This is my first post. I've been following for several days now, trying to catch up on all six threads. I finally reached the end!!!
I have lots that I feel I need to add but it's going to have to be in pieces as I just don't have the time to get it all out at once.
I have a relative that was very close to the entire family and we have discussed this situation as nauseum. I feel I can offer some insight based on this second-hand information.
Also, just to quickly add, I grew up knowing AW's sister and used to be friends with her. (Distance and busy lives are to blame, nothing more). While it's been a long time since I've spoken with her, I used to speak with her almost daily after she had given birth to her 2nd (I think) child. Everything that I know of her would lead me to believe that, if Baby A is with her, and I think that to be the case, then that baby is being greatly loved and cared for. She and her husband are very kind, responsible, loving parents.
Secondly, it is my understand that P & A are NOT drug addicts. While there may have been some substance issues in the family, those two did not give people close to them a reason to believe that there was anything more than occasional marijuana use by P. A did have a valid, legal prescription, which I believe is what LE found. It's worthwhile to take note that NO drug possession charges were filed against them, despite it being reported that prescription medications and a small amount of marijuana were found in the home.
Finally, for now, some info on the septic tank. It was uncovered and accessible. It was considered a danger area. Noah was aware of the location of the septic tank and it was an off limits area. It is known that he knew because he would talk about it. I don't know when it became accessible (if work was done or other changes) but I know that my relative heard him talk about it directly. Noah was also liked the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I don't know if this is related, but the little boy was curious about the tank yet knew to stay away from it.
Also, it is my understanding that the septic tank was looked in BEFORE LE was ever called. In other words, the two interviewed by Orly Salinas were most likely NOT the first people to search for Noah inside that tank. If true, that would render all reports of bolts, lid on or off, etc., completely irrelevant.
Almost no information has been reports on what the parents did or didn't do. All we know for sure was that they left the kids at home during the trip to work and that a stop was made at a convenience store. Ironically, I haven't seen a single person suggest that it could have been medicine for the baby that they were stopping to get. I don't know what they bought. But when I first read that update, and that baby A was sick, that was my first thought.
It is also my understanding that the parents were actually very selective about who their children spent time with. While it is obvious that they excercised horribly poor judgement in leaving two young children unattended, it is my belief, based upon the personal information shared with me, that it was likely that they THOUGHT the children would be better left sleeping than to be woken and taken on the morning work trip. While I do not know if Noah was also suffering from the same cold, it seems reasonable to me that he was either coming down with, actively, or getting over the same cold or flu as the baby had. It also seems reasonable to think A may have also been under the weather, which could very well explain a 3 hour nap in the morning, if in fact that nap did occur!!!!
While I cannot claim to know what happened, I can say that there are people within circle of family / friends that are responsible, reasonable, sensible, and clear headed that can not imagine any situation where these parents either harmed their children or played any role of placing Noah in that tank.
Yes, I am aware of the charges and have read the code over and over and have read all sorts of other people's interpretations and ideas of the code. I know that these parents were absolutely neglectful in leaving their children at home, unattended and that they are being charged with felonies because of it. I also know that people can be deceiving and can surprise even their closest friends and family members. I realize that it is possible that what went on in their home could be very different than what they portrayed. However, that being said, I am close with my relative also and as such, I feel that this was a horrible, tragic accident. I do not believe that Noah's parents had any knowledge of him being in that tank beyond it being a place worth searching since they couldn't find their child and it was seemingly a known hazard.
Noah was a happy child and he did have a happy life. There were no outward signs of abuse or neglect to people close to him that loved him immensely. I realize that the charges brought against his parents paint a different picture. They left their kids home alone - which certainly qualifies as wreck less and neglectful. Noah lost his life, so that obviously qualifies and severe injury. But those charges don't mean that their parents didn't love them or many of the other terrible assumptions I've read on various mediums over the past month. I have never met them so I can't form any of my own opinions. I just hope that I've been able to offer some insight or answer some questions that some have had.
Any way you look at it, this is a heartbreakingly tragic situation. No matter what happened that day, it's horrible. We all hope that little boy didn't suffer. There really isn't anything we can do besides hold our children tight, love, cherish, protect, and appreciate them. Tragedy can strike in any instant and doesn't discriminate.
