Found Deceased MO - Darnell Gray, 4, Jefferson City, 24 Oct 2018 *Arrest*

[mickey2942]

Wee Darnell should be out having fun trick or treating this evening.

Another kid, another step parent.

I have been a "Step Parent", and my daughters were raised partially by a "Step Father". While some are bad, not all "Step Parents" are abusive.

A responsible parent does not dump their child with someone who doesn't want to take care of their child.

 

[Anance]

I have a feeling that this was most certainly done on purpose Margarita25, smh. What is wrong with people in this world who hurt or kill kids? I am the first person to admit that my kids get on my last nerve & annoy me, but I would never do anything intentionally to hurt them! My daughter is in her teens now & has started calling me a helicopter & over protective, I say absolutely I am that's my job.

Moms on patrol.

 

[AgeofAquaruis]

Blunt force, sharp force trauma killed Darnell Gray; investigators detail case
She's a flight risk,and danger to the community so she'll likely sit her lying self in jail till trial.
Thank you to all involved in helping Darell. God Bless

 

[Anance]

One thing an LE Officer said to a reporter in private I cannot post and he could not put to print.

What about a clue? I'll trade it for a huge Season 8 Game of Thrones spoiler.

 

[EllaMae]

I'm so heartbroken about this child......I'm struggling find the right words.

Many of us here on WS knew this was coming. But to have it confirmed is still just so depressing. I took a break for a while after Shaniya Davis and Jhessye Shockley because I was feeling so sad about those children and their senseless, preventable deaths. Maybe it's time for another self-imposed time out.

Darnell had such promise, and now it's gone. He never even made it to kindergarten.
And that woman had so much misplaced anger. She took everything away from Darnell.

It sickens me.

 

[Anance]

I’m still so surprised foul play was not suspected . I think a majority of people following this case thought otherwise but hoped for that not to be the case.

Same here. The whole story of his disappearance was very strange. Like he packed up to go on a day outing at 11 PM. Not likely, IMHO. Then the family dynamics/composition were odd - not there's anything wrong with that, but add in a missing child and then family needs a further look. Now, he's found dead. Still no foul play. Stranger Things.

 

[Anance]

It was happening back then too. My mom was a teacher and dad was in administration and they could tell horrific stories of abuse even way back when.

It wasn't discussed and there was no duty to report. People didn't want to get involved making accusations when they might be living in the same community as perpetrators who got off scott-free. The police did not take reports of abuse as seriously, believing a man's home was his castle. Plus, people didn't move around so much. So, witnesses were understandably reluctant to come forward - and not even considering witnesses that were in agreement with the abuse.

 

[Anance]

What makes my blood boil is called CPS as a mandatory reporter, and the caseworker on the phone is basically either extremely confrontational, or expects that I have a kid in front of me, with a broken arm, and the child says, "My Stepfather broke my arm.".

Well, it isn't like that. As a teacher, you see things, pick up on issues of neglect, abuse, but my role is not an investigator! Geez, I did my part, I documented and reported a concern. End. My experience as a teacher with CPS has been less than favorable. To the point that I had no desire to further be involved with those agencies. I have retired from teaching, and the great irony is that a state called me to start a training program for caseworkers, on contract. No thanks. CPS is a mess. I had no desire to be involved.

My mother was teacher told me the same thing. As a teacher, you see the child every day and notice subtle (and not so subtle) changes in their behavior, emotional stability, physical well-being. Unless you clear evidence of "who did it" or the child is willing to testify (LOL!) CPS will file it away.

 

[maribee]

It wasn't discussed and there was no duty to report. People didn't want to get involved making accusations when they might be living in the same community as perpetrators who got off scott-free. The police did not take reports of abuse as seriously, believing a man's home was his castle. Plus, people didn't move around so much. So, witnesses were understandably reluctant to come forward - and not even considering witnesses that were in agreement with the abuse.

Oh, my parents reported and even confronted the abusers. They became foster parents to help the worst cases have a safe place to stay.

 

[lonetraveler]

I'm so heartbroken about this child......I'm struggling find the right words.

Many of us here on WS knew this was coming. But to have it confirmed is still just so depressing. I took a break for a while after Shaniya Davis and Jhessye Shockley because I was feeling so sad about those children and their senseless, preventable deaths. Maybe it's time for another self-imposed time out.

Darnell had such promise, and now it's gone. He never even made it to kindergarten.
And that woman had so much misplaced anger. She took everything away from Darnell.

It sickens me.

