GUILTY MD - Sarah Foxwell, 11, Salisbury, 23 Dec 2009

[what about this?]

I respect your message about educating the masses but I disagree. I believe that the protection of one's child is an innate thing. There is a maternal instinct that kicks in and internal alarm bells that go off and if some people choose to ignore that at their child's peril, then no amount of educating them is going to change their 'mothering' style. I don't believe it is a teachable thing ... all the stats and info in the world won't stop people from making stupid choices. They have to care enough to make the right decision and those who care would protect their child at all costs anyway. Those who don't give a beep about their parental responsibilities won't give a beep about some educational pamphlets in their mail.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of uneducated loving, caring parents out there who would never knowingly put their child in harm's way. Also, unfortunately, many SO's tend to live in the same areas where uneducated parents and their children live. I realistically do not know how to raise their awareness and help them to protect their children better, but good, safe parenting practices are teachable, I believe, especially with the predator right next door.

But no, not with educational pamphlets in the mail.

 

[sniperacer]

I'm married, but if I was single it wouldn't bother me. And I have no sexual attraction to children, but I do to adult women. Adults who are attracted to children are defective and should be executed, they cannot be fixed.

I said the same thing. But it got deleted. :banghead:

 

[sniperacer]

So, bottom line is this woman is at fault for the murder of this child. Because according to "us", she should have done better work at protecting Sarah.

What about the legal sysytem? Are they going to be held just as accountable for their failures? The guy was registared in Delaware and Maryland. Maryland does not put out there, as public record, the why of being a RSO. Just that he was. Pedophiles are verbal/emotional artists to get what they demand. Expect. This guardian could only go with what information was available.

imho

Yes she is culpable. And the reason is she KNEW he was a Registered Sex Offender.

Exactly how you would blame a school if the school KNEW a teacher was a sex offender and said teacher hurt your child.

It is hard enough to navigate through the unknown, but to ignore the known is more dangerous.

IMO.

 

[sniperacer]

Maryland has no restrictions on where a sex offender can live within a community.

Q13. Are There Any Restrictions on Where a Sex Offender Can Live?
No, Maryland does not have any residency restrictions. Information put out by other states has shown that residency restrictions do not help to prevent sexual offenses from occurring because the victims and the offenders, in most situations, know each other. Having ready access to victims, in private and secretive environments, is how sex offenders thrive.

http://www.dpscs.state.md.us/onlineservs/socem/SOR_FAQs.pdf

Interesting. Here in CA, the news and talk shows make a huge deal about where sex offenders can and can not live. Bottom line is no one wants them living near them - and I can relate to that.

 

[SailorMoon]

Haven't been on in a few days and see this....dear Lord, another?? Another innocent child killed by a pedophile??? What is it going to take? They cannot be rehabilitated. Do not let them free.

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

Sounds as though part of the problem involved states not sharing information?


"State Sen. Nancy Jacobs (R-Harford) co-sponsored Maryland's version of Jessica's Law, a bill passed in 2006 that set sentencing guidelines for child sex offenders. It's named for Jessica Lunsford, a 9-year-old Florida girl who was kidnapped, sexually abused and killed by a convicted child sex offender.

At the urging of activists such as Norton, Jacobs and other legislators have tried unsuccessfully to tighten the law to prevent offenders from getting parole. She thought Sarah's case would "absolutely" inspire legislators to reinforce the law.

"I've already had e-mails from people asking about it," Jacobs said. "It's about how far can we go, and I'm in favor as going as far as we can."

Jacobs also said the case exposes weaknesses in how Maryland communicates with other states about child sex offenders. If Leggs was considered "high risk" in Delaware, she thinks he should have been in Maryland, too."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/26/AR2009122601674_2.html

Ya think??? Wow.

(BBM)

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

Maryland has no restrictions on where a sex offender can live within a community.

Q13. Are There Any Restrictions on Where a Sex Offender Can Live?
No, Maryland does not have any residency restrictions. Information put out by other states has shown that residency restrictions do not help to prevent sexual offenses from occurring because the victims and the offenders, in most situations, know each other. Having ready access to victims, in private and secretive environments, is how sex offenders thrive.
http://www.dpscs.state.md.us/onlineservs/socem/SOR_FAQs.pdf

BBM

I couldn't agree more.

