GUILTY PA - Skyler Kauffman, 9, Souderton, 9 May 2011

[Helplessly Hoping]

Yeah I agree, but we dont know all that much about the incident. Maybe the father had a talk to the guy and didn't think he was a threat after hearing his story. All we know is what is printed in articles.

on a side note I have just purchased two extra long leashes for my baby girls

I don't recall seeing anything regarding her father. From what I've read she lived with her mom and maternal grandmother, but I could have missed it. Actually do we even know how long she was missing before her mom called 911? I don't think I heard that either.

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

That's an excellent point as Skylar was an only child. We can't always rely on the buddy system is right. At some point the kids split up.

As far as moving I think the location where Skylar's family lives (the apaprtments) they wouldn't be financially able to just up and go. We all want to be where the grass is greener, but as we so often here at WS that this can happen virtually anywhere.

Souderton is a suburb to me. I'm smack right in Philly. If I heard it once I heard it a million times from friends who moved and my siblings just how safe their kids were now. Ummmmmmmmm, no.

We hate to put a fear into our children. However, as my dad used to say "Better afraid then dead". It sounds awful, but it has merit. As I mentioned I was sexually assaulted by a neighbor from the same block. I was only 8. Friends of the family and all that. We can teach our kids over and over, but when it comes down to it kids well they're kids. Unfortunately there's creeps out there just sitting around watching for kids. It's our job to protect them.

I agree. But in this case it's the previous incident that's bothering me. These freaks can come out of nowhere, at any time, but here they had warning. BIG RED FLAGS IMO.

 

[Filly]

I don't know why she was outside. Was it a case of "I thought you were watching her, No I thought You were watching her" kind of thing? I don't know. I do know we had a brutal Winter and lots of early rain this Spring and it has been truly fabulous weather the past few days, so it would be hard to keep a kid (anyone, really) inside. And sad to say, I don't think most people have a tenth of the vigilance that we have because after following a few cases and seeing what can happen, it really changes you.

Ain't it the truth? It's beautiful out. We have an alley/driveway and all the kids were out on Sunday yelling and playing. We have several dad's that in early evening bring the kids out and they stay with those kids. Then you have the kids just left. Left out all alone to run around the blocks for hours when nobody even sticks a head out the window or looks for them. Little kids.

What really gets me is the households where several people live usually moving in and out, but there's always at least five people to a house and these are the people that don't even walk second graders to school or poke their head out the door let alone take their sorry, lazy tails out to see if these kids are safe. They also always have one kid "watch" three other kids. I mean the 7 year old is in charge.

 

[Charlie09]

I don't recall seeing anything regarding her father. From what I've read she lived with her mom and maternal grandmother, but I could have missed it. Actually do we even know how long she was missing before her mom called 911? I don't think I heard that either.

I thought her dad said something along the lines of "while I was eating dinner, he was strangling my daughter" (no idea which link that was at, I think I saw it more than once though)

 

[Helplessly Hoping]

I thought her dad said something along the lines of "while I was eating dinner, he was strangling my daughter" (no idea which link that was at, I think I saw it more than once though)

That was a neighbor I'm pretty sure. Either on link from CBS or ABC (WPVI) stations.

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

Ain't it the truth? It's beautiful out. We have an alley/driveway and all the kids were out on Sunday yelling and playing. We have several dad's that in early evening bring the kids out and they stay with those kids. Then you have the kids just left. Left out all alone to run around the blocks for hours when nobody even sticks a head out the window or looks for them. Little kids.

What really gets me is the households where several people live usually moving in and out, but there's always at least five people to a house and these are the people that don't even walk second graders to school or poke their head out the door let alone take their sorry, lazy tails out to see if these kids are safe. They also always have one kid "watch" three other kids. I mean the 7 year old is in charge.

Exactly.

 

[Filly]

I agree. But in this case it's the previous incident that's bothering me. These freaks can come out of nowhere, at any time, but here they had warning. BIG RED FLAGS IMO.

You're preaching to the choir. I didn't need a red flag. I have a fenced in yard leading to a common driveway. I wouldn't let my DD in the yard when I'd take clothing out of the washer not 20 feet inside.

Recently my new neighbor (young) was talking about putting in a playhouse for her little one. I told her how we used to have one. My longtime neighbor said "Yeah and you never gave your DD freedom. You were overprotective". She's an old friend of mine, but I responded "Yeah well I had a convicted felon next door, your son was high on angel dust, and you had no problem asking me to watch your DD when you took off with one of your newest boyfriends" then I added "Oh yeah and considering I was sexually assaulted as a kid I think I know what I'm talking about".

Can't win for losing, but my child was safe and so were my nephews and any kid I watched. Nobody was getting abducted on my watch. The kids hated it, but today they make a joke of it. Same ones that say they only trust me to watch their kids.

 

[Filly]

That was a neighbor I'm pretty sure. Either on link from CBS or ABC (WPVI) stations.

Was it? They put the dad's name under whoever said it on I think Channel 6.



Here it is. It was the dad that said that.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Man-24-Raped-Murdered-9-Year-Old-DA-121591519.html

No matter the end result is this poor beautiful little girl is dead. The will languish in lockup. He'll get a trial. Nobody is the same ever again in this child's family. There's no justice.

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

Knowing for a fact that danger was living right there in the same apartment complex, I would think just a few extra precautions would pop into their minds? No?

IDK. I'll let it go now lol.

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

You're preaching to the choir. I didn't need a red flag. I have a fenced in yard leading to a common driveway. I wouldn't let my DD in the yard when I'd take clothing out of the washer not 20 feet inside.

