GUILTY MI - Stoni Blair, 13, & Stephen Berry, 9, found in Detroit freezer, 2012 & 2013

[lillybell]

Wow, you just couldn't make this stuff up!
I have just sat and read through all of it and I am disgusted! What a monster she is.

I can't imagine what life was like in that home, I can only guess it was hell.

I pray for the two remaining siblings, and I hope the two who are no longer here get justice and can rest in peace.
I will be watching this one.

 

[believe09]

I hope they terminate parental rights for both. These children need a fresh start-my guess is that the dads reluctance to have contact had everything to do with their back child support. They failed these kids in a huge way. They left their children with a monster and now it seems like they are lying about it.

Perfect mother?

 

[flourish]

I hope they terminate parental rights for both. These children need a fresh start-my guess is that the dads reluctance to have contact had everything to do with their back child support. They failed these kids in a huge way. They left their children with a monster and now it seems like they are lying about it.

Perfect mother?

For some reason, sometimes fathers seem to think that child support and visitation are connected in the sense of "Why didn't you pay child support?" "Because she never let me see the kids." As though child support is some sort of "admission fee" to see your child and your child suddenly and miraculously doesn't actually need clothing or food or anything since you can't actually physically see them. Total cop-out in general, but I'm curious about the dynamics in this family. Like, how long exactly has it been since the dads have seen their kids? Were they consistently part of the children's lives prior to the mom possibly isolating and estranging herself, and the children too in the process? Were they unfamiliar with the process and were scared to request visitation through the courts, or to ask the court for help with enforcing any visitation that was already in place because they owed back child support?

IDK but for some reason, I'm not ready to write these dads off quite yet. I can't buy into the idea that their failure to protect their children was entirely within their control. Just my humble, subject-to-change opinion.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I hope they terminate parental rights for both. These children need a fresh start-my guess is that the dads reluctance to have contact had everything to do with their back child support. They failed these kids in a huge way. They left their children with a monster and now it seems like they are lying about it.

Perfect mother?

If the children had been in regular contact with their respective fathers and established some type of relationship through periodic visitation, phone conversations, special occasion/holiday celebrations, etc., I would hope they could continue that pattern with CPS intervention and/or supervision when necessary while residing elsewhere. Under the circumstances of which we've become aware, neither father seems able to properly provide for these youngsters, and neither seems to have had ongoing contact or correspondence with their respective children. In that case, I think it's best to give these children a fresh start in a loving home environment with limited contact with the parents who have not cared for or provided for their well-being. :moo:

 

[Guinevere]

I hope they terminate parental rights for both. These children need a fresh start-my guess is that the dads reluctance to have contact had everything to do with their back child support. They failed these kids in a huge way. They left their children with a monster and now it seems like they are lying about it.

Perfect mother?

BBM

Had to do with the Support ($$$$) and more.......

IMHO they all "knew" (ETA: that mean side of her). How could they not? Not know something BAD was going to happen? The fathers the extended family everyone who knew her. There is NO way she could have hidden that Monster side of herself. There is no doubt in my mind that everyone who was associated with her "knew". IMO they were all just to SCARED of her.:notgood:

Having an ex who is also IMHO a Sociopath I've experienced their wrath first hand. :doh:

Combine that with having to deal with the FOC and all I can say that that the combination is a challenge indeed! It's taken me 14 LONG years and 10's of thousands in legal fees to keep up with the fighting for my children. ETA: (I need to add that it's By their own wishes they no longer see their father)

No one wanted to stand up to her. Period. No One. Not the courts, the family, the fathers, the schools (aside from one teacher), and not the neighbors, who reported hearing screaming through the walls. As for the fathers? Neither wanted to put on their Big Boy Pants and step up to the plate and be a man, mentally, financially, psychically, or emotionally.......... So Sad!


