Found Deceased MO - Titus Tackett, 3, Killarney Shores, 10 Feb 2016

[courtneyb]

If you know your child is a wanderer or is apt to get into dangerous situations, as a parent, that makes you even MORE culpable if you haven't at least attempted to put some sort of safeguards in place. Also, if you know this, DON'T LEAVE THE HOME AND LEAVE YOUR CHILD WITHOUT YOUR SUPERVISION. We hear all the time, "Little Billy was known to wander off, or climb in cars, or open unlocked doors." Well, #1 - Don't run errands leaving the child at home, #2 - Lock your car doors and put the keys where the child cannot get them (if it's that bad of a problem, speak to your neighbors and ask them to do the same... Though, if you did #1, #2 wouldn't likely ever happen) and #3 - install deadbolts or a chime on your door... both are inexpensive.

Accidents still would happen, even with precautions, however, when parents know their child is prone to wandering, and they end up missing or dead, and the parents make a statement admitting they knew their child would do those things yet they made zero attempts to try to decrease the odds of them ending up dead because of it, then they are even more guilty of neglect.

Don't tell me you knew something like this might happen, yet you did nothing about it preemptively; you fostered this outcome by leaving them at home without proper supervision (and yes, kids DO need supervision (checking in on them) while they are sleeping. Titus obviously did.) Don't stand there and just shrug like, "It's on him. He wanders and opens doors and climbs in cars." At least TRY to do SOMETHING to decrease the odds of this happening.

 

[cobalt sky]

Hi all, this is my first time posting so I hope I am doing it correctly!

I thought that I had read that the ex-boyfriends sister lived at this house as well? I might be totally wrong and read that Titus's sister lived there? Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Titus's 1-year-old sister's primary residence is at this house.

There could be any number of reasons that Titus decided to leave the house in the middle of the night, out in the pitch dark and freezing cold. But imo it wasn't likely because he feared separation from his mother. He had spent a lot of time in that house and was very familiar with it as well as the "grandfather" (it's the sister's bio gf, not Titus's bio gf), also he was used to staying many other places overnight without his mother there. Still, anything is possible, maybe that night he just really wanted his mom.

 

[AmyPond]

We don't check our son when he's sleeping at night...because we are also sleeping. However, we have a monitor that turns on when any sound is made in there, and it always wakes us when it turns on. And while my 2.5 year old is still in a crib and has yet to make an attempt to climb out....we still put a tall safety gate in his bedroom door way. I've had some people mock all of our safety stuff but I don't really care. Better safe than sorry.

 

[cobalt sky]

UPDATED at 9 a.m.: Iron County Sheriff Roger Medley released the following statement concerning the autopsy of Titus Tackett and the ongoing investigation into his death:

"It is true the preliminary possible cause of death is hypothermia, but this is the part of the information we needed to determine where to start the main investigation to determine how and why.

"Misinformation coming out is that the family has been cleared and no charges will be filed. This is not true. We’ve only had our first sit down with all the agencies Thursday afternoon to decide how to proceed with the investigation."

bbm


http://dailyjournalonline.com/arcad...l&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share

 

[Hatfield]

What do you do at a convenience store for over an hour , after midnight? Are there video or arcade games there? Do they have a friend working there and they were visiting?

It just seems odd to be there for so long.

I checked the map from the Killarney Drive near the Command Center which is near Grandpas house over to Ironton which is where the news article said they went and it shows it is
4.5 miles and takes 7 minutes by car without traffic.

So both ways that is about 15 minutes travel time by car. Which leaves about 45 minutes or longer for shopping/errands/whatever. Depending on when they said they actually left and got back.

 

[stillwatersc]

What do you do at a convenience store for over an hour , after midnight? Are there video or arcade games there? Do they have a friend working there and they were visiting?

It just seems odd to be there for so long.

