GUILTY PA - Christina Regusters for kidnap, rape of 5yo girl, Philadelphia, 14 Jan 2013 - #2

[Janeumayer]

You gotta take into account that the girl was taken to the hospital right after retaining the attorney. they do like drama. This last pc was scheduled by him as well.

 

[jjenny]

I know that lawyers like drama. But what police have been saying does indicate something serious happening to this child.

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

Pirplegrl, but you were a student's mother and were probably recognized as such. Caregivers (teachers, day care workers, camp counselors) learn very quickly who normally picks up a child. They may not know your name, but they know if you belong or not.

No. they didn't. I was just a person walking in off the street. As a rule My dd came out to me. One day when it was cold I walked in the school and kept walking. I had to go down the main hall, up the stairs, down to the end of the next hall and then turn down her hall. It was not a short walk. NO ONE EVER stopped me. Asked my name, for ID nothing.

It is a different world. And down where she was in that part of the city, it is not any better. Sadly, The rules do not apply to everyone everywhere.

 

[tlcya]

You gotta take into account that the girl was taken to the hospital right after retaining the attorney. they do like drama. This last pc was scheduled by him as well.

I know that lawyers like drama. But what police have been saying does indicate something serious happening to this child.

I would take the attorney's comments with more than a grain of salt, had the civic leaders and LE not seemed to be backing him in regards to the horrendous nature of what this child has suffered.

You may be right, Jane about the attorney prompting the return visit to the hospital, but looking at the level of attention this case is getting from the powers that be in the city, I doubt it was simply to "dramatize" this child's situation. MOO

 

[necco]

Pirplgrl, that's scary.

I once had to pick up a young relative in a last minute situation. I wasn't questioned. The child saw me, pointed to me and the teacher let the child go. I hope that it was because I look very much like one of her parents and that I was talking to another parent who happens to be a relative. Both the child I was picking up and the other parent's child pointed at me. I assume they asked the child. I hope they did.

We were always very diligent about pickups because there were a number of custody issues where I worked.

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

Pirplgrl, that's scary.

I once had to pick up a young relative in a last minute situation. I wasn't questioned. The child saw me, pointed to me and the teacher let the child go. I hope that it was because I look very much like one of her parents and that I was talking to another parent who happens to be a relative. Both the child I was picking up and the other parent's child pointed at me. I assume they asked the child. I hope they did.

We were always very diligent about pickups because there were a number of custody issues where I worked.

It is. Where we are now, You don't get into school unless you go in office and state your business. My other son's preschool even when My mom is sent to pick up my son and I notify them ahead of time, She has to show id. EVERY TIME.

IT is just a different world. It is sad but a different world.

I hope so much that this child is getting treatment for whatever. I am also glad if it is bad that they are respecting her privacy for now at least. Maybe the are not being more specific so as to make sure the evidence info is not tainted? Thank goodness for the trash man. If he had not be walking by.. God has angels everywhere.

 

[tlcya]

I am extremely well known at my son's elementary school. I can't think of one staff member, aside maybe from cafeteria staff, who I have not known for a number of years and who is not familiar with me and knows who I am.

That said, I still always follow proper school procedure reporting to office, getting my visitor badge signing my child in and out every day, etc.

My mother in law recently began helping out by picking up my son occasionally from teh after school program he participates in. She was offended when they asked her to produce ID even though I had prepared her for that. She was also offended when they repeatedly took her to task for "forgetting" to sign him out after he was released to her by a program staffer.

I told her I couldn't be more thrilled that they took security so seriously. Her point was "well they could tell I was his gramma, he called me that and ran up to me" about the ID thing. I had to try to explain, once again, that some grammas are not authorized to pick up kids.

 

[hollyblue]

It is just a different world than Newtown, Ct. It just is. I grew up in the burbs but In the city, in their district it is just not the same security or anything. When My dd went to school in the city, Not inner city, Just NE philly. A nice neighborhood, I could walk in the school any time, past the office and stand right outside my childs class if I wanted to. No one stopped you or even asked why you were there. Now I know some things have changed but down there, not so much.

There is no reason for a parent to go to any classroom unless they are scheduled to be there...period. IMO. Why would a parent want to disrupt the everyday atmospheres of teaching and education? I don't get it? A child doesn't need a parent's escort from a classroom? I attended elementary and grammar school in a small midwest town where all the entrances were never locked, yet never saw anyone but students, teachers and the faculty. There was no need for volunteers to be there unless school was already dismissed. Even then (50's & 60's) a note had to be given to the administration for a child's early release and the admin made sure the teacher knew. If an emergency, the admin always walked the parent up to the room just as common courtesy (before phones in the classroom to summon the child to the office). And for sure if admin or any of the teachers encountered an adult in the hallway...they would have inquired on what they were doing there. It would be interesting to research how often this did happen in those time periods. It just seems the perps are more vigilant and willing to take the risk anymore without a real care of being caught....and the fact the school employees are lacking in the vigilance? Why is that? What factors in the circumstances are different today vs then? Maybe I'm missing something? I never had children, so please forgive my ignorance, but why do the schools need daytime volunteers in the classroom today?

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

Because especially in Phila school district there is little help their budget is small and now they are closing schools.
My son in the burbs has a high school aide and a volunteer a couple of times a week.
There are a lot of class moms and parents who help during parties or events. Without parent volunteers there is a lot that could not be done. They are really an asset.