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[AzPistonsGirl]

to say that anyone KNEW that THIS was going to happen (or that she'd kill her kids at some point) doesn't seem right. WE think like that because we are sensitive to these kinds of things just from being part of this WS community. I agree folks were scared of her, but to think that anyone KNEW something this bad would happen is just not fair IMO.

I just overheard a woman asking her friend, "Who comes up with statistics?" Someone who asks a questions like that perhaps would never think that something this bad could happen IMO.

Cranky here today with bad news on several threads, sorry, just thinking of those who knew this woman was bad news but never fathomed THIS and might today be blaming themselves.

There is only one person to blame here and that is Mitchelle Blair. IMO.

 

[Guinevere]

If the children had been in regular contact with their respective fathers and established some type of relationship through periodic visitation, phone conversations, special occasion/holiday celebrations, etc., I would hope they could continue that pattern with CPS intervention and/or supervision when necessary while residing elsewhere. Under the circumstances of which we've become aware, neither father seems able to properly provide for these youngsters, and neither seems to have had ongoing contact or correspondence with their respective children. In that case, I think it's best to give these children a fresh start in a loving home environment with limited contact with the parents who have not cared for or provided for their well-being. :moo:

BBM

It's going to be some time before they are even going to be able to sort through this whole mess to figure out what is best for the children. Perhaps the state should only worry about a temporary order for the time being and only terminate the rights of the parent who inflicted the abuse these kids suffered and place them with a temporary guardian the court deems suitable. The fathers right can wait? They've been out of the picture the last few years. Perhaps though some counseling and supervised visitations over time they can re-establish a connection with their children.

The eldest daughter is 17 years old. She could be 18 before this even goes to trial. The courts have no legal say over what she does then. If her desire is to be with her father she will have that option sooner rather than later. I certainly hope he is there for her then.

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[Guinevere]

to say that anyone KNEW that THIS was going to happen (or that she'd kill her kids at some point) doesn't seem right. WE think like that because we are sensitive to these kinds of things just from being part of this WS community. I agree folks were scared of her, but to think that anyone KNEW something this bad would happen is just not fair IMO.

I just overheard a woman asking her friend, "Who comes up with statistics?" Someone who asks a questions like that perhaps would never think that something this bad could happen IMO.

Cranky here today with bad news on several threads, sorry, just thinking of those who knew this woman was bad news but never fathomed THIS and might today be blaming themselves.

There is only one person to blame here and that is Mitchelle Blair. IMO.

BBM

Sorry if you mistook my meaning, Perhaps I should clarify

I did not say knew "THIS" would happen

Do I believe they knew she would actually "kill" them? NO, but I'm sure they were well aware of her apparent temper and anger issues.

CPS had been called to the house for abuse that was founded on two previous occasions. The Aunt (a retired DHS investigator) said she was aware of abuse in one of the articles I linked. I'll go back an revise this post when I find it.

My point was that they were afraid/scared of this angry/mean side of her that they knew existed.

ETA: Yes I am also sensitive to this issue. My kids relatives over the years have chosen not to stand up for them in the numerous times we have been in the Court Room because of that fear. To this day they can not understand why

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ETA: Again Sorry.....

If someone would have had a voice and spoken up or brought the behavior of the mother to the courts attention perhaps the fathers would have had a chance to see their kids????

It's hard standing alone against someone like this. I know.

If I had not have fought for my kids and myself with the few individuals who would take that stand I have little doubt my story and my children could have been much worse.
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[AzPistonsGirl]

Thanks for your follow up post, Guinevere, I get what you meant, I was just having sympathy for those around her, who must feel so awful right now - I mean lay people, not CPS/DHA and those who had training and responsibility to recognize and act and simply didn't. We are on the same page, it's just a rough day. Peace.

 

[JanetElaine]

ETA: Yes I am also sensitive to this issue. My kids relatives over the years have chosen not to stand up for them in the numerous times we have been in the Court Room because of that fear. To this day they can not understand why

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ETA: Again Sorry.....