I just clicked on this case with total hesitation because I did not want to start another murdered child case. Can't really handle it right now and have no idea why I did it. I'm so burned out following these cases over the years. These cases are so predictable and I always know that I'm going to be impacted very severely. I'm going now.

 

[rainynights]

8:18 PM (CDT) - 31 Oct 2018
KOMU 8 News on Twitter | @KOMUnews

A neighbor speaks out about the death of 4-year-old Darnell Gray.

Neighbor: "Why would someone do something like this to a 4-year-old child?"

 

[AgeofAquaruis]

8:18 PM (CDT) - 31 Oct 2018
KOMU 8 News on Twitter | @KOMUnews

A neighbor speaks out about the death of 4-year-old Darnell Gray.

Neighbor: "Why would someone do something like this to a 4-year-old child?"

So sad he doesn't even get to have his 5th Birthday. :*(

 

[rainynights]

October 31, 2018
Caregiver charged in 4-year-old Darnell Gray's death

A Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement said Darnell's body was discovered Tuesday in a wooded area in the 2100 block of Louis Circle.

Authorities said Givens was taken into custody Tuesday at a residence where she was being interviewed by officers; she was then taken to the police department for further questioning. At the time of her arrest, police said, Givens did not know Darnell's body had been recovered.

The probable cause statement stated Givens eventually admitted to investigators she knew the location of Darnell's body, which was consistent with where he was located.

An autopsy was performed on Darnell's body, and authorities said it showed he had multiple injuries caused by blunt force trauma and sharp force trauma to multiple locations of his body prior to his death.

Authorities said they could not disclose more details about the extent of the injuries, saying that information would come from the medical examiner.

Williams said Wednesday afternoon the investigation is ongoing.

"We have not finished with the process, and it is possible more arrests will be made," he said.

bbm

 

[LaborDayRN]

Sometimes I wonder how many children's lives have been saved because of one person notifying the authorities.

The message I wish that the public would understand is to notify someone if you hear or see something that makes you feel that a child could be unsafe. They could be wrong or they could save a child's life. It comes down to it being that simple.

What's truly heartbreaking is sometimes, even when people notify authorities........over and over and over........nothing is done. My little angel Gabriel Fernandez is proof of that. When will innocent children NOT be disposable in our society?

 

[MimosaMornings]

How long the father was in Chicago? I thought he was out of town for work? And why not take him to see his mother and grandparents? I’m sure his mom would have liked to see him? But maybe not.

 

[Seattle1]

<modsnip>

Dad took Darrell out of Chicago to be with him in MO about 6 months ago for a "better life."
Dad allegedly was in Chicago visiting his Grandma.
Dad did not take Darrell with him to visit Grandma (allegedly leaving him with caregiver/GF).
Caregiver/GF reported Darrell missing; all the while knowing he was dead, and where his body dumped.
Caregiver/GF arrested/held without bond after she told LE she was going to Florida to "get away" and/or "get out of the area."
Additional arrests expected (Darrell did not leave house on his own).

https://media.abc17news.com/npg-kmi...ementGivens_1541019532873_16313304_ver1.0.pdf

 

[dixiegirl1035]

October 31, 2018
Caregiver charged in 4-year-old Darnell Gray's death

bbm

"When she found Darnell was missing, she told authorities, she drove across town to her mother's residence to tell her what had happened."

 

[Steelslady]

Blunt force, sharp force trauma killed Darnell Gray; investigators detail case
She's a flight risk,and danger to the community so she'll likely sit her lying self in jail till trial.
Thank you to all involved in helping Darell. God Bless

Oh this angers me so much- blunt force and sharp force killed him.

Dammit, I'd love to see her choke on a juice box and cookies. I have no kind words right now. Staying out of this thread until I can quell my angers. These kids should be out trick or treating tonight, not buried in a grave. Damn these parents/step parents/girlfriends-boyfriends/fiances that do this awful things to children!

 

[Steelslady]

"When she found Darnell was missing, she told authorities, she drove across town to her mother's residence to tell her what had happened."

Of course she did, and probably buried the poor child somewhere close by. ggggggrrrrrr

 

[bradfordsleuth]

Someone commented here...or in Hazana's thread....or in Madddox's thread...(I think you get the picture) a similar comment. I really do wonder, is it just that with SM and the 24/7 365 news cycle that we're hearing about these cases more or is it truly happening more than say 30 years ago?? These poor children day after day. I tend to think it's because of today's ease of access to information that we're hearing about these cases more. I think the same thing was going on 30 years ago, we just didn't hear about it unless it was happening in our "backyards" so to speak.

I completely agree with every single thing that has been mentioned here!