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

[courtneyb]

I think someone earlier in the thread said that they run errands late at night. Obviously not to places like the bank since they are closed. But I'm sure plenty of people go to the store or Walmart late. Especially those who work odd hours. If people didn't shop at those times, I don't think places would stay open.

Some people refer to trips to the store and Walmart as "errands" (I do.)

I do too, but I think if my kid were missing, I'd be a bit more specific. Unless I was doing something I didn't want anyone to find out about.

I guess my hang up with it is their child is missing, then found dead, and the parents still refer to the event that led them away from their home, contributing to the circumstances that lead to your child dying, as "an errand". That's the kind of thing you "yada yada yada" to your friend when you are trying to get to the point of a story. It's weird to tell the police/investigators when you call to report your 3 year old missing, that you went on "an errand" while your 3 year old who is known to wander and your baby daughter are left alone at the home with a practical stranger. In the middle of the night.

I used to work as Charge Nurse on a busy med surg floor. I would often run errands at night then as well, because of my schedule. While my children's father was home with the kids. Or if the kids were with their grands. Not with some "friend's dad". You don't leave your kids in the middle of the night with a strange guy to go run run of the mill errands. Something comes up and you have to run out and you have no choice but to leave them with strange guy, maybe, but to still refer to that as an errand as opposed to saying, "I had to run to Walgreens and when I got back my son was missing!"

It's just bizarre to call the cops and say, " I left to go run an errand at midnight and when I came back at 1:30, my son was missing!" Am I the only one that immediately would stop and ask, " where did you have to go?" It's kind of important to give info to the people you want to help find your child. Not gloss over what you were doing.

Unless LO is just not releasing exactly what they were doing on that errand because it's important to the case.

In either case, SOMEONE is being deliberately vague about the errand the mom went on.


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[AbbeyBabbey]

It's weird to tell the police/investigators when you call to report your 3 year old missing, that you went on "an errand" while your 3 year old who is known to wander and your baby daughter are left alone at the home with a practical stranger. In the middle of the night.

I used to work as Charge Nurse on a busy med surg floor. I would often run errands at night then as well, because of my schedule. While my children's father was home with the kids. Or if the kids were with their grands. Not with some "friend's dad". You don't leave your kids in the middle of the night with a strange guy to go run run of the mill errands.


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RS&BBM

I don't think grandpa was a stranger. See my post #551 in this thread.


http://www.colefamilyfuneralhomes.co...tt/#!/Obituary

"He was born January 24th, 2013 to his loving parents Amber Tackett and Frankie Garrett who survive."

This states that FG is Titus' father, therefore; grandpa is Titus' natural grandpa. The mom's stated place of residence (Potosi) is only 32 miles from grandpa's house, so they live very close.

 

[hmartin]

I have a good one for y'all. Today in Arkansas it was in the 40s. My elderly aunt was coming home from getting her hair done and almost ran over a baby. She stopped, got the kid(2years old) out of the road and asked a little boy(5 years old) where his mommy was.(neither kid had a jacket on and both were in short sleeves) He said she was inside. She knocked and knocked no one ever came to the door so she walked inside. Mom was on the couch watching tv as Loud as it could go and said oh her brother(5)was supposed to be watching her. WHAT!!!then she proceeded to tell the 5 year old he was grounded for letting his baby sister in the road....I tried to get her to call the police, but of course she wouldn't. Some people don't need kids.

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[DatelineFan]

I have a good one for y'all. Today in Arkansas it was in the 40s. My elderly aunt was coming home from getting her hair done and almost ran over a baby. She stopped, got the kid(2years old) out of the road and asked a little boy(5 years old) where his mommy was.(neither kid had a jacket on and both were in short sleeves) He said she was inside. She knocked and knocked no one ever came to the door so she walked inside. Mom was on the couch watching tv as Loud as it could go and said oh her brother(5)was supposed to be watching her. WHAT!!!then she proceeded to tell the 5 year old he was grounded for letting his baby sister in the road....I tried to get her to call the police, but of course she wouldn't. Some people don't need kids.

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That is pathetic! Those kids deserve better!

