Ron C. # 11

[SeriouslySearching]

I am just glad he is getting counseling. I don't know if they family was advised to hold off on counseling for a bit as he was being questioned by professional connected to LE? Also summer visitation should of occurred much sooner than it did had the visitation requirements been met. I just don't think the lack of him not being placed in counseling sooner should all be placed on RC shoulders as some would like to do. Just seems like one more thing for people to bicker and point fingers over. What is important is he will now be receiving counseling.

You hit on something I didn't think about before, but since he is a potential witness to his sister's abduction...would LE want him in counseling? Since they would lose control over anything else that came out...I have to wonder.

 

[cajun]

Can you even imagine the fit Crystal would have pitched if RC had set up regularly scheduled appointments for Rj in or around Satusuma for counseling sessions during her summer visitation?! She has no job, no money, and last I heard she can't drive due to the seizures yet she would be responsible for making sure that Rj was at every appointment an hour and a half away possibly twice weekly or more to start. She would have screamed and yelled about the hardship it put on her and her family. She would have been furious and said Ronald only did it for that reason. <<ALL MY OPINIONS.

Probably why she waited till Ron, Jr came home to cause a stink

 

[cajun]

You hit on something I didn't think about before, but since he is a potential witness to his sister's abduction...would LE want him in counseling? Since they would lose control over anything else that came out...I have to wonder.

I would hope that LE and the professionals they had questioning RJ would have video taped what he said because a 4 YO just wouldn't remember what he told in those first hours anyway, months later. Maybe he would remember the basics of what he told in those first hours but as time went on things fade from a child that young's memory and then it becomes clouded by what he heard adults say for weeks and months.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Yes, I am sure they have Rj on video from his initial interview with the professionals brought in by LE. However, if he could identify someone found later on...he would have to testify. Would counseling interfere with this? If other things come out during his sessions about the abduction is it allowed in court? He could have memories surface later about the incident, imo. As he gets older, he matures in way that could allow him to recognize things he didn't before or didn't know how to explain.

 

[Donjeta]

LE don't forbid adult crime victims getting therapy before the trial if they need it, do they?

 

[SeriouslySearching]

I wouldn't use the word forbid. Rj is a crime victim, but he is possibly the only potential eyewitness to the crime.

 

[Donjeta]

Is there some scientific evidence that eyewitness testimony improves if the witness is not getting psychological help if he's traumatized?

 

[nomoresorrow]

You hit on something I didn't think about before, but since he is a potential witness to his sister's abduction...would LE want him in counseling? Since they would lose control over anything else that came out...I have to wonder.

I would think that the "best-interest of the child" would be priority, in this case, Jr's mental health & wellbeing, over any risk of compromising his account of what he may have witnessed. IMO

 

[nomoresorrow]

Can you even imagine the fit Crystal would have pitched if RC had set up regularly scheduled appointments for Rj in or around Satusuma for counseling sessions during her summer visitation?! She has no job, no money, and last I heard she can't drive due to the seizures yet she would be responsible for making sure that Rj was at every appointment an hour and a half away possibly twice weekly or more to start. She would have screamed and yelled about the hardship it put on her and her family. She would have been furious and said Ronald only did it for that reason. <<ALL MY OPINIONS.

And I would have agreed and IMO, I don't think that the court would have viewed it very favorably either. Understand, the days are gone of Ronald Cummings getting away with his past "practices" - it is no longer "business as usual" Thankfully. Unfortunately it took HaLeigh's disappearance to put light on the issue. If the best interest of the child is truly Ronald & Crystal's utmost concern, than arranging Jr's appointments at a location equally convenient for both parents would be a non-issue. I have been "here" before and I can tell you from experience that all arrangements were made with both parents schedules and locations in mind - of course that's what mature parent's do - parent's who are more concerned about doing right by their children rather than simply trying to be pricks to one another. Hopefully RC will mature soon as he, IMO, is extremely childish for his age. My youngest son is Ronald's age and there's no comparison whatsoever - TG! JMO-

 

[mommyofthreekidz5]

http://http://www.palatkadailynews.com/articles/2009/08/21/news/news01.txt

TN gives interview .

