GUILTY TX - Emma Thompson, 4, dies with STD, skull fracture, Spring, 27 June 2009

[Boyz_Mum]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6576234.html#

A CASE HISTORY OF TRAGEDY
‘THE SYSTEM FAILED EMMA'
By TERRI LANGFORD Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Aug. 17, 2009, 8:48PM

Read how many children could have been saved from Lucas Coe's abuse if the system in place, parole & probation systems and the Judge that over and over again allowed this monster to remain in public until he finally tortured, raped, and murdered Emma.

Thanks fhc for the article. I understand the anger at "the system", it has it's flaws, for sure. When mothers lie about what's happening in their home, it seems like it would be very hard for the system to combat that angle effectively.

I'm not trying to be argumentive about a terrible system, I am really just sickened by these situations happening on a daily basis. Everyday that I think it can't get any worse, it does.

 

[Paintr]

From above article...


Fifteen days after 4-year-old Emma Thompson visited a hospital for a sexual abuse exam - she was dead. Her initial exam showed no sign of trauma, but an autopsy later revealed that between the time she visited the hospital and the time she died, Emma had suffered 80 bruises, a fracture to her skull, and sexual trauma.



Just wondering...

Emma was examined and officially no signs of abuse were found.

I wonder what Coe was thinking after this. Did he consider that these negative results meant that he would have a period of time where no one would check again? So he was free to esclate the abuse?

Or did he consider this check up, by order of CPS, the 'begining of the end' and he had nothing left to lose? Maybe he was angry at the thought of getting caught and took that anger out on Emma.

What was Mom thinking after having to subject little Emma to such a check up?

Just trying to understand how the abuse got so bad so quickly.

 

[Angels_Not_Forgotten]

From above article...


Fifteen days after 4-year-old Emma Thompson visited a hospital for a sexual abuse exam - she was dead. Her initial exam showed no sign of trauma, but an autopsy later revealed that between the time she visited the hospital and the time she died, Emma had suffered 80 bruises, a fracture to her skull, and sexual trauma.



Just wondering...

Emma was examined and officially no signs of abuse were found.

I wonder what Coe was thinking after this. Did he consider that these negative results meant that he would have a period of time where no one would check again? So he was free to esclate the abuse?

Or did he consider this check up, by order of CPS, the 'begining of the end' and he had nothing left to lose? Maybe he was angry at the thought of getting caught and took that anger out on Emma.

What was Mom thinking after having to subject little Emma to such a check up?

Just trying to understand how the abuse got so bad so quickly.

You know good questions! i'm also leaning towards he felt like he had "Gotten away with it" in a sense, so maybe he figured well just a little more won't hurt.

 

[believe09]

I just linked a story about a new pediatric subspecialty in child abuse. I wonder how easy it is to spot sexual assault of a child this age...other than the blatant blinking light of the herpes that is. If he had no history of violence to this child before the discovery of the herpes-maybe the child decided to say no or fought back against a bad touch?

 

[Paintr]

You know good questions! i'm also leaning towards he felt like he had "Gotten away with it" in a sense, so maybe he figured well just a little more won't hurt.

I just can't seem to wrap my head around this mother.

I have sympathy for CPS. They are probably overworked and overrun with cases. I can't imagine facing cases of child abuse everyday when you are right there with the abused child and often the suspected offenders in the same room (not once removed as we are on here) It must be overwhelming! They were probably grateful to think that here was one case they were mistaken about. That Emma was ok.

But the mother raised no such sympathy in me. I am glad she was charged and hope family money/influence make no difference in the outcome of her trial.

 

[Cicada]

From above article...


Fifteen days after 4-year-old Emma Thompson visited a hospital for a sexual abuse exam - she was dead. Her initial exam showed no sign of trauma, but an autopsy later revealed that between the time she visited the hospital and the time she died, Emma had suffered 80 bruises, a fracture to her skull, and sexual trauma.



Just wondering...

Emma was examined and officially no signs of abuse were found.

I wonder what Coe was thinking after this. Did he consider that these negative results meant that he would have a period of time where no one would check again? So he was free to esclate the abuse?

Or did he consider this check up, by order of CPS, the 'begining of the end' and he had nothing left to lose? Maybe he was angry at the thought of getting caught and took that anger out on Emma.

What was Mom thinking after having to subject little Emma to such a check up?

Just trying to understand how the abuse got so bad so quickly.