 

[Hatfield]

The only reason I can think of that might make sense regarding not wanting to call 911 if your child died accidentally would be if the parent had been engaged in an illegal activity at the time of the accident. People panic at the thought of getting caught/getting in trouble and may rationalize it as something like "I've already lost my child, nothing is going to change that, but if I get busted for ........ And go to prison on top of losing my child...I can't handle that too. That would be too much to bear."

It seems far more likely to me that a parent would lie about an accident if they know the child is dead and there is no hope of him living. If a child is truly missing and the parent is desperate to find them, they would be much more likely to spill their guts to help police find him.

If there is an accidental death of a child, I can see zero reason a parent would lie about what happened unless they are/were involved in something that will get them in trouble.

Not saying this is what happened here. But the vague late night errand that lasts until 1:30 am, that involves people not well known to Titus, left home to watch this child, sounds like errands that people like you and I don't run. During the day OR the night. What is open at that time of night near there? And if they went to Walmart or something why not just say, "We had to run to Walmart to get snacks because we forgot tomorrow is Titus's snack day at daycare."? Or whatever.

People don't "run errands" from midnight to 1:30 am. Errands are the bank, the post office, paying the light bill. When you leave your house in the middle of the night, you are going someWHERE SPECIFIC. Not on an "errand".

MOO, of course.


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Yeah, excellent points being made.

All JMO.
There just has to be more to this story than we are privy to at this point. I hope LE gets everything they need to come to some sort of conclusion.

I just get the sense that a story and narrative has been forced out and there seems to be a big rush to end it.

So many things still bug me.
-Still not convinced the boy walked to van, in freezing cold, in his diaper, in pitch dark, almost a mile, and then was able to use his little freezing hands to open door.

-A couple recent FB pictures that almost seemed to forecast events to come

-So many new FB pictures of the boy being loved are being flooded. Which is normally fine but in time of grief I don't think I would have the wherewithal to be on my FB account flooding my site with pictures. Just get a sense that it is being done to drive home a narrative.

-Now the funeral is being setup with requests for everyone to wear super hero shirts. Almost getting a flashback of the Darlie Routier case where she released balloons and sprayed silly string at graveyard celebration.
http://murderpedia.org/female.R/r/routier-darlie.htm

- Still not convinced about the source of the blanket. Would like to hear LE talk about it.

-Still no estimated time of death mentioned

-No mention of condition of feet after walking that far

-Would like to hear more about the supposed "scratches" that coroner seemed to downplay that they said could have been from woods or falling down. He either went through woods or he didn't. If he went through woods then surely his feet would also be tore up. So what is the deal with these scratches? Are they saying he did go through woods? Then feet should have scratches also.

-"Errands" at midnightish. Sorry but IMO it was something else they went into town for.
7 minute car drive which is 15 minutes maximum both ways. So what was happening for 45 minutes to an hour since any store in that small town would be a quick stop.
Could have just been part of the cover story to run into town and be seen away from home area.

-There seems to not be any other family members volunteering to go to news media to vouche for them. Why are we not hearing from Grandpa or other family members in the news?
Could it be they know the real truth and don't want to get in trouble for lying?


I almost get a sense a real accident happened but they would have gotten in trouble if they had told what really happened. I have wondered if maybe they left the baby in their own car seat and he froze to death in their own car and after realizing it they didn't want to get into trouble for being irresponsible. Especially if they had been drinking or doing drugs or something along those lines. That would be scenario where I could see them wanting to do a coverup of it and then they still feel it was a tragic accident. I get the feeling something like this could have happened and could be why they felt the need for a coverup.

I suppose time will tell as we see how LE investigates this futher.

 

[LayzeeDayzee]

What I'd like to know is............the property with the van that little Titus was found in.........reportedly had dogs. Whether the dogs were inside or outside dogs (do we know?) surely they would have barked like the dickens when little Titus was getting into (or being put into) the van, thus alerting the residents of that property that something/someone was outside. Wouldn't you think? Something made me think I'd read early on after his little body was found that the property owners' dogs were outside dogs. If I was a little 3 yr old cold, wandering in the dark, scared, freezing and I was approached in the dark but dogs I'd be screaming and crying.........loud enough to make dogs bark more/wake up property owners. Something just doesnt add up here.

Also...... has it yet been confirmed if it was the property owners who covered Titus upon finding his little frozen body? (out of dignity).

