PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Killer died*

[stillwatersc]

PITY THE POOR CASEWORKERS? REGULATIONS "LACKING" IN GRACE PACKER HORROR

"We can't imagine how awful the caseworkers who placed the children in harm's way must feel. Frustratingly, state regulations overseeing such matters are lacking. For example, neither foster nor adoptive parents are subject to psychological testing. Applicants are barred from obtaining children if they've been named as a perpetrator in a proven child abuse report — within the previous five years. Apparently, five years and a day is OK. Then there's this peculiar stipulation: The five-year threshold does not apply to applicants who have been named in a so-called "indicated report," meaning evidence of child abuse exists but it did not rise to the level of a crime."

Good intentions, tragic outcome
Editorial - The Intelligencer (Bucks County, PA)
http://www.theintell.com/opinion/ed...cle_7aa008de-881f-5e78-969e-0c1916ca5e81.html

Five Years. Should be NEVER again.

 

[kaen]

I think the five year rule comes into play in terms of keeping children with family members. If there was an abuse claim against, say, grandma years ago and now her grandchildren are being removed from their parent, grandma would never be able to have the kids if the rule was permanent. So, this is more that children aren't ripped from families and placed with total strangers. I agree it should be never again. The cycle of abuse goes cross-generationally. The families accepting children (and state funding) should be vetted like they're employees. An emergency placement can have set numbers of days as a home study is done, if it appears that a family placement is feasible. If the increased the subsidy and the qualifications, these at risk kids might be able to be in more stable homes with stable adults, decreasing some of the cyclic behaviors that keep haunt a family over generations.

 

[Gnatcatcher]

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/new..._launch_online_fundra.html#incart_river_index

Memorial Service and Fund Raiser Planned...

This whole case has my head spinning and my stomach in knots. I was reading through the Sara Pielaet fb page and saw a comment from another Pielaet, who I assume is a relative. So I was reading her page, there are a lot of pictures of sunsets and rainbows, tributes to her girlfriend and father, a remembrance of Matthew Shephard, and Trump-bashing, including this comment from October 2016 regarding the alleged abuse of women by Trump, "I have many friends who are victims of sexual abuse and rape. And I just had to say something. When did we stop protecting our precious beings for the sake of a brute? Who is responsible for the shift? Trump is just acting out as the pig he is. But when did humanity decide it is better to stand up for the abuser instead of protecting the victim?"

 

[david.r.feeney]

I also guess that there may be a profusion of abuse claims that originate as petty revenge from ex spouses, aggrieved family members, or perhaps anyone. I know families where spurious abuse claims have caused involvement by agencies which, to the agencies credit, were investigated and dismissed as without merit. Just a hunch as I am neither a lawyer nor social worker.

 

[david.r.feeney]

Abington Loves Grace Memorial Service
https://www.facebook.com/events/1188703441166894

Monday Jan 16 2017 at 1:30 PM ET
New Life Church in Glenside
467 N Easton Rd, Glenside, Pennsylvania 19038
84 interested
69 going
480 invited

 

[MsMtOlympus]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20170113_DA_Sara_Packer_knew_husband_had_sexual_contact_with_Grace_s_foster_sister.html

Article confirms per District Attorney that David Packer sexually assaulted Grace's (non-biological) sister with Sara Packer's knowledge. My God. Something tells me we have only scratched the surface of unspeakable horrors here and that frightens and upsets me (as if I weren't feeling that way already) to no end.

 

[kaen]

Opinion/Conjecture ------I have to wonder if Sara Packer knew about the previous assaults and David Packer didn't rat her out. IF when it came to assaulting her daughter again if Sara knew she had to kill her or she would be caught. Sullivan said he had attack Grace before but if her mother was in on it, then, I would think Sara wouldn't want to have Grace be able to testify against her.

 

[MsMtOlympus]

Opinion/Conjecture ------I have to wonder if Sara Packer knew about the previous assaults and David Packer didn't rat her out. IF when it came to assaulting her daughter again if Sara knew she had to kill her or she would be caught. Sullivan said he had attack Grace before but if her mother was in on it, then, I would think Sara wouldn't want to have Grace be able to testify against her.

I think when it comes down to it Sara Packer wanted Grace dead for a myriad of reasons, including the one you mentioned. Getting caught was one factor, but hating/resenting Grace for whatever reason (the absence of either daughter on her FB page speaks volumes. Jealousy issues perhaps?) combined with an extremely deviant sexual makeup led to years of abuse for Grace and her foster sister. Hurting them in the worst way possible was both emotionally and physically satisfying for Packer, IMO.