I think Mom had an idea what was going on all along. Why else would she go to the trouble of making sure CPS didn't know Lucas was in the home? Why else would she be coaching her other other children while her baby was dead or dying?

 

[Paintr]

I think Mom had an idea what was going on all along. Why else would she go to the trouble of making sure CPS didn't know Lucas was in the home? Why else would she be coaching her other other children while her baby was dead or dying?

ITA! I hope 'mommy' doesn't wiggle out of this by blaming Coe. They both need to be held responsible.

 

[CuriousTwo]

I agree that CPS isn't solely to blame. If AY had been honest with CPS and put the safety and well-being of her children above her attraction to this man, CPS could have taken steps to protect Emma. I do think that the fact that AY is an RN had a lot to do with her credibility in the eyes of CPS. They gave her the benefit of doubt that Emma's herpes was passed from AY to Emma in the course of living together. Had CPS been told that Coe was living there they could have taken action. CPS cannot do it all alone - they cannot sit outside someone's home to see who the occupants are exposing their children to.

When parents take responsibility for their own actions and take measures to protect their children, things will change. Until then, this horrible tragedy will unfortunately be repeated. JMHO.

 

[GeorgieFayne]

I don't understand how the herpes in Emma's *mouth* didn't strike the examiners as suspicious. How do you get that from a toilet seat? IMO, ball dropped by all involved.

 

[fhc]

Thanks fhc for the article. I understand the anger at "the system", it has it's flaws, for sure. When mothers lie about what's happening in their home, it seems like it would be very hard for the system to combat that angle effectively.

I'm not trying to be argumentive about a terrible system, I am really just sickened by these situations happening on a daily basis. Everyday that I think it can't get any worse, it does.

I was referencing all the times Coe violated probation and continued to abuse his children and his former gf's children and each time, 7 violations, the judge & probation officials let him go. The link I gave to the Houston Chronicle relates some of his offenses.

 

[CuriousTwo]

I don't understand how the herpes in Emma's *mouth* didn't strike the examiners as suspicious. How do you get that from a toilet seat? IMO, ball dropped by all involved.

The toilet seat story was told by AY to her husband when he questioned how Emma could have gotten it:

“Thompson said his wife told him that the type of herpes their daughter contracted had started out as a “childhood” version and had somehow developed into the sexual disease adults contract. He also said his wife told him that their daughter could have contracted the disease from a toilet seat.” http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/breaking/6551978.html

Is it possible that if Emma had open genital sores, touched herself (as all children do) and then put her hands in her mouth, that she could then get the sores in her mouth. At least, that's my guess. Does anyone know if that can happen?

Emma's grandmother stated that AY has herpes as well:

“The girls are currently living with their grandmother in Brenham. She testified Wednesday that she knew her daughter had the same STD that was later found in Emma's system.” http://www.click2houston.com/news/20222590/detail.html

--------------------
If CPS knew that AY had it, then when she told them that she had no boyfriend, no other adults (other than family and day care) had access to Emma, and no other adult was living with them, they gave her the benefit of doubt - that Emma got it from her.

“Throughout the investigation, Ms. Young denied that anyone other than her and her husband and the day care (center) had access to her children,” Olguin said. “She denied seeing anybody else or having a boyfriend.” http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6555444.html

Does any of this make sense? Or, am I being dilusional? LOL!

 

[CuriousTwo]

I was referencing all the times Coe violated probation and continued to abuse his children and his former gf's children and each time, 7 violations, the judge & probation officials let him go. The link I gave to the Houston Chronicle relates some of his offenses.

Reminds me of drunk drivers who have double-digit DUI convictions, still have their driver's license, and are still driving drunk and endangering lives.

Laws and sentences definitely need to be strengthened.

 

[CuriousTwo]

I hope it's okay that I post this. If not, please delete, Mods. I checked the "Rules" thread and didn't see a reference to this.

“ …it is a matter of time before this will be picked up by national media. There is a powerful group on the east coast that is currently working to get Nancy Grace (CNN) to "pick up" on this story. This takes time but they won't give up on Nancy Grace. If that happens, look out!!! Also, it appears there are various groups in Houston that are going to band together (because of this horrific crime) and seek JUSTICE for Precious Little Emma - be little Emma's voice! There is power in numbers. We all need to stick together and seek Justice for Emma! The more exposure this gets; the better it is. It will bring awareness to child abuse and this just does not happen in low income homes ..." [snipped]

http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/53085887.html

Would be very interesting if Nancy and/or CNN picked up this case.

