GUILTY LA - Jackson Attuso, 8, stabbed to death, West Feliciana Parish, 10 June 2010

[Kimberlyd125]

My 8 year old often left me in the dust when we biked together.

And, it has since been reported, he was riding between 2 groups. So, in theory, he would have been safe. Not ahead of everybody, and not behind everybody.

And, he would have been, if not for the guy who jumped out of nowhere and killed him.

Poor baby.

 

[Zoe Bogart]

I have a special affinity for St. Francisville and the surrounding area, and I couldn't agree more, Kimberly. It's a wonderful town, not only historically but as a community. Idyllic describes it best, peaceful and simple in its beauty. I'm saddened to know that this tragedy has marred the beauty, and can imagine how unsettling it must be for you. Life will never be the same for the two families, but for you and others who live nearby, I pray it will soon become a faded memory.

I also enjoy visiting St. Francisville, even contemplated buying a place there after Hurricane Katrina, but decided when I move, it'll be out of state, somewhere more spread out, like out west.

St. Francisville is an charming place, lots of beauty, trees, greenery, lush gardens, history, lovely churches, near the river..... not too far from city life. Even lovely towns experience terrible tragedies, I'm sorry to say.

 

[southcitymom]

Of course, I may just have a different perspective because I know that excellent morals and values are being handed off to the younger generation and they are taking the baton like champs!
-----------------
I can understand if you are referring to your own family. But if you are making a statement about youth in American society, I have experienced and seen just the opposite in the majority; that is, where I live.

I am talking about the all the world I have seen everywhere in my 43 years here, not just my own family. I respect that others have a different opinion than the opinion my experiences lead me to.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Little Jackson was laid to rest today.

I'm praying for his family. I can not imagine what they went through today and what they will go through the rest of their lives.

 

[geauxgirl]

Little Jackson was laid to rest today.

I'm praying for his family. I can not imagine what they went through today and what they will go through the rest of their lives.

RIP Jackson. You will be missed by even those who don't know you. Bless you and your family!

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Bond hearing was supposed to be yesterday.

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12656892

Snipped:

Report: Attorney for teen accused of murder requests no bond.
ST. FRANCISVILLE, LA (WAFB) - A St. Francisville teenager accused of a brutal murder was expected to make his second court appearance Tuesday morning, but a reported move by his attorney has apparently changed that plan.

Trevor Reese, 16, was scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing.

However, there is word his attorney filed paperwork requesting no bond be set.


And also snipped:

A grand jury is set to hear arguments Thursday and determine exactly what charge the teen should face.

 

[newcomer]

Bond hearing was supposed to be yesterday.

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12656892

Snipped:

Report: Attorney for teen accused of murder requests no bond.
ST. FRANCISVILLE, LA (WAFB) - A St. Francisville teenager accused of a brutal murder was expected to make his second court appearance Tuesday morning, but a reported move by his attorney has apparently changed that plan.

Trevor Reese, 16, was scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing.

However, there is word his attorney filed paperwork requesting no bond be set.

Wonder why his attorney requested no bond be set?/

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Wonder why his attorney requested no bond be set?/

I was wondering the same thing. I'm not really familiar with legal procedures. Does anybody have a clue why he would do this?

 

[Kimberlyd125]

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12664070

Grand jury meets to decide on charge against Reese

Snipped:

ST. FRANCISVILLE, LA (WAFB) - The legal proceedings continue for the 16-year-old accused of stabbing an 8-year-old boy to death last week.

A grand jury will meet Thursday morning to determine what formal charge will be filed against Trevor Reese.

Reese is not expected to appear in court for the hearing.

The district attorney has said he expects Reese to be indicted on one count of first-degree murder.

The St. Francisville teen was initially charged with first-degree murder when he was arrested by the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Office last Thursday.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

He was indicted for first degree murder. He was not in the courtroom for the hearing. His arraignment is scheduled for June 24.

I'm on my phone and can not link, but if you go to the wafb link above, it should be updated.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Arraignment today. I will post any news I hear on this.

Prayers for Jackson's family.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

While looking for news this morning on Trevor Reese's arraignment, I came across this article. I did not realize Jackson was adopted from Russia.

Not that it matters at all in the case, just thought it was interesting.

http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/crimes/18-06-2010/113906-adopted_child-0

Snipped:

Another child adopted from Russia has died in the United States. Kirill Kazakov, an eight-year-old boy, named as Jackson David Attuso, fell victim to a brutal non-motivated murder. His adoptive parents are not guilty of his death, Itar-Tass reports.

Kirill-Jackson was adopted with the help of Louisiana-based Beacon House Adoption Service Inc. Anne Hughes, the agency’s CEO, told Itar-Tass that the boy turned 8 on May 27. He was adopted on October 16, 2003 in Russia’s Blagoveschensk.




Some of the comments under this article are disturbing to say the least. A lot of comments from Russia are that USA targets and attacks Russian children.
I for one can say that this is crazy. This little man was not targeted. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I'm sure the attacker had no clue he was adopted 7 years ago from Russia.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Here is another one....