Looks like Casey's has pizza and a bakery. Maybe they went out to eat.

https://www.caseys.com/menu

 

[Hatfield]

UPDATED at 9 a.m.: Iron County Sheriff Roger Medley released the following statement concerning the autopsy of Titus Tackett and the ongoing investigation into his death:

"It is true the preliminary possible cause of death is hypothermia, but this is the part of the information we needed to determine where to start the main investigation to determine how and why.

"Misinformation coming out is that the family has been cleared and no charges will be filed. This is not true. We’ve only had our first sit down with all the agencies Thursday afternoon to decide how to proceed with the investigation."

bbm


http://dailyjournalonline.com/arcad...l&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share

I really like this Sheriff. I was impressed with him during the very first interview and now I am really impressed that he is being considerate of the public and he seems very willing to share results once the time is right and once they are done fully with their investigation.

This is the sort of consideration of the public that is really appreciated from our LE. Kudos to him.

Sometimes all we would like to hear is assurance that they are going to be thorough and complete in their review of things.

 

[Dee10]

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/02/missing_missouri_boy_3_found_i.html

Iron County Sheriff Roger Medley told the newspaper that the investigation is ongoing.

"The autopsy is only part of it," Medley said. "We need to find a reason why, and we haven't even finished all of our interviews. Is this logical? Is it possible? We have to determine whether it was an accident or something different."..............


Someone who found the boy in the van had covered him with a blanket.


Authorities say the owners of the van didn't know the boy's family.


Police say it would have been difficult for the boy to travel through the woods or the highway to reach the van. It's unclear how the boy ended up in the vehicle, though, police say the van was low enough for the child to get in on his own.

 

[Irisha]

I really like this Sheriff. I was impressed with him during the very first interview and now I am really impressed that he is being considerate of the public and he seems very willing to share results once the time is right and once they are done fully with their investigation.

This is the sort of consideration of the public that is really appreciated from our LE. Kudos to him.

Sometimes all we would like to hear is assurance that they are going to be thorough and complete in their review of things.

ITA...... My hinky meter is still off the charts with this case.

 

[kimi_SFC]

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/02/missing_missouri_boy_3_found_i.html

Iron County Sheriff Roger Medley told the newspaper that the investigation is ongoing.

"The autopsy is only part of it," Medley said. "We need to find a reason why, and we haven't even finished all of our interviews. Is this logical? Is it possible? We have to determine whether it was an accident or something different."..............


Someone who found the boy in the van had covered him with a blanket.


Authorities say the owners of the van didn't know the boy's family.


Police say it would have been difficult for the boy to travel through the woods or the highway to reach the van. It's unclear how the boy ended up in the vehicle, though, police say the van was low enough for the child to get in on his own.

RBBM:

At least now we are being told where the blanket came from. Titus was covered by the person who discovered him.

The thought of him, alone and oh-so-cold, without the blanket, just makes me sad! However, this fact does clear things up, just a bit.

:tears:

:rose:


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[Deleted member 50844]

Surely they checked for his fingerprints on the door handles of the van?

 

[Paulas88]

RBBM:

At least now we are being told where the blanket came from. Titus was covered by the person who discovered him.

The thought of him, alone and oh-so-cold, without the blanket, just makes me sad! However, this fact does clear things up, just a bit.

:tears:

:rose:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Absolutely heartbreaking. Titus was alive in the van, freezing. Why couldn't he have knocked on the door, several feet away?

Your warm now angel.

 

[kimi_SFC]

Surely they checked for his fingerprints on the door handles of the van?

I can't imagine they didn't, Midge Montana. If Little Titus was not known to the neighbors, I see no reason why his fingerprints wouldn't be all over the van, if he opened it himself.

The forensics analysis in this case will be crucial in piecing together his movements, IMO. Based on what I've observed so far, LE (the FBI included), are diligently investigating. May the evidence be definitive, and put the lingering questions to rest.

I just can't get the thought of him suffering out of my mind. :no:





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[cncanderson]

It's horrible to imagine. Alone, cold, scared and crying I'm sure. Heartbreaking.