 

[Indiana at Heart]

If the delay was soley RCs fault as you say Shaymus, then why did Crystal and KP not address it in the amended agreement instead she waits until she returns him from summer visitation and files a motion for counseling. So apparently she did not feel it was critical to get him in counseling ASAP either. Once again what is important is the child will be receiving counseling.

Crystal only had Jr every other weekend til summer, maybe something happened in those 6 weeks she had him that she felt he needed help.

Most Important is that he is now hopefully going to get Counseling. His sister is missing, his family can't get along, he has a new step mom he has moved in with great grandma home thats a lot for a 4 yr old to have happened in 6 months time. Most Important is he is missing and wondering where his sissy HaLeigh is!

 

[debs]

Lord what a mess!

Lisa C said that she wanted to "check on" her daughter. That's understandable after the phone call. Sounds like Misty's husband came charging out of the house determined that no one was going to see Misty (wonder why? why not just say "Hey, ya'll. It's kind of late and Granny's asleep but if you want to come in you can")

I'm glad that GGM told the truth even though it goes against her grandson.

Catching up on this thread, so here are a few ruminations:

Doesn't Tommy say in the 911 call that they just want someone to go over to that house and check on Misty because they're afraid he's hurting her? This is after the incident, so they are still operating under fear for Misty, and not as much worried at that time in filing any complaints.

 

[debs]

You hit on something I didn't think about before, but since he is a potential witness to his sister's abduction...would LE want him in counseling? Since they would lose control over anything else that came out...I have to wonder.

Sawha????????

You're suggesting that the welfare of a child who has suffered a traumatic event should be hindered by LE???????? Oh to use that ubiquitous phrase.........GMAB!

This isn't about what Jr remembers or knows. This is about helping a little boy deal with the fact that his sister is long gone and how he will handle that. It is about the fact that there is constant acrimony in his family. It is about the fact that this little boy doesn't know from one day to the next what the heck is going to happen to him (a natural conclusion to draw given all that has happened to him so far). It is a horrible thought that all he's good for in some people's mind is what evidence or knowledge he has. He's a little boy who needs help. PERIOD! Let the LE mine their own evidence and allow this child some healing therapy.

Criminy. This thread is about his FATHER. Not this little boy.

 

[elle1919]

Perhaps One of these parents saw the need to get their child into counseling. Perhaps someone told one or both of these parents that they needed to get their child some counseling. Perhaps one of the grandmommies contacted one of the other garandmommies...probably not but who cares. I have no doubt that RJ misses his sister more than words can describe. The pain, god, it is too much for a child to have to endure. One thing is for sure, all the counseling in the world won't do a bit of good if his mommy and daddy can't get some counseling too. JMO

 

[SeriouslySearching]

And I would have agreed and IMO, I don't think that the court would have viewed it very favorably either. Understand, the days are gone of Ronald Cummings getting away with his past "practices" - it is no longer "business as usual" Thankfully. Unfortunately it took HaLeigh's disappearance to put light on the issue. If the best interest of the child is truly Ronald & Crystal's utmost concern, than arranging Jr's appointments at a location equally convenient for both parents would be a non-issue. I have been "here" before and I can tell you from experience that all arrangements were made with both parents schedules and locations in mind - of course that's what mature parent's do - parent's who are more concerned about doing right by their children rather than simply trying to be pricks to one another. Hopefully RC will mature soon as he, IMO, is extremely childish for his age. My youngest son is Ronald's age and there's no comparison whatsoever - TG! JMO-

Ronald's practices?! IIRC, Crystal wouldn't get out of bed to take Rj or Haleigh to the doctor before. Nothing said she would this time either, but hopefully since it has come to light that she once thought those visits were not important enough to get up to attend...she has changed her ways. (For Chloe's sake, I hope she has at least.)

