MI - Calista Springer, 16, chained to bed, dies in fire, Centreville, 27 Feb 2008

[believe09]

6 Angels, we are typing at the same time but let me say that you ROCK and that you and hubby and kids are so lucky to have one another and realize that blessings come in all forms.

 

[Melanie]

This happens more frequently than we know. Doesn't make it right in any sense of the word. There have been 2 occurances in my family. My dad married a woman with a mentally disturbed daughter. She got out of control one night, breaking glass, mirrors, windows. So dad put her in a sleeping bag, tied her up, and locked her in a 1/2 bathroom. The next morning the doc showed up and they adjusted her meds. But my lord, what if there had been a fire. The other event is when my newphew (who is bi-polar) went on a drug binge and started destroying the house. Instead of calling the police, my brother tied him to a tree out back for the better part of the day before shipping him off to military school. Me - I think it's barbaric. What do you do when a person is out of control?

 

[believe09]

This happens more frequently than we know. Doesn't make it right in any sense of the word. There have been 2 occurances in my family. My dad married a woman with a mentally disturbed daughter. She got out of control one night, breaking glass, mirrors, windows. So dad put her in a sleeping bag, tied her up, and locked her in a 1/2 bathroom. The next morning the doc showed up and they adjusted her meds. But my lord, what if there had been a fire. The other event is when my newphew (who is bi-polar) went on a drug binge and started destroying the house. Instead of calling the police, my brother tied him to a tree out back for the better part of the day before shipping him off to military school. Me - I think it's barbaric. What do you do when a person is out of control?

I get your point-BUT. There is no evidence outside the statements of the parents that Calista was out of control. Those two are the only ones (adults) that indicate she was wild at night and would try to run away. Those two are the only ones who are seeing a humane restraint system NOT working (when it was proven to work by police) and those two were the only ones who decided time and time again to refuse the help offered to them and extra services between 1995 and the time Calista died. How many times can you tell a parent not to tie up their child? Apparently at least 4-5 times....and they still do it. And they still make choices that isolate the child. And the child appears neglected, hurt and underfed for YEARS.

Hmmmmm.

 

[6angels]

how convenient she was only that way at night with the parents and no one else seen it...

 

[believe09]

Adoptive Mom's sister testified that Calista would take already chewed gum out of an ashtray and eat it. She testified that the child would eat cat food.

Umm, if she was not being fed enough, well....it stands to reason. If she had picca, it stands to reason.

She also testified that Calista would bite herself and pull her own hair when frustrated. OK, it's possible.

But all of the independent witnesses, outside of family members, pretty much sang the same song. Calista was treated differently, was underfed and was restrained for long periods of time. The psychiatrists and physicians who followed her indicated that they did not tell the family it was OK to restrain her. The family was repeatedly cautioned not to. The family was given alternatives-multiple alarm systems, none of which they "liked."

She was one of two that suffered from lead poisoning. Why were her effects so different from the other child? And I wonder which child was poisoned as well???

 

[Tizzle]

1st and 2nd Degree Murder - NOT GUILTY

Torture and 1st Degree Child Abuse - GUILTY

Verdict in for Springer trial
February 23, 2010 5:03 PM

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/margin-1372994-bottom-style.html

 

[Melanie]

Wow I'm suprised - child abuse and torture, but not murder? If she wasn't chained up chances are she would be here today. I don't get our system sometimes!

Mel

 

[justthinkin]

Sad, sad story. I can't help but think though when a parent or parents get to the point where a special needs child has to be chained, that child is better off in a state school where the parents can go to visit.

In my book this is both a tragedy and a crime.

 

[JSR]

{BBM}

IIRC, the fire started around 8:30 A.M. I don't remember what Calista was doing home at that time instead of being in school, though.

Yes after numerous child abuse reports from Calista's teachers her "parents" PULLED her from school. And magically from that point forward no more additional abuse reports were filed.

 

[6angels]

1st and 2nd Degree Murder - NOT GUILTY

Torture and 1st Degree Child Abuse - GUILTY

Verdict in for Springer trial
February 23, 2010 5:03 PM

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/margin-1372994-bottom-style.html

what a failure

 

[believe09]

1st and 2nd Degree Murder - NOT GUILTY

Torture and 1st Degree Child Abuse - GUILTY

Verdict in for Springer trial
February 23, 2010 5:03 PM

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/margin-1372994-bottom-style.html

Here we go with the lenient sentence..........I am gobsmacked.

 

[JSR]

Further, the media appears to have taken liberty with the discussion of the alarm. According to the defendant's brother, the alarm system was not working "properly." Hence the dog chain. Perhaps this is the reason for the discrepancy: the state police were able to determine that it worked and the Springer's felt that it did not work well enough?

No, it's my understanding they didn't like the fact that when their "real" daughters got up to use the bathroom at night it would trigger the alarm. It was an inconvenience to them. So they went straight to chaining Calista so as not to inconvenience the rest of the family :sheesh::tsktsk:

 

[JSR]

what a failure

Totally agreed.

I only hope they at least get SOME jail time. And then perhaps they might get a small taste of what they put Calista through.

 

[kbl8201]

this is ridiculous. if it wasnt for the first degree child abuse there wouldnt be any murder charges.
stupid stupid stupid jury

 

[believe09]

What got me about the summations was that the defense attorney for Marsha stated that DHS should be at the defense table with her....what kind of indictment is that??

 

[kbl8201]

What got me about the summations was that the defense attorney for Marsha stated that DHS should be at the defense table with her....what kind of indictment is that??

now there's an idea.
maybe we can get dhs for manslaughter

 

[LaLaw2000]

1st and 2nd Degree Murder - NOT GUILTY

Torture and 1st Degree Child Abuse - GUILTY

Verdict in for Springer trial
February 23, 2010 5:03 PM

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/margin-1372994-bottom-style.html

Thank you for the link.

This article states that although the father and stepmother were not found guilty of 1st or 2nd degree murder, it is possible that they could spend the rest of their lives in prison.

There will not be enough justice for Calista unless they do spend the rest of their lives in prison, IMO.

I will never forget this young girl and the horror she endured. RIP, Calista.

ETA: It is the torture part that can carry up to a life sentence. First degree child abuse is up to 15 years.

 

[ljwf22]

Calista's trial is on TruTV now. I believe it runs for about two weeks up until the sentencing date for the 'parents' April 15 or 16.

 

[LaLaw2000]

Thanks, ljwf22!

I will never forget Calista and the horror she suffered! I am going to see if I can watch.

 

[Belinda]

We can only hope that when it comes to the sentencing, the judge will be more intelligent than the jurors. These people should have been convicted of murder, plain and simple, based on a totality of the evidence.

CPS has once again turned out to be a total failure. Had they done their jobs during any one of the many opportunities afforded them, this child would still be alive today.