 

[Dee10]

Surely they checked for his fingerprints on the door handles of the van?

Good point, so I wondered about weather & prints, so I looked it up:

Extreme Cold
Dealing with extreme cold can be just as challenging as dealing with extreme heat. When the temperature dips below freezing, you have to thaw prints before processing them. This time, let’s consider a vehicle left out in 10ºF.

1. Check for visible prints. As noted above, think about where a suspect might touch the vehicle.
2. Photograph prints. As soon as you can see prints, photograph them. Remember to photograph before you begin processing, and photograph each step along the way.
3. Warm the surface. Fingerprints need to be above freezing to process. The best option is to move the vehicle indoors and allow the surface to warm up to above freezing. If you can’t move the vehicle, try to heat up the surface. Aim the beam of a Maglite over the print. Maglites put out a lot of light; depending on the conditions, the heat from the flashlight may be enough to warm up the print. Try letting the sun hit the vehicle. If all else fails, wait until the temperature rises above freezing before proceeding.
4. Process and lift. Once fingerprints are above freezing, process in the normal way.
   
   http://www.forensicmag.com/articles/2014/11/fingerprinting-adverse-conditions

 

[Paulas88]

Could Titus have died of hypothermia "earlier, at his home?" I mean, he was only
in a diaper.

 

[Hatfield]

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/02/missing_missouri_boy_3_found_i.html

Iron County Sheriff Roger Medley told the newspaper that the investigation is ongoing.

"The autopsy is only part of it," Medley said. "We need to find a reason why, and we haven't even finished all of our interviews. Is this logical? Is it possible? We have to determine whether it was an accident or something different."..............


Someone who found the boy in the van had covered him with a blanket.


Authorities say the owners of the van didn't know the boy's family.


Police say it would have been difficult for the boy to travel through the woods or the highway to reach the van. It's unclear how the boy ended up in the vehicle, though, police say the van was low enough for the child to get in on his own.

I wish articles like this would have been clearer about where exactly that info was determined from about the blanket. In cases like this I get real picky about statements and it bothers me that the article has

"According to the report...."
"Authorities say...."
"Police say...."

And in the middle of that there is that statement about the blanket. So I get real picky and have to wonder if that was in the report or maybe the reporter may have assumed that or something.

Just wish it would have been quoted or something as to where exactly that was found to be true or not about the blanket. Its the first we are hearing of the source of it I think.

 

[4senthia]

This just continues to make me wonder, and I'm sorry if that offends anyone reading here. It doesn't make much sense to me.
RIP dear Titus
jmho

 

[white rabbit]

even if the minivan was covered in frost, his prints should be inside on the seats. crawling up into them. footprints as well. dirty little ones.

if there are no prints recovered, in nor out, then IMO the answer becomes clearer.

IIRC the vehicle was towed right away, so hopefully they're being meticulous in its' processing...

 

[Mountaingazer]

UPDATED at 9 a.m.: Iron County Sheriff Roger Medley released the following statement concerning the autopsy of Titus Tackett and the ongoing investigation into his death:

"It is true the preliminary possible cause of death is hypothermia, but this is the part of the information we needed to determine where to start the main investigation to determine how and why.

"Misinformation coming out is that the family has been cleared and no charges will be filed. This is not true. We’ve only had our first sit down with all the agencies Thursday afternoon to decide how to proceed with the investigation."

bbm


http://dailyjournalonline.com/arcad...l&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share

This is so weird to me! Usually, early on (even if they do suspect foul play), they play up the "we have no reason to suspect foul play at this time" type statements.

Here we have the coroner (and seemingly a family friend) saying it was most likely hypothermia and it makes perfect sense given the nature and personality of the child. Then the Sheriff comes out to say wait wait wait, we have only begun the investigation and have not cleared anybody or ruled out foul play.

The dynamic of this is very interesting to me.