Since Rj will be living with Ronald and seeing Crystal only every other weekend, it is ridiculous for Ronald to schedule appointments in relation to where she lives in Baker County. Those appointments normally are scheduled during the week and Crystal would not have Rj there. He should go to a counselor that is close to his home, imo.

 

[debs]

Ronald's practices?! IIRC, Crystal wouldn't get out of bed to take Rj or Haleigh to the doctor before. Nothing said she would this time either, but hopefully since it has come to light that she once thought those visits were not important enough to get up to attend...she has changed her ways. (For Chloe's sake, I hope she has at least.)

Since Rj will be living with Ronald and seeing Crystal only every other weekend, it is ridiculous for Ronald to schedule appointments in relation to where she lives in Baker County. Those appointments normally are scheduled during the week and Crystal would not have Rj there. He should go to a counselor that is close to his home, imo.

Ronald also missed 12 appointments, due to negligence in following through on getting them there. Placing it upon one parent or the other for the child missing her dr's appointment is simply creating an unnecessary division. That the court used THAT as, in part, reason to grant the father primary custody speaks (IN MY OPINION) to a gross miscarriage of justice.

Haleigh missed dr appt's because her parents (PLURAL) did not get her there.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Ronald also missed 12 appointments, due to negligence in following through on getting them there. Placing it upon one parent or the other for the child missing her dr's appointment is simply creating an unnecessary division. That the court used THAT as, in part, reason to grant the father primary custody speaks (IN MY OPINION) to a gross miscarriage of justice.

Haleigh missed dr appt's because her parents (PLURAL) did not get her there.

It was certainly NOT the opinion of the court. Thank God!! At least he understood the truth and putting it back on Ronald when he offered to take him says he tried to comply. An unnecessary diversion?! I find it to be VERY necessary to learn that the mother didn't go because she was in bed or because she didn't like the person's driving who was willing to take them! Excuses...and sorry ones at that!! <MY OPINIONS

 

[elle1919]

A good child psychologist will travel to the child. Many here in Alabama offer that option to the parents when the children are at such a young age. I now travel just a tad under an hour to my 11 year old daughter's appointments, every two weeks. She has been seeing a child psychologist and a counselor since the age of 5. In the beginning we had home visits which were spectacular because the counselor could see my little one in her natural environment. For Ronald and Crystal, if home visits are not an option there are cab companies that accept medicaid or medicare. The past is the past and what is important now is that the future be made brighter for this little boy. I truly hope that someone in this families inner circle has put both parents in touch with a health care advocate who can advise them about Rj's rights. There are many programs out there for him and I don't expect RC or CS to know about them on their own. As long as he is getting help there is hope.

 

[debs]

It was certainly NOT the opinion of the court. Thank God!! At least he understood the truth and putting it back on Ronald when he offered to take him says he tried to comply. An unnecessary diversion?! I find it to be VERY necessary to learn that the mother didn't go because she was in bed or because she didn't like the person's driving who was willing to take them! Excuses...and sorry ones at that!! <MY OPINIONS

Two separate issues. One is the 12 appts that you seem intent on placing solely at Crystal's feet when two parents failed their child in that matter.

The second is the dr's visit that the magistrate even knew about, but Crystal only found out about less than 24 hours before she had to appear in court. I find no fault with her for choosing to go to court. You do. No worries there.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Two separate issues. One is the 12 appts that you seem intent on placing solely at Crystal's feet when two parents failed their child in that matter.

The second is the dr's visit that the magistrate even knew about, but Crystal only found out about less than 24 hours before she had to appear in court. I find no fault with her for choosing to go to court. You do. No worries there.

How many appointments were missed with Crystal watching the children either with or without living with Ronald? Was she at home and in charge of their care? Was she working during those times?

It would be a reasonable expectation of ANY mother who is considered a "stay at home" mom that she would take the children to the doctor for medical care when necessary.