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/boys-murder-wont-derail-adoption-treaty/408672.html

Snipped:

Boy's Murder Won't Derail Adoption Treaty

The stabbing death of an 8-year-old adopted Russian boy in the United States will "add determination" to efforts to quickly reach a U.S.-Russian agreement on adoptions, the Foreign Ministry said.

The body of Kirill Kazakov, named Jackson Attuso by his adoptive parents, was found stabbed multiple times with his throat slit after he went biking with his parents and twin brother in a park on June 11 in St. Francisville, Louisiana, the ministry said Friday.

The suspected killer arrested by police was identified as high school student Trevor Reese, 16. Local news reports said Reese turned himself in shortly after the apparently random killing.

News of the boy's death surfaced as negotiators put the last touches on the adoption agreement, which Moscow demanded after a U.S. mother sent her 7-year-old adopted Russian son back to Russia unaccompanied on a plane in April.

"Against the backdrop of the recent tragic incidents involving Russian children adopted in the U.S., [Kazakov's death] only adds determination in getting the Americans to restore order to adoptions, primarily through the soonest possible conclusion of an appropriate bilateral agreement," Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said in a statement.

Before April, Moscow had raised concerns about the deaths of 17 Russian children at the hands of their adopted parents over the past 15 years.

Nesterenko complained that U.S. authorities had failed to notify Russia about Kazakov's death promptly.

***more in article***

This makes no sense to me.
This could have happened to any 8 year old that was riding that path that day.
Where he was born has NOTHING to do with what happened.

This saddens me.

This is a great family who was taking great care of Jackson.


ETA: OHHH This ticks me off. Also snipped from above article:
Children's ombudsman Pavel Astakhov, who is helping negotiate the new U.S.-Russian agreement on adoptions, said the parents might be liable for negligence. "It is clear that this tragedy was possible only because of a lack of parental control over the adopted child," Astakhov said, RIA-Novosti reported.

 

[Belinda]

I know there have been many problems with Russian adoptions, however this is NOT one of them. Jackson's adoptive parents did nothing wrong. They were out doing a healthy activity, which is GOOD. They had no control over what Trevor did. There have been many Russian children killed by their adoptive parents. They don't need to try and use this as an example. How dare they try and put any blame on the parents in this situation. That burns me up.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I know there have been many problems with Russian adoptions, however this is NOT one of them. Jackson's adoptive parents did nothing wrong. They were out doing a healthy activity, which is GOOD. They had no control over what Trevor did. There have been many Russian children killed by their adoptive parents. They don't need to try and use this as an example. How dare they try and put any blame on the parents in this situation. That burns me up.

Me too Belinda. This whole situation is so sad. I've followed this case since the first day. I have many friends who know the family. I've talked to several local people about it.
I NEVER even heard it mentioned that he was adopted from Russia until I came across these articles today. For these people to be saying Jackson was targeted because he was Russian is crazy. This Reese guy didn't even know the family. He didn't know Jackson was Russian!!!


And to come out and say Jackson's adoptive parents were negligent is even more screwed up. He had members of his group in front of him and behind him as they rode their bikes. He should have been completly safe!

The blame needs to be put where it belongs, on the "kid" who jumped out and brutally attacked Jackson and killed him in cold blood.


IMO this has NOTHING to do with the adoption at all.

This poor family had been through enough!

 

[joe jones]

he was not murdered because of his nationality, he was out doing what children do, on a bike ride with his family, only his murderer knows why he attacked an innocent child and horrifically stabbed him to death

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I agree Joe.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I never could find any info on the arraignment from the Baton Rouge news stations, but I did find this in our little local paper/website this morning...

http://www.zacharytoday.com/content/arraignment-proceedings-reese-continued

Snipped:

The arraignment proceedings in 20th Judicial District Court for 16-year-old Trevor Reese on a charge of first-degree murder were continued until Thursday, July 8.
Reese is accused of stabbing and killing eight-year-old Jackson Atusso Thursday, June 10.
Reese’s attorney, Lewis Unglesbee, cited previously scheduled court appearances preventing his appearance in 20th Judicial District Court on Thursday, June 24.
District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla expressed opposition to the continuance.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

http://www.wafb.com/global/story.asp?s=12773385

Reese appears for arraignment hearing

Snipped:

ST. FRANCISVILLE, LA (WAFB) - A teenager suspected in the stabbing death of an 8-year-old boy appears in court for an arraignment hearing Thursday morning.

Trevor Reese, 16, is accused of killing Jackson Attuso of Clinton in a West Feliciana Parish subdivision on June 10.


Also snipped:

"I don't think there's going to be an issue of responsibility," said Lewis Unglesby, Reese's defense attorney. "I think there will be an issue of what is his competency and his understanding of his mental status."

Unglesby made the comment after Reese was indicted for murder.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/latest/98024669.html

16-year-old pleads not guilty in murder of 8-year-old

Snipped:

ST. FRANCISVILLE — A 16-year-old boy indicted on first-degree murder for the stabbing death of an 8-year-old boy pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity this morning in district court.

A West Feliciana Parish grand jury indicted Trevor Reese in the June 10 stabbing death of Jackson "Jack" Attuso, of Clinton.

Reese, of Sunshine Way in The Bluffs on Thompson Creek, is accused of stabbing and cutting Attuso's throat.