Still doesn't seem conceivable or reasonable to me that a freezing little 3 yr old toddler is going to get into someone's van then root around inside it and find a blanket and cover themselves up. By that point, due the cold/freezing temps and the time it would have taken him to walk from GPA's house to this property, wearing only a diaper, it would make sense that hypothermia would have set in..........and as such w/ hypothermia, there comes a point where they no longer feel cold but actually feel hot.

Sorry hinky meter still set on high.

I don't understand why someone would put him in the van either, if there was foul play. Why not just leave him on the sidewalk, or behind a wall, or under a bush?
What did they do, walk up and down the street trying every car door until they found one that was open? Far too risky. And it would also be too risky to approach a property with loose dogs - unless maybe they knew the people who lived there, knew the dogs and knew the vehicle would be unlocked.

 

[courtneyb]

RS&BBM

I don't think grandpa was a stranger. See my post #551 in this thread.


http://www.colefamilyfuneralhomes.co...tt/#!/Obituary

"He was born January 24th, 2013 to his loving parents Amber Tackett and Frankie Garrett who survive."

This states that FG is Titus' father, therefore; grandpa is Titus' natural grandpa. The mom's stated place of residence (Potosi) is only 32 miles from grandpa's house, so they live very close.

http://m.stltoday.com/news/local/cr...59a2-a736-829b5ee2e5e7.html?mobile_touch=true

This article says that it was the mom's ex boyfriend's (a different ex than Titus's dad) father who was at the home with Titus. If so, he is only 3... Not so sure how well a 3 year old can know the father of one of his mom's ex boyfriends.


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[courtneyb]

Yeah, excellent points being made.

All JMO.
There just has to be more to this story than we are privy to at this point. I hope LE gets everything they need to come to some sort of conclusion.

I just get the sense that a story and narrative has been forced out and there seems to be a big rush to end it.

So many things still bug me.
-Still not convinced the boy walked to van, in freezing cold, in his diaper, in pitch dark, almost a mile, and then was able to use his little freezing hands to open door.

-A couple recent FB pictures that almost seemed to forecast events to come

-So many new FB pictures of the boy being loved are being flooded. Which is normally fine but in time of grief I don't think I would have the wherewithal to be on my FB account flooding my site with pictures. Just get a sense that it is being done to drive home a narrative.

-Now the funeral is being setup with requests for everyone to wear super hero shirts. Almost getting a flashback of the Darlie Routier case where she released balloons and sprayed silly string at graveyard celebration.
http://murderpedia.org/female.R/r/routier-darlie.htm

- Still not convinced about the source of the blanket. Would like to hear LE talk about it.

-Still no estimated time of death mentioned

-No mention of condition of feet after walking that far

-Would like to hear more about the supposed "scratches" that coroner seemed to downplay that they said could have been from woods or falling down. He either went through woods or he didn't. If he went through woods then surely his feet would also be tore up. So what is the deal with these scratches? Are they saying he did go through woods? Then feet should have scratches also.

-"Errands" at midnightish. Sorry but IMO it was something else they went into town for.
7 minute car drive which is 15 minutes maximum both ways. So what was happening for 45 minutes to an hour since any store in that small town would be a quick stop.
Could have just been part of the cover story to run into town and be seen away from home area.

-There seems to not be any other family members volunteering to go to news media to vouche for them. Why are we not hearing from Grandpa or other family members in the news?
Could it be they know the real truth and don't want to get in trouble for lying?


I almost get a sense a real accident happened but they would have gotten in trouble if they had told what really happened. I have wondered if maybe they left the baby in their own car seat and he froze to death in their own car and after realizing it they didn't want to get into trouble for being irresponsible. Especially if they had been drinking or doing drugs or something along those lines. That would be scenario where I could see them wanting to do a coverup of it and then they still feel it was a tragic accident. I get the feeling something like this could have happened and could be why they felt the need for a coverup.

I suppose time will tell as we see how LE investigates this futher.

I am in agreement with you on every one of your areas of question. I was trying so hard to look at the adults here without immediately picking apart why they did anything other than make a bad decision regarding the supervision of their child. But there's something seriously off, whether it be with the adults related to the child, or with the info and the way the info was given to the public by LE.

