Speaking of Parenting... Accident or Homicide?

badshotbob · 03-24-2005, 06:58 AM

The local news last night reported on a case where a 23 old father is under arrest for murdering his one year old daughter. Here's the story:

A 23 old man was getting his three kids ready to leave before work, giving his one year old daughter and three year old son a bath while trying to dress his five year old son. He stepped away from the tub into another room of the house to dress his five year old son leaving his other two kids in the bath tub. His three year old son came running in yelling that his sister wasn't moving. The man raced to the tub to find his daughter face down not breathing. 911 was called and the emergency crews were on the scene within minutes. EMTs found the girl with a slight pulse, but could not save her. Now the man is being charged with murder.

Here's another story involving a child's death, but with a sharp contrast.

Man Convicted of Murdering Five Week-Old Son

(3/23/05) "” A 28 year-old suburban Detroit man has been convicted of murder and child abuse for beating his 5 week-old son to death. A Macomb County Circuit Court jury convicted Jason Badgley of Clinton Township of second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse yesterday. Christian Badgley was beaten to death September 11th. Badgley faces up to life in prison when he's sentenced April 27th. The defense said Badgley snapped because of economic and personal pressures. Authorities say Badgley choked and hit his son, broke several ribs, and punched him in the head until part of his skull collapsed.

The first story has no murderer. An unfortunate accident involving a stupid father that got too busy getting his kids ready for school to use his brain perhaps, but not a murderer. The second story? Yeah, public hanging should be in his near future.

NCOutdoors · 03-24-2005, 07:09 AM

Ah man! I'm sure the father is absolutely distraught. I know I've been running around the house trying to get my kids ready for something and done stupid stuff. But I thought everyone knew about kids in the bathtub.

This reminds me of the father who is supposed to take the kid to daycare and forgets that the kid is in the back seat of the car and the kid suffocates in the heat. I once drove all the way to work before I realized I had forgotten to drop my daughter at pre-school. She was asleep in the back. It was November but it still . . . I know that is lame but it happens.

tardfarmer · 03-24-2005, 07:10 AM

Quote:

An unfortunate accident involving a stupid father that got too busy getting his kids ready for school to use his brain perhaps, but not a murderer.

I agree the first case is not murder and he shouldn't be charged with anything, but I would love to give the idiot a chewing out for being a moron, and perhaps a vasectomy with my Husqvarnaâ„¢ chainsaw to make sure his particular type of stupidity isn't carried on anymore.

NCOutdoors · 03-24-2005, 07:16 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: tardfarmer

Quote:

An unfortunate accident involving a stupid father that got too busy getting his kids ready for school to use his brain perhaps, but not a murderer.

I agree the first case is not murder and he shouldn't be charged with anything, but I would love to give the idiot a chewing out for being a moron, and perhaps a vasectomy with my Husqvarnaâ„¢ chainsaw to make sure his particular type of stupidity isn't carried on anymore.

Ouch . . .

bearklr · 03-24-2005, 08:03 AM

It's amazing how something can happen in one part of the country and that person gets charged for murder, then the EXACT same thing happens here and nothing. I agree, the first case should not be murder. A family around here had their child die the same way when the mother ran out for a minute to grab the phone and when she got back the child had slid out of his seat in the tub and drowned. I think it's really quite sad and feel terrible for those families that have to live through something like this.

Jimmy S · 03-24-2005, 08:38 AM

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but I would love to give the idiot a chewing out for being a moron, and perhaps a vasectomy with my Husqvarnaâ„¢ chainsaw to make sure his particular type of stupidity isn't carried on anymore.

..

A chewing out?? - Everyone agrees it was a horrible accident. The father will live with that for the rest of his life and probably never get a good night's sleep again. Maybe he deserves it, maybe he doesn't. How about a little compassion here?

Aught Six · 03-24-2005, 08:57 AM

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A chewing out?? - Everyone agrees it was a horrible accident. The father will live with that for the rest of his life and probably never get a good night's sleep again. Maybe he deserves it, maybe he doesn't. How about a little compassion here?

The first father should still face charges. Definitely not murder (based on what we've read here), but perhaps negligent homicide. I know the law varies from state to state, but I think manslaughter would be a bit much.

tardfarmer · 03-24-2005, 09:07 AM

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A chewing out?? - Everyone agrees it was a horrible accident.

A one year old can just about hold their own head up, and you think that leaving a kid that age alone in a tub of water isn't a sign of sheer stupidity?

Jimmy S · 03-24-2005, 09:07 AM

Aught...I agree but I do not think he should do time. The suffering he will get from the state will never match his own....Maybe the state can "chew him out?"

Aught Six · 03-24-2005, 09:15 AM

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Aught...I agree but I do not think he should do time. The suffering he will get from the state will never match his own....Maybe the state can "chew him out?"

But in the interest of justice, it is very important to punish those who break the law. We can assume he'll be tormented for the rest of his life, but we can only be sure he pays his debt by prosecuting him.

I'm not saying the guy needs to rot in jail. A felony conviction and several years of probation will get the job done.