GUILTY TX - Luis Valenzuela & Robin Palafos for starving 4yo girl, San Antonio, 2010

[kbl8201]

but she sure was getting food to herself wasnt she?

would it have killed her to slip them some food while he wasnt looking? no.......cause this is her doing just as much as it his

 

[WmHersey]

the fact that he wont even eat, when out with you, when no one is telling him he cant, says that not only are they refusing to feed him, they are traininng him not to eat. this kid needs serious therapy, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE call cps, the cops, the national guard....anyone

I agree, I was malnourished as a child and I always said no thank you when I was actually starving. I was taught it was impolite to accept things and that I didn't deserve anything. Still find it difficult to accept things and seem happier when I have nothing because it is a condition I am used to.

 

[Sheromom]

kbl8201 Have you reported your friend yet? I have to share an experience because I KNOW first hand how hard it can be to do so---and yet so necessary. I had a Phillipino friend who had a little girl four years old that went to preschool with my daughter. The two little girls just loved each other and the mother and I had such common goals for our girls that we became good friends as well. I loved the mother so much that we, at times, babysat for each other. Or just let our kids play together. She was married to a MUCH older man. I never asked why because I figured that was her own personal decision. I live in a Navy town. Unfortunately, it is common for women from the Phillipines to marry Navy men as an "in" to the US. At one point, my friend told me that there was 30 years between them. Not being judgemental- but I know that at my age, people 30 years younger than me are like kids to me. ANYWAY, a time came when my daughter that played with hers (4 YEARS later) told me (just in a 'by the way' sort of way) that she had seen the father hit the girls (there was also a girl two years younger) with a belt in the face!!!! I was astounded! When I asked my daughter why she hadn't told me before, she just said that her friend didn't want her to. I had a HORRIBLE situation on my hands. My first step was to confront the mom who admitted it was true. I DID battle on whether to concact CPS. That night while I was at work, my friend called me begging for help. She said her husband was "ironing" her!!!! She was shrieking in pain and wanted to move into my house. I immediately called the police. They went to the house and told me that all was calm. The next day, the mom begged me to keep my mouth shut. I just couldn't do that. I loved the mom but I loved the little children even more. I did contact CPS. They pretty much told her to leave the man or lose the children. So she left the man. But she hated me. HATED me!!!!! But our daughters remained good friends (still are and they are high school juniors!). She went through an awful time. No money except welfare; which wouldn't even pay for her to live alone with her kids. ANYWAY, a few years later, my friend returned to me. She is now with a man (who has custody of HIS two kids), married, and SO in love; her husband has not threatened her or her girls in any way, and she said to me: "I do have a good life now, because of you!" And she has two MORE beautiful daughters to love. How lucky is that?

Please........please, please, you absolutely MUST speak up.

And as for these people, remember the Bible retribution? The family got to throw the FIRST stone? Line me up for second stone, please!!!

 

[kbl8201]

kbl8201 Have you reported your friend yet? I have to share an experience because I KNOW first hand how hard it can be to do so---and yet so necessary. I had a Phillipino friend who had a little girl four years old that went to preschool with my daughter. The two little girls just loved each other and the mother and I had such common goals for our girls that we became good friends as well. I loved the mother so much that we, at times, babysat for each other. Or just let our kids play together. She was married to a MUCH older man. I never asked why because I figured that was her own personal decision. I live in a Navy town. Unfortunately, it is common for women from the Phillipines to marry Navy men as an "in" to the US. At one point, my friend told me that there was 30 years between them. Not being judgemental- but I know that at my age, people 30 years younger than me are like kids to me. ANYWAY, a time came when my daughter that played with hers (4 YEARS later) told me (just in a 'by the way' sort of way) that she had seen the father hit the girls (there was also a girl two years younger) with a belt in the face!!!! I was astounded! When I asked my daughter why she hadn't told me before, she just said that her friend didn't want her to. I had a HORRIBLE situation on my hands. My first step was to confront the mom who admitted it was true. I DID battle on whether to concact CPS. That night while I was at work, my friend called me begging for help. She said her husband was "ironing" her!!!! She was shrieking in pain and wanted to move into my house. I immediately called the police. They went to the house and told me that all was calm. The next day, the mom begged me to keep my mouth shut. I just couldn't do that. I loved the mom but I loved the little children even more. I did contact CPS. They pretty much told her to leave the man or lose the children. So she left the man. But she hated me. HATED me!!!!! But our daughters remained good friends (still are and they are high school juniors!). She went through an awful time. No money except welfare; which wouldn't even pay for her to live alone with her kids. ANYWAY, a few years later, my friend returned to me. She is now with a man (who has custody of HIS two kids), married, and SO in love; her husband has not threatened her or her girls in any way, and she said to me: "I do have a good life now, because of you!" And she has two MORE beautiful daughters to love. How lucky is that?