 

[lbminnesota]

Interesting. Here in CA, the news and talk shows make a huge deal about where sex offenders can and can not live. Bottom line is no one wants them living near them - and I can relate to that.

Maryland addresses why they don't restrict where SO's live in the following paragraph.

Some states, such as Iowa and Florida, have found that residency restrictions can make it very difficult to track sex offenders who have become homeless. Homeless sex offenders are also more difficult to register and without an address the registry is unable to tell the public where the offender lives. Homeless sex offenders are better able to operate in private and secretive environments. By registering a sex offender with a valid address the police, the Sex Offender Registry and the community are all better able to make sure that offender is not able to re-offend.

 

[eyes4crime]

Yes she is culpable. And the reason is she KNEW he was a Registered Sex Offender.

Exactly how you would blame a school if the school KNEW a teacher was a sex offender and said teacher hurt your child.

It is hard enough to navigate through the unknown, but to ignore the known is more dangerous.

IMO.

BBM

IMO not a good defense - you have no idea what she KNEW! A registered sex offender can be anything from being 18yo and going to bed with a 17yo to a murderous, slug, pedophile.

Knowing he is a RSO can mean much of nothing and can be explained away, minomized, and denied to the fullest extent by the manipulative, controlling, and sickly pedophile. moo

 

[SharetheLight]

Hard to belive that this child's body was found burned and the focus is on the aunt and not the child predator murderer. By the way, if the kids are removed from her custody, where do you propose they be placed? just wondering. 3rd time asking TIA

I propose they be placed with a loving family that desperately wants children and cannot have their own. Or with a family that is committed to raising children that other people are too busy to raise.
They are out there.

 

[SharetheLight]

I heard the same rumor that someone posted about yesterday. It is a few pages back.
Rumor has it that Leggs was taken to a hospital because 4 inmates got a hold of him. The rumor I heard was that they didn't know if he'd make it.
I have a friend who lives on the Eastern Shore and she relayed this information.

Has anyone heard whether or not this is valid information?

 

[mom_of_five]

I heard the same rumor that someone posted about yesterday. It is a few pages back.
Rumor has it that Leggs was taken to a hospital because 4 inmates got a hold of him. The rumor I heard was that they didn't know if he'd make it.
I have a friend who lives on the Eastern Shore and she relayed this information.

Has anyone heard whether or not this is valid information?

Can't find any credible source with this rumored information...

 

[revampz]

Re Leggs getting it in jail....I hope so......he has hurt way too many innocents.....deserves it I say...

I am getting angry reading thru these posts and seeing one or two not understanding why people are angry at the aunt.....

to these people...YES WE GET LEGGS DID THE DASTARDLY DEED AND IS TO BLAME...but the aunt deserves people to be angry with her and pointing the finger...

the whole area knew this guy was a ....she knew he was some sort of sex offender....the age of victim is not relevant........her brother went to school with him...they knew he had done this a couple of times...

for those of you defending the aunt....I ask you this......do you have children?? and if so if you knew this guy was a sex offender would you want him near YOUR children..........I certainly wouldnt want to even KNOW the let alone DATE him...

sorry if you cant understand that thinking but I like my associates, friends and certainly boyfriend to be decent people

 

[eyes4crime]

I propose they be placed with a loving family that desperately wants children and cannot have their own. Or with a family that is committed to raising children that other people are too busy to raise.
They are out there.

I know it's difficult to think about - but loving families that desperately want children are not as available as one might think/want them to be. I'm not even going to post stats regarding the abuse that takes place in foster care but here is one stat from 2005 that may help you understand the crisis the US is in...

http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/foster_care

No. 64; Updated May 2005

BBM

Over 500,000 children in the U.S. currently reside in some form of foster care. Placements in foster care have dramatically increased over the past 10 years. Despite the increasing numbers, children in foster care and foster parents are mostly Ainvisible in communities and often lack many needed supports and resources. In situations of abuse and neglect, children may be removed from their parents' home by a child welfare agency and placed in foster care. Other reasons for foster placement include severe behavioral problems in the child and/or a variety of parental problems, such as abandonment, illness (physical or emotional), incarceration, AIDS, alcohol/substance abuse, and death.

 

[eyes4crime]

Re Leggs getting it in jail....I hope so......he has hurt way too many innocents.....deserves it I say...