Recently my new neighbor (young) was talking about putting in a playhouse for her little one. I told her how we used to have one. My longtime neighbor said "Yeah and you never gave your DD freedom. You were overprotective". She's an old friend of mine, but I responded "Yeah well I had a convicted felon next door, your son was high on angel dust, and you had no problem asking me to watch your DD when you took off with one of your newest boyfriends" then I added "Oh yeah and considering I was sexually assaulted as a kid I think I know what I'm talking about".

Can't win for losing, but my child was safe and so were my nephews and any kid I watched. Nobody was getting abducted on my watch. The kids hated it, but today they make a joke of it. Same ones that say they only trust me to watch their kids.

Sorry Filly, I don't mean to preach at you lol, just jumping off your posts! I totally agree with everything you've posted.

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

Was it? They put the dad's name under whoever said it on I think Channel 6.



Here it is. It was the dad that said that.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Man-24-Raped-Murdered-9-Year-Old-DA-121591519.html

No matter the end result is this poor beautiful little girl is dead. The will languish in lockup. He'll get a trial. Nobody is the same ever again in this child's family. There's no justice.

I know. Nothing I say will change the end result, nor do I want to try to tell anyone how to raise their kids.

So sad.

 

[Filly]

Sorry Filly, I don't mean to preach at you lol, just jumping off your posts! I totally agree with everything you've posted.

:crazyreach away. I understand. The best we can do for this little girl now is pray. It's all we can do.

Never a problem, RR. I absolutely get it.

 

[Helplessly Hoping]

Was it? They put the dad's name under whoever said it on I think Channel 6.



Here it is. It was the dad that said that.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Man-24-Raped-Murdered-9-Year-Old-DA-121591519.html

No matter the end result is this poor beautiful little girl is dead. The will languish in lockup. He'll get a trial. Nobody is the same ever again in this child's family. There's no justice.

You are right. I missed it. Now I have even more questions. :maddening:

The child's father, Eric Kauffman, wondered about the justice, "Last night, while I was having dinner she was being strangled, so where is the justice in that?"
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8122162

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

:crazyreach away. I understand. The best we can do for this little girl now is pray. It's all we can do.

Never a problem, RR. I absolutely get it.

My DD just turned 18, now that's rough!

 

[revampz]

Ok, the cops didn't arrest him 2 weeks ago but she still had the choice to let her daughter out alone or NOT. What, did she think this guy was just joking?

ETA: They don't have any more daughters do they? If so, they need to be taken away!! I'm more than a little angry that this girl was allowed to play outside ALONE. Father eating dinner? pffffft...

I have said here before that my father was a cop and my brother is (as well as some other family members) and I have seen first hand what they have to put up with and the awful things they see and the horrid people they have to deal with, so I too hate people bashing the LE.

I too dont want to bash the parents as such an awful time in their lives...but geez, saying this is the fault of the police is very unfair.......this child was their responsibility....this creep had tried to lock her in a bathroom two weeks beforehand and tried to show her his private part, the parents were aware of this...THEY should been watching this child at all times. It said that the girls were using his bathroom the two weeks beforehand, how did she end up their again???

The earlier news reports said that this little girl had known this guy for a long time, so obviously the parents did as well....

 

[Helplessly Hoping]

I know. Nothing I say will change the end result, nor do I want to try to tell anyone how to raise their kids.

So sad.

I think we have to try somehow. Its important to educate parents. Again, look what we know just from posting here? My niece-in-law (?) who has a toddler thinks I'm a nut when I suggest things or tell her a story about this child or that child. Some people are naive and need to hear it though and I'm not trying to be critical of her or anyone. I'm not suggesting that is the case here and just making a general observation...

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

I think we have to try somehow. Its important to educate parents. Again, look what we know just from posting here? My niece-in-law (?) who has a toddler thinks I'm a nut when I suggest things or tell her a story about this child or that child. Some people are naive and need to hear it though and I'm not trying to be critical of her or anyone. I'm not suggesting that is the case here and just making a general observation...

I know, people think I'm nuts, following these cases & trying to warn them of the very real dangers out there! My kids (17, 18 and 27 years old) roll their eyes at me lol. As I said above, my DD just turned 18 & it's rough. She thinks nothing like that would ever happen to her. Arghhhh!

 

[MsFacetious]

That comment from the father doesn't mean he was living with them at the time. I get the impression that the parents might be separated. I think he just meant that the timing of it was that she was being killed while he was eating dinner. Since he isn't mentioned in looking for her, I am guessing he wasn't there.

I don't recall seeing anything regarding her father. From what I've read she lived with her mom and maternal grandmother, but I could have missed it. Actually do we even know how long she was missing before her mom called 911? I don't think I heard that either.

Skylar was last seen "around 5:30pm.".

It was about 5:45pm when the girlfriend heard screams & thumps which were likely Skylar being murdered. :banghead:

Skylar was supposed to be home at 6pm for dinner but didn't show up. (The perp showed up for dinner though.)

Her mother and grandmother looked for her before calling police after 7pm.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/10/national/main20061709.shtml

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Why is anyone here placing any blame whatsoever on Skylar's family for what happened???

An innocent, beautiful 9-year-old was killed by a MONSTER, and it is no ones fault but his.

Knock it off!

 

[BrownRice]

I too dont want to bash the parents as such an awful time in their lives...but geez, saying this is the fault of the police is very unfair.......this child was their responsibility....this creep had tried to lock her in a bathroom two weeks beforehand and tried to show her his private part, the parents were aware of this...THEY should been watching this child at all times. It said that the girls were using his bathroom the two weeks beforehand, how did she end up their again???

I was thinking the SAME thing but didn't want to say it.