If someone would have had a voice and spoken up or brought the behavior of the mother to the courts attention perhaps the fathers would have had a chance to see their kids????

It's hard standing alone against someone like this. I know.

If I had not have fought for my kids and myself with the few individuals who would take that stand I have little doubt my story and my children could have been much worse.
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I hear you. A lot. :grouphug:

 

[believe09]

I try not to be rigid, but the ship has sailed for these dads imvho. The cynical side of me wonders if the current petitions have to do with waiving/reducing child support obligations by appearing to be interested in custodial parenting now that Blair will have no further rights.

I dont see the dads as victims. I see them as having been willing to walk away rather than be pursued for the money. The thing is, unless dad is in jail for being deadbeat, you cannot withhold visitations. Visitation is mutually exclusive from child support enforcement, as bitter a pill as that is for some folks to swallow. It is supposed to prevent children from being used in a monetary tug of war.

In this case, well coulda, woulda, shoulda. It may seem hard or harsh, but these vulnerable little lives didnt end up here in a vacuum. Time for these survivors to be put front and center in a completely stable environment. I am not receiving the impression that they will find that with these men.

 

[MsFacetious]

You may not "be allowed" to withhold visitation but it does not stop some mother's.
And in some states it can take a VERY long time to get the issue to court.

So if she withheld visitation the Dad's may have felt it was a lost cause.
They may have felt it was better to not have the tension of the parents fighting.
There are many explanations but I'm not willing to say "they just didn't try" because we have no idea what they did.

This is a woman who abused, tortured and put her children in a FREEZER.
I am willing to give the Dad's the benefit of the doubt that maybe she manipulated them somehow. :twocents:

Also, an event like this can really turn a person's life around.
They should get a chance to be in the children's lives.
Maybe not raising them, fine. But they haven't done anything to deserve their rights being terminated.
There are plenty of deadbeat Dad's out there who get custody when Mom dies.
Being a deadbeat isn't enough to get your rights terminated. :twocents:

These children have lost their only full sibling and their "mother."
The fathers may be the only real connection they have left. :twocents:

 

[SCHMAE]

to say that anyone KNEW that THIS was going to happen (or that she'd kill her kids at some point) doesn't seem right. WE think like that because we are sensitive to these kinds of things just from being part of this WS community. I agree folks were scared of her, but to think that anyone KNEW something this bad would happen is just not fair IMO.

I just overheard a woman asking her friend, "Who comes up with statistics?" Someone who asks a questions like that perhaps would never think that something this bad could happen IMO.

Cranky here today with bad news on several threads, sorry, just thinking of those who knew this woman was bad news but never fathomed THIS and might today be blaming themselves.

There is only one person to blame here and that is Mitchelle Blair. IMO.

This is the truth AZ ! We are so accustomed to it we think ' why didn't someone see the signs? ' but many people see those warning signs all day long but they do not recognize them as warning SIGNS. They want to believe people do not do this to their own kids or anyone else, but we at WS know that's not true. Sometimes I envy those people who can look right at a warning sign and in blissful ignorance, walk on by. They're not jaded by the reality and we are . Thank you for this post !

 

[believe09]

One dad's assessment was that she was a perfect mother which seems to be quite inconsistent with prior statements.

Clearly she wasnt a perfect mother. The woman has very little self control, unless she is staging her outbursts. For her, it seems that it was all about the money which she continued to collect and child support that she continued to rack up while her children were dead in the freezer.

I have little patience for the argument that the dads were frustrated and gave up. Why should their standard be any different?

I appreciate and respect different perspectives. I think and hope the threshold is too high for these guys to successfully petition to have custody of these survivors. These kids need to be protected from the kind of random lives these men would offer them. jmvho.

 

[believe09]

And just to be clear, I dont have an opinion regarding whether or not there were warning signs. At a minimum the multiple stories being told regarding the children's location eventually raised a flag with a few people.