=====================================

I believe they're 11 and 5 (will have to verify that). LE was trying to severely limit AY's access to the children due to the fact that the children are witnesses to the abuse/crime.

Correction:

“State District Judge Judy Warne directed Children's Protective Services to retrieve the girls, ages 6 and 11, and deliver them to the paternal grandparents. The father of the slain girl, Emma Thompson, and the surviving 6-year-old also lives there. The 11-year-old has a different father.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6553916.html

 

[GeorgieFayne]

If CPS knew that AY had it, then when she told them that she had no boyfriend, no other adults (other than family and day care), and no other adult was living with them, they gave her the benefit of double - that Emma got it from her.

“Throughout the investigation, Ms. Young denied that anyone other than her and her husband and the day care (center) had access to her children,” Olguin said. “She denied seeing anybody else or having a boyfriend.” http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6555444.html

Does any of this make sense? Or, am I being dilusional? LOL!

No, you make sense, CuriousTwo. I guess this all happened in such a short time frame and I don't really know much about the medical issues involved. It's all just so hard hard to believe...and heartbreaking.

 

[believe09]

The toilet seat story was told by AY to her husband when he questioned how Emma could have gotten it:

“Thompson said his wife told him that the type of herpes their daughter contracted had started out as a “childhood” version and had somehow developed into the sexual disease adults contract. He also said his wife told him that their daughter could have contracted the disease from a toilet seat.” http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/breaking/6551978.html

Is it possible that if Emma had open genital sores, touched herself (as all children do) and then put her hands in her mouth, that she could then get the sores in her mouth. At least, that's my guess. Does anyone know if that can happen?

Emma's grandmother stated that AY has herpes as well:

“The girls are currently living with their grandmother in Brenham. She testified Wednesday that she knew her daughter had the same STD that was later found in Emma's system.” http://www.click2houston.com/news/20222590/detail.html

--------------------
If CPS knew that AY had it, then when she told them that she had no boyfriend, no other adults (other than family and day care) had access to Emma, and no other adult was living with them, they gave her the benefit of doubt - that Emma got it from her.

“Throughout the investigation, Ms. Young denied that anyone other than her and her husband and the day care (center) had access to her children,” Olguin said. “She denied seeing anybody else or having a boyfriend.” http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6555444.html

Does any of this make sense? Or, am I being dilusional? LOL!

Transmission is caused by close oral, anal, or genital contact, including intercourse, masturbation, kissing, or any direct skin-to-skin contact which allows for the transfer of bodily fluids.
A person is considered contagious when prodromal symptoms, active sores, and healing lesions are present.
Herpes is potentially contagious when no symptoms are present. That is, a person who has genital herpes is potentially always shedding active virus.
Approximately 1 in 6 members of the general infected population is thought to shed active virus occasionally without symptoms.
Some people do not get typical blister-like sores but harbor active virus in their saliva, vaginal, or penile secretions, and can shed the virus without knowing they have herpes.

http://www.herpes.com/genitalinfo.shtml

Herpes can be killed by soap and water. And how is someone sitting on a toilet seat in such a way that their genitals are touching the seat unless they have an anal infection??? Sorry to be so graphic.

 

[Boyz_Mum]

I was referencing all the times Coe violated probation and continued to abuse his children and his former gf's children and each time, 7 violations, the judge & probation officials let him go. The link I gave to the Houston Chronicle relates some of his offenses.

I understand what you were typing about, that's why I said I wasn't trying to seem argumentive. :blowkiss: I am frustrated with parents (first and foremost) and then I get bothered by "the system" in place. None of my frustration was meant to be directed at/toward you.

I am very angry at the women who have covered for Coe. Personally, I wish that someone, anyone would have put a bullet in his head vs giving him the chance to hurt their children. I apologize if my opinion of Coe and the women who love him bothers anyone.

 

[fhc]

Doesn't bother me, BoyzMom. Coe even sexually abused his own daughter with the same name and the same age.

 

[Boyz_Mum]

Doesn't bother me, BoyzMom. Coe even sexually abused his own daughter with the same name and the same age.

Makes me wish he'd run into a little vigilante justice while he's in jail waiting for his day in court. :furious:

 

[fhc]

Yes that is long overdue.

 

[CuriousTwo]

Man Charged In 4-year-old's Death Has Long Criminal History
One of the two suspects arrested in connection with the death of a 4-year old girl is no stranger to jail or courtrooms. [snipped]

Complete article here:
http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/53736867.html