 

[nursebeeme]

I have been thinking about his case a lot..

could it have been politically motivated considering the status of her family member if it was FGM?

like retaliation from opposing it?

Just wondering.

(eta: it would seem she was followed right in the school after being dropped off that morning and they knew her name)

 

[tlcya]

I have been thinking about his case a lot..

could it have been politically motivated considering the status of her family member if it was FGM?

like retaliation from opposing it?

Just wondering.

(eta: it would seem she was followed right in the school after being dropped off that morning and they knew her name)

IF FGM was involved I would bet this is the likely reason as well. I have been trying to find references on the web as to her grandfather's stance on the practice but am coming up empty. If he is staunchly against and in his role as a leader has angered some with the opposite viewpoint, what better way to harm him than to do that to his very own grandchild.

This child was targeted. This was a personal crime. If that is indeed the injury inflicted it tracks for me.

 

[CarmelEyesD]

I'm going to say it, based on the reaction by the mayor, senator, etc, the strong words being used, wpvi saying the attack left her scarred, etc. I'm Googling things like Muslim, Islamic law, female circumcision, and finding things saying it's obligatory.

edit - finding things saying that US Muslims are against it, but Muslims from other countries come here, and there are conflicts between their beliefs about it.

Maybe 'someone' in the family wanted it done and the mother refused..so he/she/it had her kidnapped and the procedure performed...

 

[belimom]

I'm going to say it, based on the reaction by the mayor, senator, etc, the strong words being used, wpvi saying the attack left her scarred, etc. I'm Googling things like Muslim, Islamic law, female circumcision, and finding things saying it's obligatory.

edit - finding things saying that US Muslims are against it, but Muslims from other countries come here, and there are conflicts between their beliefs about it.

I have been thinking about his case a lot..

could it have been politically motivated considering the status of her family member if it was FGM?

like retaliation from opposing it?

Just wondering.

(eta: it would seem she was followed right in the school after being dropped off that morning and they knew her name)

bbm

I am just sickened by the thought that it may have been FGM. We have no idea and it may not have been, but now I'm wondering if it is. May explain why she stayed hidden and didn't run away to find help, if she was in pain. With LE saying no one should have to go through what she did, etc., it seems like it differs from other cases b/c I'm sure they see alot of sexual abuse in a city like Philly. So maybe it is something like FGM which I'm sure they don't normally see.

Whatever happened to her seems like something terrible, considering she had to return to the hospital days later...

:furious:

ETA -- Not trying to bring religion into it b/c I think female circumcision/FGM is not necessarily done for religious reasons. When we lived in Egypt, we knew of groups trying to stop the practice there, but it is still widely performed in many rural areas -- for religious reasons as well as just being a cultural tradition and 'what you do'.

 

[belimom]

(OT, I hope... but here's an article you all should read. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1995/10/female-circumcision-comes-to-america/306051/1/_)

 

[tlcya]

just wow.

very powerful article. it is older, so some of the stats may no longer be accurate but the personal stories. Very powerful.

Thanks button doesn't cover it belimom. Thank you for that link.

I pray that this topic has nothing to do with this case, but if it does . . .

 

[belimom]

just wow.

very powerful article. it is older, so some of the stats may no longer be accurate but the personal stories. Very powerful.

Thanks button doesn't cover it belimom. Thank you for that link.

I pray that this topic has nothing to do with this case, but if it does . . .

I was blown away by the article so I googled the woman's name, Mimi Ramsey. I found the following two videos -- the first one is very important but the second one must be watched also. I'm speechless. I'm in complete awe of this woman but horrified at this practice of FGM:

Scars of Silence part one -Mimi Ramsey - YouTube
[video=youtube;BX10TjuL8OA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX10TjuL8OA[/video]

 

[Savmom]

I was blown away by the article so I googled the woman's name, Mimi Ramsey. I found the following two videos -- the first one is very important but the second one must be watched also. I'm speechless. I'm in complete awe of this woman but horrified at this practice of FGM:

Wow. I did some research on FGM years ago when I was in college but it still burns me to the soul when I read/hear about it :furious::furious::furious:

I really hope this is NOT what happened to her but I am very afraid it is :sick: :anguish: :steamed: :no:

 

[tlcya]

in reading the comments being made by various civic leaders in this community - um yeah, I am afraid to say we may be on track with this.

The largest single contribution came from the office of State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams, who raised $30,000 for the reward.

"I will work night and day from now until the time this person's condemned to hell," Williams said.

snip

"It's gutless, it's heartless, it's inhumane. We will find you, we'll do whatever it takes," Nutter said of the perpetrators.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/philadelph...fficials-offer-75000-reward/story?id=18324754

 

[belimom]

in reading the comments being made by various civic leaders in this community - um yeah, I am afraid to say we may be on track with this.

The largest single contribution came from the office of State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams, who raised $30,000 for the reward.

"I will work night and day from now until the time this person's condemned to hell," Williams said.

snip

"It's gutless, it's heartless, it's inhumane. We will find you, we'll do whatever it takes," Nutter said of the perpetrators.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/philadelph...fficials-offer-75000-reward/story?id=18324754

Yeah, I'm thinking that also...

"Beautiful innocent child who was horribly injured, the crime here is as heinous a crime as has ever been committed in this city," said Tom Kline.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8966663

 

[jjenny]

I really don't understand why it's so hard to find these people. The child was kidnapped in broad daylight, kidnapper appear to have targeted specific child (not a random crime, which is harder to solve), yet here we are and no arrests or named suspects.