 

[Guinevere]

More details divulged about fathers of Detroit children found in freezer

on April 10, 2015 at 7:35 AM
.....

A representative for the Department of Human Services observed both fathers during one-hour supervised visits since the discovery of Stoni and Stephen.


"The interaction between (Blair's 17-year-old daughter) and Mr. Dorsey was appropriate," the DHS employee said. "They were talking, holding hands. (His daughter) was a little quiet in the beginning but they talked throughout the hour.


With Berry, "at the beginning of the visit, it was kind of awkward. (His son) was playing and Mr. Berry was following behind him. There was really no interaction."
Both men claim they wanted to see their children but were forbidden to by Blair. They say they were lied to about their whereabouts, both told at one point they were with a great aunt, a petition to end custody says.

....


Dorsey's ex-girlfriend, Michelle "Mykee" Barnett, the one Blair said did more for the kids than Dorsey or his family, helped set up an online fundraiser for the funerals of both children.


As of Thursday, it had raised $2,575 of the $5,000 goal.

..................


Barnett, in an email to MLive Detroit, said she attended the hearing Wednesday and heard Blair's outburst.
"I have (no) idea what she is talking about," Barnett wrote, regarding Blair's statements about her children being raped. "Who is the 'they?' We have not heard anything regarding any molestation and the children have not mentioned it either."

........


Read the full story here

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2015/04/more_information_revealed_abou.html


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[BetteDavisEyes]

Mitchelle Blair was continually enabled by family members, the children's fathers, friends, neighbors, even Child Protective Services, Probate Court, Detroit Public Schools. Surely, many, if not most of these folks knew that the children were being emotionally/physically abused. The fathers weren't paying child support. For nearly two years, MB played games with family, friends, and neighbors who inquired about the children's whereabouts. The children were removed from public schools to be home-schooled by a mother who dropped out of high school in 10th grade. All of these red flags, yet no one came forward to stop the madness. Enablers, all of them :stormingmad:

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Funeral Monday for Detroit children found in freezer

Published On: Apr 13 2015 03:27:01 AM EDT

DETROIT -
Monday, the two Detroit children whose bodies were found in a freezer, will be laid to rest.

Services for 13 year old Stoni Blair and 8 year old Stephen Berry will take place at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.

The funeral begins at 11am...

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/funeral-monday-for-detroit-children-found-in-freezer/32334824

:rose: :rose: :rose:

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Funeral services to be held for 2 kids found in freezer

Associated Press 7:48 a.m. EDT April 13, 2015

Detroit — Funeral services will be held at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit for two siblings found slain and stuffed in a deep freezer in their home.

Services begin Monday morning for Stoni Ann Blair and Stephen Gage Berry.

Investigators believe Stephen was 9 when he died in August 2012 and that Stoni was 13 when she died the following May. Court deputies carrying out an eviction March 24 at their Detroit apartment found the children’s frozen bodies.

Their mother, Mitchelle Blair, is charged with premeditated murder, torture and child abuse.

Two surviving siblings — a 17-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy — have been placed in the care of a relative. The state is trying to terminate Blair’s parental rights to them...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne.../detroit-kids-found-freezer-funeral/25701197/

 

[Guinevere]

[h=1]Community Mourns 2 Detroit Kids Found In Freezer; ‘Where Was The Village?’[/h]April 13, 2015 1:29 PM


DETROIT (WWJ) – Hundreds of people turned out to pay their last respects to a 13-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy who were found dead last month inside a deep freezer in their Detroit apartment.
“Probably as horrific an incident that I can ever imagine certainly doesn’t even compare to the atrocities that were suffered by these children,” said Bishop Charles H. Ellis, III, senior pastor at Greater Grace Temple, on West 7 Mile and Telegraph Road, where funeral services for the children were held Monday morning. “And certainly I am not sure if we will ever know the entire details.”


http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/04...-kids-found-in-freezer-where-was-the-village/

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