I think you hit the nail on the head about them pushing this narrative. I think a lot of getting glossed over and prettied up. I think they said he was at the house with "grandpa" because the man he was there with was her ex boyfriend's dad, who technically at one point, was in the "grandpa" position in the relationship tree. But, that doesn't make him grandpa, really. But it DOES make the middle of the night errand look a LOT better if they left the child home with his loving grandpa, as opposed to saying she left the house with her ex boyfriend and let the child at the house with her ex boyfriend's dad.

The retelling of events with loads of little details (all that affect how the mom and ex's actions/activities are opined by police, family, the public) tweaked just enough to make themselves look better, is disturbing to me.


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[Elainera]

I have a good one for y'all. Today in Arkansas it was in the 40s. My elderly aunt was coming home from getting her hair done and almost ran over a baby. She stopped, got the kid(2years old) out of the road and asked a little boy(5 years old) where his mommy was.(neither kid had a jacket on and both were in short sleeves) He said she was inside. She knocked and knocked no one ever came to the door so she walked inside. Mom was on the couch watching tv as Loud as it could go and said oh her brother(5)was supposed to be watching her. WHAT!!!then she proceeded to tell the 5 year old he was grounded for letting his baby sister in the road....I tried to get her to call the police, but of course she wouldn't. Some people don't need kids.

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Well I think you should call someone about this incident. That baby could be dead now.

 

[Rayemonde]

It does seem very odd to place a child's body in a car. But I know of one recent case, can't remember the sweet baby's name right now---blocked it because she was raped and killed by her sick, twisted father, then placed in a car that he found nearby, that was unlocked. She was only a month old. :cry:

Matthew Brendan Warner and Ellorah Rose... I thought it was his own truck, though?

 

[katydid23]

Matthew Brendan Warner and Ellorah Rose... I thought it was his own truck, though?

Yes. Thanks. :rose:


It was not his truck, IIRC. It was a strangers truck that had been left unlocked at the ParkNRide Lot.

 

[AbbeyBabbey]

http://m.stltoday.com/news/local/cr...59a2-a736-829b5ee2e5e7.html?mobile_touch=true

This article says that it was the mom's ex boyfriend's (a different ex than Titus's dad) father who was at the home with Titus. If so, he is only 3... Not so sure how well a 3 year old can know the father of one of his mom's ex boyfriends.


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02-10-2016, 12:10 PM #42 luvhockey

Fox2 from St Louis, just said something may be developing.
Also said Titus lives with his Mom Amber Tackett and her parents in Potosi. The mom and Titus were visiting the Dad Frankie Garrett and Frankie's Dad. Amber and Frankie went out last night and left Titus with his grandfather. When they came home at 1am the door was open and Titus was gone.

{Sorry - I don't know how to quote an old post:blushing:}

This is where I got that FG is Titus' dad and that they were at FG's dad's house. I haven't seen anything to dispute it and have been assuming that it's correct all along. That could be wrong though as there was no link. It sounds like luvhockey was paraphrasing from a live broadcast she saw. Perhaps she will clarify?

Can you point me to something that says that the referenced ex-boyfriend is NOT FG? TIA and much appreciated.

****From your link: "The friend's father had been at the house. The Tacketts, of Potosi, were visiting the ex-boyfriend, who is not the boy's father."

From the obit: "He was born January 24th, 2013 to his loving parents Amber Tackett and Frankie Garrett who survive."

Not sure who to believe - a reporter or the (presumably) family-written obit.
I'm so confused!

ETA: "Titus' aunt tells FOX 2 that Titus lived in Potosi with his mother and her parents. His mom brought him to his dad`s home Tuesday night to visit his father and his sister. Titus` father lives in Killarney Shores with his father and his daughter."

http://fox2now.com/2016/02/10/missing-iron-county-toddlers-body-found-in-a-van/

 

[Hoosgirl]

I believe FG is the father of the younger sibling, and acted as a stepfather to Titus when he and mom were together, and perhaps continued in that role because of the ongoing coparenting of Titus' baby sister after the breakup.

His bio father must really not be in the picture to not get mentioned in the obit. JMO

 

[Jamaica Me Crazy]

http://dailyjournalonline.com/news/...cle_ecd34be7-20df-51f4-85cf-4b07d4244282.html

funeral arrangements. guess where.

If don't understand the seemingly concern about the Cole thing.