 

[MsMtOlympus]

If I'm not mistaken, we don't know anything about Sullivan's children. I'm assuming from his "Dear Babies" suicide note that he was referring to children but I haven't come across any confirmation on that subject. If he does have kids, I hope to God there is an ongoing investigation regarding their welfare.

 

[Ontario Mom]

The more we learn about this beast and her ex and her boyfriend, the more of a pattern comes into play. As we all know, pedophiles tend to take positions in careers that will put them in direct contact with children - often times - vulnerable, needy children. What better position to be in, than a foster mom, to hand these innocent children over to hubby and then later, boyfriend?

You really do have to wonder how many children in her care over the years have been victimized. We may never know, but I'm willing to bet it wasn't just Grace and her foster sister.

 

[cvaldez1975]

I think it sadly it is to make it easier because older foster kids are hard to place. these results are horrifying.

One would think that since the foster and adoptive families are taking in vulnerable children they would have to do what all other adoptive families do---a thorough home study. I think they don't do them because of cost and the idea that if people didn't pass they would have to do more leg work. But. these children are humans for goodness sake.

Additionally, Sara Packer was fired because they thought she knew about the abuse and didn't step in-----how does that not qualify for a review and removal of a child for at least a period of time to investigate? I believe that it is negligence more than just hands tied because of regulation. Presumably the head of this agency is a social worker or psychologist, they went to school, they know about issues related to sexual and physical abuse. Why were they not advocating for more stringent regulations? Why were they willing to accept such a low bar? When one of their own was suspected of covering up abuse, why did they not look into each foster child this monster employee had contact with? Why was there no follow-up on the two children she had in her care over time? There are plenty of families in the system who are followed over years. Why was this one not?

To me this is a softball, kick it to the legislators type of editorial. I agree it is good to look macro to ensure these agencies have what they need. But, at the end of the day, it does not sound as though this agency advocated for what they needed. Grace Packer paid the price for that.

 

[cvaldez1975]

I think he was referring to his "family".

If I'm not mistaken, we don't know anything about Sullivan's children. I'm assuming from his "Dear Babies" suicide note that he was referring to children but I haven't come across any confirmation on that subject. If he does have kids, I hope to God there is an ongoing investigation regarding their welfare.

 

[BUF]

The state of Pennsylvania has opened an investigation into the death of 14-year-old Grace Packer, whose mother took care of 30 foster children over a 10 year period, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services confirmed Friday.

http://patch.com/pennsylvania/abing...harged-murder-had-30-previous-foster-children

 

[Ontario Mom]

The state of Pennsylvania has opened an investigation into the death of 14-year-old Grace Packer, whose mother took care of 30 foster children over a 10 year period, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services confirmed Friday.

http://patch.com/pennsylvania/abing...harged-murder-had-30-previous-foster-children

:gaah:

 

[Knox]

The state of Pennsylvania has opened an investigation into the death of 14-year-old Grace Packer, whose mother took care of 30 foster children over a 10 year period, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services confirmed Friday.

http://patch.com/pennsylvania/abing...harged-murder-had-30-previous-foster-children

Well there you have it, a number and a time frame.

 

[kaen]

Oh dear God. I hope no others were abused.

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[strawberry]

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news...-410682775.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_PHBrand


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[Ontario Mom]

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news...-410682775.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_PHBrand


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It's unthinkable really that Grace had so many adults in her life that abused her. In some of the MSM articles it was stated that her and her two siblings were originally removed from their bio parents custody due to allegations of sexual assault. I have not seen any other details about that - just that one statement. Then they encounter David Packer... Sara Packer... and finally for poor Grace, Jacob Sullivan. It just makes me feel so sick for what she had to endure in her short 14 years.

 

[ninij9]

Oh dear God. I hope no others were abused.

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I know. The odds aren't in these children's favor though.😔

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[Elle*Bee]

I think he was referring to his "family".

This article says the suicide note was written to his children. (I'm gagging.)
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/2...yfriend_in_Bucks_rape-murder_of_girl__14.html

"A suicide note from Sullivan to his children was found by detectives. It said other people's lies had "made it impossible for us to live."

"I know you will always know that we had nothing to do with this no matter what lies they tell," he wrote. "I'm sorry to leave you. Remember all I've taught you. Be brave, stand tall and do your best to be stronger than I was." ,