Please........please, please, you absolutely MUST speak up.

And as for these people, remember the Bible retribution? The family got to throw the FIRST stone? Line me up for second stone, please!!!

it wasnt me it was mgardner

 

[nervous_nellie]

http://www.woai.com/news/local/stor...ar-old-previously/j4b1SM7KKkO_3ua1wJza3Q.cspx


The 4-year-old's older sister is in state care and is described as healthy. She reportedly hoarded food in her pockets to feed her younger sister.


this is so sad ... just because the older girl hasnt been starved doesnt mean that she hasnt been emotionally and mentally abused! im so sick of these people doing this stuff to children! it seems that the laws were written during a time when this wasnt happening every day ... laws need to be much more harsh. it is just so hard to look at those two pigs and think how that poor little girl was starved ... i dont think this has anything to do with whose kid she is, this is abuse and it is the mothers fault, period - she ALLOWED it(if there is any truth to the story about the boyfriend). if she is nursed back to health i bet she will still be emotionally messed up for who knows how long, maybe forever .... grrrrrrrr

 

[LogicalMinds]

How disgusting..

looks like the so called "mom" had plenty to eat...too much in fact LOL

and of course we see the by now "usual" disclaimer that social services had been there various times...and done nothing

The Department of Family and Protective Services has looked into abuse allegations concerning this couple before. In 2007, there were accusations the little girl was smothered. In 2008, they received a referral alleging physical neglect of the girl's older sister, who is 8 years old. Then just last year, there were concerns that the younger child was "dirty", "filthy", and "skinny". But all three cases were closed. CPS says they weren't able to find any evidence of abuse after interviewing doctors, teachers, and others who knew the family.

 

[Sheromom]

it wasnt me it was mgardner

Oops.......sorry! That's what happens when you post after working an eleven hour shift! LOL

 

[kbl8201]

Oops.......sorry! That's what happens when you post after working an eleven hour shift! LOL

lol i hear ya

 

[Texas Mist]

By Craig Kapitan
[email protected]
Published: 12:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A San Antonio man was sentenced to 40 years in prison Tuesday for the severe starvation of a 4-year-old whose sole meal each day usually consisted of Cheerios.

Luis Valenzuela, 27, and fiancee Robin Palafos, 24, were arrested in February after they brought the child to a clinic for vaccinations. The girl weighed 23 pounds at that time, authorities said.

Valenzuela pleaded no contest in November to injury to a child. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to ask for no more than 40 years in prison. His attorney sought deferred adjudication probation.

Family members told state District Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl that the defendant had been manipulated by Palafos, who is still awaiting trial.

more here - including Valenzuela saying that he should have "stepped in as a stepfather and done more”, and the little girl is developmentally delayed.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/lo...year-prison-term-for-starved-child-885666.php

 

[MorenoI]

How in the world can the mother and step dad be so "healthy" and this little girl was denied food?? So the reason she didn't feed her daughter was because she didn't want her bf to leave her?? What a sorry excuse, I hope she gets a much tougher sentence!