I am getting angry reading thru these posts and seeing one or two not understanding why people are angry at the aunt.....

to these people...YES WE GET LEGGS DID THE DASTARDLY DEED AND IS TO BLAME...but the aunt deserves people to be angry with her and pointing the finger...

the whole area knew this guy was a ....she knew he was some sort of sex offender....the age of victim is not relevant........her brother went to school with him...they knew he had done this a couple of times...

for those of you defending the aunt....I ask you this......do you have children?? and if so if you knew this guy was a sex offender would you want him near YOUR children..........I certainly wouldnt want to even KNOW the let alone DATE him...

sorry if you cant understand that thinking but I like my associates, friends and certainly boyfriend to be decent people

Kudos to you for being so certain all your friends, associates, neighbors, etc are decent people. You have accomplished what most people, even those in LE, are unable to secure for themselves.

Why do you say the age of the victim is NOT relevant?

Her brother went to school with him? How long ago was that? Maybe the aunt believes people can change over time.

To answer your questions: Yes I have grown children and grandchildren. And no, if I knew there was a sex offender around, I wouldn't want my children near him, no matter what age the sex offender might be. However, I am educated, have worked in forensic mental health facilities, been involved with pedophile adolescent and adult research, have two computers to look all my questions up, am a member here at Websleuths, and have 2 family members who are in the field of forensics and law. Now I would say that gives me a one up on this aunt who may not have the foggiest idea how to do a nationwide criminal back ground check or know the dynamics of a pedophile. moo

The one very important fact I have learned about pedophiles: They all minimize, deny, and shift the blame for their crimes to those around them, especially the victim. If I thought the aunt was in collusion with this murderous slug, such as selling her child for sex and/or , I would be screaming for her arrest. So far, I just don't see it. I choose to hold this slug fully responsible for his murderous crime. Im sure underneath all the rhetoric, we all have the same goal - justice for Sarah. moo

 

[revampz]

Eyes for crime...I do not want to argue with you.......but sorry I definitely disagree with you on this...

No....I am not certain those I know are fully decent, but I can certainly tell you that if I somehow learnt that a friend etc was a sex offender I wouldnt want anything to do with them.....and I can tell you know, I would be scared stiff if I even SAW them near my children let alone invite them into my home near my children and date them........

re the relevance of the age...someone posted that maybe he had told her it was against a 17 year old or 18 year old..........like I said before.....I dont care what age or gender ......convicted of a sex offence not once but a number of times......nah.....sorry I would not invite them into my home.........and I am sure alot of people male, female, young, old, single, married, children or no children would agree with this......

basically what it comes down to anyone who is decent with a brain would not want to date a repeat sex offender let alone have them near children

 

[eyes4crime]

Eyes for crime...I do not want to argue with you.......but sorry I definitely disagree with you on this...

No....I am not certain those I know are fully decent, but I can certainly tell you that if I somehow learnt that a friend etc was a sex offender I wouldnt want anything to do with them.....and I can tell you know, I would be scared stiff if I even SAW them near my children let alone invite them into my home near my children and date them........

re the relevance of the age...someone posted that maybe he had told her it was against a 17 year old or 18 year old..........like I said before.....I dont care what age or gender ......convicted of a sex offence not once but a number of times......nah.....sorry I would not invite them into my home.........and I am sure alot of people male, female, young, old, single, married, children or no children would agree with this......

basically what it comes down to anyone who is decent with a brain would not want to date a repeat sex offender let alone have them near children

I completely agree with you - I wouldn't want these low life slugs as friends, neighbors, or anywhere but on some remote island where they have no access to children. Most are so narcissistic and parasitic they have no one but family who will listen to or help them. I'm sure this slug will try to shift the blame for his murderous crime over to the aunt and to Sarah. He will go on about how Sarah flirted or was inviting and how the aunt somehow promoted that.

As I have said many times on this thread - I don't care to join the perp in shifting the blame. If the aunt tortured, starved, or was psychotic and had no understanding of what it takes to care for loved ones, my feelings would be different. I don't believe punishing the aunt or the children in her care will make one bit of difference regarding child predators.

When first beginning research with the over sexualized child and adjudicated adolescents, I had great compassion for them and realized most were acting out their own abuse. I HAD to stop and switch all that compassion over to the victim or else the research would have been meaningless.

