

It sure is puzzling. And in the state he was in, he must have been out there for a while. I don't know if we'll get many more details - I reckon the Mum might be pushing to keep custody.

 

[M.James]

There was a little segment on the news tonight. There, of course, was no mention of names, etc., but the baby is fine.
There isn’t much to mention that can’t be read in any of the articles, except one thing that I thought was interesting, and I’ve been trying to find a copy of the news segment that mentioned this so anyone who wants could listen, but can’t find anything.
The news station was wtwo Terre Haute, the commentator was Tom McClanahan, who said he had spoken with the man who found the boy.

Supposedly, Mr. Lewellyn said he first saw a dog, so slowed down. When he slowed for the dog is when he spotted the boy. (Hope I got that right. My copy and paste work much better than my memory.) Lewellyn, himself, was not on the news segment.

I just wonder if that little guy had been following that dog (or vice-versa), and if that dog had been watching out for him, and had helped bring him as far as he had made it without getting badly hurt.

Also, just found this:
http://www.gcdailyworld.com/story/1993494.html

No criminal charges are pending -- DCS would be in charge of the investigation. It's possible they could contact the sheriff's department to get them involved again if necessary.
Cain said DCS released the child back to the custody of the mother Friday evening after interviews and a medical evaluation were completed.

 

[M.James]

http://www.newsbarb.com/2013/08/23/charges-filed-against-mother-of-boy-found-in-state-forest/

There are a few intersting comments below the story.

 

[Linda7NJ]

Wow, just wow

 

[Linda7NJ]

Wow, just wow

This mom sounds terribly overwhelmed, single. Sad really.

 

[Wolf Dreamer]

Mom has some photos of what I assume is the 2yo where he's apparently climbed up onto a sideboard; certainly looks the adventurous type. Sounds like dad was away driving.

 

[southernnana]

Charges filed against mother of 2-yr old found wandering in forest

http://www.newsbarb.com/2013/08/23/charges-filed-against-mother-of-boy-found-in-state-forest/

There are a few intersting comments below the story.

From Link above:

Frances J. Rooney, of Linton, was charged on Friday with neglect of a dependent/putting a dependent in a situation endangering the dependent’s life or health, a class D felony.

This charge stems from an August 9th incident where Rooney’s naked two-year-old son was found wandering alone through the Greene Sullivan State Forest.

<snipped>

Several bodies of water and extreme terrain lie between the child’s home and the area he was found in.

O’Malley stated in the probable cause that he believes it would have taken the two-year-old boy much longer than 10 to 15 minutes to walk 1.6 miles, and that the child’s life and health were at risk walking unsupervised on a road in an area containing many bodies of water.

 

[Nova]

This mom sounds terribly overwhelmed, single. Sad really.

Indeed. And she left the toddler and his twin in the care of his 11-year-old sister while she (the mother) cleaned up an overflowing toilet. (At the same age I was often left to care for a 3 and 5-year-old and was perfectly capable of doing so.)

Would DCS have been happier if she had left the bathroom dirty?

(According to Linda's link, the distance the child walked was slightly more than a mile-and-a-half. I know there's quite a difference between ages 2 and 5, but when I was a kid, it was assumed first-graders could walk 2 miles each way, to and from school: that was the limit for busing purposes.)

I hope the DCS meeting is an investigation to get some help for the mother and not just a chance to take the kids because of public pressure.

ETA: I see criminal charges have been filed. How sad.

 

[Nova]

I can't even imagine the anguish of the 11-year-old who will blame herself for "assuming" her little brother would stay in the yard. If she is ultimately responsible for breaking up the family, what sort of damage will that do to her?

I doubt I could have ever forgiven myself at that age.

 

[AlwaysShocked]

I was babysitting (for 50 cents per hour!) two little boys and a three month old infant at age 12. Looking back on it now, those parents had to have been crazy. And so was my mother for allowing me to do it.

Yes, I was a responsible child, but no 12 yr. old can be equipped to handle a true emergency.

I sure hope social services doesn't allow these children to "fall between the cracks".