 

[skinnycat]

Poor little Titus, I think he was probably very much pushed aside when the baby girl came along, this is just my opinion that I have came to after looking at pictures on line. Really bothers me that they referred to the baby sister as beautiful, not loving, adoring,cherished which are common words to be seen in obituaries, usually the only time beautiful is mentioned in an obit is when discussing the deceased and it's usually a female deceased. I've never seen it used to describe a family member of the deceased.

Odd that mom had Titus and FG (stepdad) had baby girl. FG has almost no pictures of Titus on his public facebook.

There has to be signs on the bottoms of his feet as to whether he walked on the road or he was in the ditch, there is no way that his skin at 3 would be tough enough not to show signs of wear.

 

[Jamaica Me Crazy]

Someone asked if it's common for people to ask for donations in lieu of flowers. I have seen this many times. Sometimes they actually list an account to donate to.

I've never seen it EXCEPT for where a bank account is listed.

 

[Jamaica Me Crazy]

I have a good one for y'all. Today in Arkansas it was in the 40s. My elderly aunt was coming home from getting her hair done and almost ran over a baby. She stopped, got the kid(2years old) out of the road and asked a little boy(5 years old) where his mommy was.(neither kid had a jacket on and both were in short sleeves) He said she was inside. She knocked and knocked no one ever came to the door so she walked inside. Mom was on the couch watching tv as Loud as it could go and said oh her brother(5)was supposed to be watching her. WHAT!!!then she proceeded to tell the 5 year old he was grounded for letting his baby sister in the road....I tried to get her to call the police, but of course she wouldn't. Some people don't need kids.

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Call CPS. Give me her address and I will!

 

[Hoosgirl]

Poor little Titus, I think he was probably very much pushed aside when the baby girl came along, this is just my opinion that I have came to after looking at pictures on line. Really bothers me that they referred to the baby sister as beautiful, not loving, adoring,cherished which are common words to be seen in obituaries, usually the only time beautiful is mentioned in an obit is when discussing the deceased and it's usually a female deceased. I've never seen it used to describe a family member of the deceased.

Odd that mom had Titus and FG (stepdad) had baby girl. FG has almost no pictures of Titus on his public facebook.

There has to be signs on the bottoms of his feet as to whether he walked on the road or he was in the ditch, there is no way that his skin at 3 would be tough enough not to show signs of wear.

I thought referring to baby sister as "beautiful" in the obit was ... something that stuck out. Couldn't put my finger on it, but it seemed strange to me.

 

[pepelepolecat]

What I'd like to know is............the property with the van that little Titus was found in.........reportedly had dogs. Whether the dogs were inside or outside dogs (do we know?) surely they would have barked like the dickens when little Titus was getting into (or being put into) the van, thus alerting the residents of that property that something/someone was outside. Wouldn't you think? Something made me think I'd read early on after his little body was found that the property owners' dogs were outside dogs. If I was a little 3 yr old cold, wandering in the dark, scared, freezing and I was approached in the dark but dogs I'd be screaming and crying.........loud enough to make dogs bark more/wake up property owners. Something just doesnt add up here.

Also...... has it yet been confirmed if it was the property owners who covered Titus upon finding his little frozen body? (out of dignity).

Still doesn't seem conceivable or reasonable to me that a freezing little 3 yr old toddler is going to get into someone's van then root around inside it and find a blanket and cover themselves up. By that point, due the cold/freezing temps and the time it would have taken him to walk from GPA's house to this property, wearing only a diaper, it would make sense that hypothermia would have set in..........and as such w/ hypothermia, there comes a point where they no longer feel cold but actually feel hot.

Sorry hinky meter still set on high.

Or he could have used the van to get away from the dogs. Many small kids are afraid of dogs.

The blanket is perplexing to me because I've seen it reported that it was "draped" or "covering" him but also that it was wrapped. Those all imply different things, imo.

 

[KrazyKatLadi]

I believe FG is the father of the younger sibling, and acted as a stepfather to Titus when he and mom were together, and perhaps continued in that role because of the ongoing coparenting of Titus' baby sister after the breakup.

His bio father must really not be in the picture to not get mentioned in the obit. JMO

I'm fairly certain FG is his bio-dad. The obit says so and if you look way way back thru FBook it seems they were together back then.

I just don't believe Titus walked that far and climbed into the van on his own. No way no how.


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