Regarding the aunt - we each have different ideas on crime and punishment and with only so much energy, I choose to put it toward the murderous perp. Have a great day everyone. mho

 

[burbqueen]

I completely agree with you - I wouldn't want these low life slugs as friends, neighbors, or anywhere but on some remote island where they have no access to children. Most are so narcissistic and parasitic they have no one but family who will listen to or help them. I'm sure this slug will try to shift the blame for his murderous crime over to the aunt and to Sarah. He will go on about how Sarah flirted or was inviting and how the aunt somehow promoted that.

As I have said many times on this thread - I don't care to join the perp in shifting the blame. If the aunt tortured, starved, or was psychotic and had no understanding of what it takes to care for loved ones, my feelings would be different. I don't believe punishing the aunt or the children in her care will make one bit of difference regarding child predators.

When first beginning research with the over sexualized child and adjudicated adolescents, I had great compassion for them and realized most were acting out their own abuse. I HAD to stop and switch all that compassion over to the victim or else the research would have been meaningless.

Regarding the aunt - we each have different ideas on crime and punishment and with only so much energy, I choose to put it toward the murderous perp. Have a great day everyone. mho

I totally 100% agree with all of your post on here. Lets face it, most average people do not do background checks for family, friends, neighbors and relatives. There are killer, rapist, pedo's etc among us that have never been arrested. So how will you know?

The average parent actually trust the people they associate around. Especially if they are a friend of the family or close relative etc. Shoot most of us, like me and my husband, don't even know our neighbors name. I just don't know how realistic it is to feel that a parent is gonna know where to look. I didnt. The only way I know about background checks, criminal records, and such is because I had to find that info about a certain person. I had no clue that you could find pedophiles by searching the internet and a lot of sites cost money that most people dont have.

Believe it or not there are poor people that dont have access to a computer or are computer illiterate. I'm not excusing the Aunt, but we do not know for sure that she knew he was a SO. She might have know about robberies or he may have fed her a line of bull. Untill we get more info then I'm not ready to throw her under the bus.

Like someone said a SO, could mean anything. Was he 18 and the girl 16? What is the state law? Most lay people have no clue about what laws are in their own state for J walking much less sex crimes. As a parent, yes it is your job to protect your children, but like someone said. People see a kid murdered on TV and move on. It's human nature. No one is gonna think,"oh yeah my boyfriend/husband/sister/brother/uncle/whoever could murder my child". Only LE, people who work in the system and true crime buffs think like this.

Ask your friends and family do they do back ground checks on the people who come in contact with their child? Most of them will look at you like you are nuts. Tell them how cautious you are. My family thinks I am paranoid. Let your friends know how much info you know about crime, murders, SO's and the like and you'll probably get fake smiles and blank stares. Most people dont care that much.

 

[impatientredhead]

So, now semantics of Aunt vs Mother. The woman was the legal guardian and was "Mom" to Sarah.

Frankly, I am lost as to how a victim of murder, their family, is responsible for her death at the hands of someone who planned it and carried it out.

Becoming very disillusioned as to what our part of victim/family advocacy is all about here......

The RSO was sick and should have been removed from society long ago. Those laws need to be changed.

But I STRONGLY believe mothers/guardians that knowingly expose their children to sex offenders should be prosecuted of the exact same crimes as the repeat offender. I don't understand how we as a society hold getaway drivers to the responsibility of murder if someone dies in a robbery but we don't hold parents responsible that INVITE sex offenders into their home.

If I leave my kid locked out of the house on a freezing night I would be charged. If I am stoned out of my mind and my toddler is running loose on the local highway I would be charged. Hook up with a predator and offering my kids up on a platter to him and people will send me cards and cash.

The system will never hold these people responsible until we as a society demand that the do so.

 

[Soulmagent]

Yes she is culpable. And the reason is she KNEW he was a Registered Sex Offender.

Exactly how you would blame a school if the school KNEW a teacher was a sex offender and said teacher hurt your child.

It is hard enough to navigate through the unknown, but to ignore the known is more dangerous.

IMO.

I just found out about this case after looking up something else and as I read over the article I had found I was shocked.
While I feel awful for the aunt and I do not believe she ever thought anything like this would happen but she took risk. I do believe she should be held accountable,altho to what degree I question
The fact she knew he was a sex offender and the she either let him know where the spare key was kept or she knew he knew where it was shows me that she put her self first and not the safty of the 3 girls. The aunt not only ignored the facts but gave the guy access when ever he decided to use it.http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-md.abduction26dec26,0,7980679.story?page=2