Latest news with #YouthandFamilies
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
State of NH settles wrongful death lawsuit with Elijah Lewis' father
The state of New Hampshire has reached a settlement with the family of Elijah Lewis Lewis was killed by his mother and found dead in a Massachusetts park in 2021. The boy's father filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the state, alleging that DCFY failed to act when the boy's safety was called into question. Timothy Lewis claimed in the lawsuit that New Hampshire's Division for Children, Youth and Families was negligent and failed to keep his son safe while the boy lived with his mother, Dauphinais. The settlement reached is worth 2.25 million dollars, the same amount that the Granite State settled with the mother of Harmony Montgomery. Under the terms of the settlement, the state doesn't have to admit any wrongdoing or unlawful conduct. Elijah Lewis' mother pleaded guilty and is serving more than 50 years to life in prison. Crews searched for the boy before finding his body several miles away in a shallow grave in a state park in Abington, Massachusetts. His death was ruled a homicide. Crews searched for the boy before finding his body several miles away in a shallow grave in a state park in Abington, Massachusetts. His death was ruled a homicide. An autopsy later determined the boy died of 'violence and neglect, including facial and scalp injuries, acute fentanyl intoxication, malnourishment and pressure ulcers.' Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman was killed in random Puyallup robbery. Now 2 teens have been sentenced
Two teenagers accused of being involved in the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old woman in Puyallup during an apparently random robbery have pleaded guilty and were sentenced to about seven years and nine years in state custody. Ethan Quinn Byron Nordgren and Noah Maurice Loyd-Branch, both 19, each pleaded guilty May 15 to first-degree manslaughter for the Feb. 25, 2024 killing of Gianna Stone. Loyd-Branch additionally pleaded guilty to second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Nordgren was suspected of driving Loyd-Branch and a third defendant, Dae'Meion Carmello Purdy, to and from Sam Peach Park where Stone was killed. Stone was with other people in a BMW at the park when the defendants walked up to the vehicle and pulled out handguns, according to charging documents. They demanded the group's property, and as the driver drove off, shots were fired. Court documents described Loyd-Branch and Purdy as the ones who fired the gunshots. One bullet went through the back of the BMW and struck Stone in the head. Purdy's case remains pending with a next court date in July. Stone's mother spoke during the defendants' sentencing hearing May 15 in Pierce County Superior Court. KING 5 reported that the mother said the defendants were her definition of 'pure evil.' Judge Joseph Evans handed down the defendants' punishments. Nordgren received a mid-range sentence of 7 years, eight months. Loyd-Branch's sentence was at the high end of the standard sentencing range, nine years, six months. According to court records, neither had prior criminal convictions. According to court records, the defendants will serve their time in juvenile rehabilitation in the custody of the Department of Children, Youth and Families. If they remain there at age 25, they would transfer to the Department of Corrections. Man accused of killing friend in car in Pierce County sentenced to prison A 21-year man suspected of fatally shooting his friend in a vehicle in Parkland pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced Friday to five years in prison. Julian Lafayette Hart Padilla pleaded guilty to the May 21, 2022 homicide of An'Jai Whitted, 21. According to court records, the victim was shot while in a vehicle outside an apartment complex in the 11300 block of 10th Avenue Court East. In a victim-impact statement submitted to the court, Whitted's mother said Hart Padilla taking her son's life was the beginning of the darkest time of her life. 'In one senseless moment, you shattered everything,' the mother wrote. 'His absence is a daily ache that no words can fully express. I wake up every day to a world that no longer feels whole, haunted by the silence where his laughter and smile used to be.' Whitted was driven to St. Clare's Hospital in a private vehicle after the shooting. According to court documents, he underwent surgery there and died from his injuries. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office determined he died of a gunshot wound to the back. At the hospital, deputies spoke to a friend of Whitted who reported he, Whitted and their friends were hanging out in an apartment when Whitted decided to leave. The friend said he fell asleep and woke up to someone saying Whitted had been shot. Detectives found a single expended shell casing in a Chevy Camaro in which the victim was shot. They determined Whitted was sitting in the front passenger seat. A Glock and a Tokarev semiautomatic pistol were found in the car, and detectives alleged the Tokarev belonged to Hart Padilla after finding photos of him with the gun on social media. Judge Susan Adams sentenced Hart Padilla, giving him a punishment at the middle of the standard sentencing range. According to court records, the defendant had no prior criminal convictions.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Revolting item monster mother and grandmother forced 12-year-old girl to eat while chained to bed
A Pennsylvania 12-year-old was chained to a bed and forced to eat cat food by her despicable mother and grandmother, police say. Amanda Lynn Gregorio, 35, and Stacey Ann Louder, 52, both of Exeter, have been accused severely neglecting and beating the defenseless girl they were supposed to be caring for. An investigation into the gut-wrenching abuse finally began in September 2024 after the child was rushed to the hospital with uncontrollable seizures. Gregorio allegedly admitted to drugging her daughter with 50 mg of Benadryl and 60 mg of melatonin prior to the medical emergency. Meanwhile, doctors noticed the child's malnourished body was covered in cuts, bruises and scars from being tethered, prompting them to raise an alarm to police. Visibly battered and shaken - weighing just 50 pounds at the time - the girl was placed into the custody of Luzerne County Children, Youth and Families, a child safety organization. When investigators spoke with the young victim, she revealed the shocking punishments and inhumane circumstances she suffered through at the hands of her mother and grandmother. She explained the women retrained her to her bed - forcing her to relieve herself there when she had to use the bathroom, according to reports obtained by The Citizens' Voice. A witness reportedly told police the child was chained to her mattress like 'Jesus on the cross' inside their home at the Birchwood Estates mobile home park. Security camera watched over the terrified child to ensure she had not escaped from her confinement, investigators said. 'The abuse of this child offends the sense of decency of every mother, grandmother, and otherwise respectable person imaginable,' Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said. 'Once again, the very people to whom this child would look to keep her safe, were her assailants.' Another person familiar with the alleged inhumane living situation said Gregorio confessed to force-feeding her daughter cat food over the phone. The mother also claimed she did not want to tie down her daughter, by Louder forced her to, according to police. As the accused child abusers' facades continued to unravel, police learned of many other instances of the girl being injured over the years. In 2023 Gregorio allegedly bashed her daughter's head with a broom - causing a large bump and gash. Instead of seeking medical attention, Louder poured super glue over the wound, The Citizens' Voice reported. She showed up to school around the same time with a black-and-blue eye. She allegedly lied and told her teachers she got hurt by walking into a wall. Shortly after that, she was pulled from in-person classes and started going to school fully online. But the pain and fear the girl suffered dates back several years, WNEP reported. Her medical records reveal that she has been rushed to the emergency room with broken bones and fractures multiple times since 2017. After seven months of investigating the child's safety, Gregorio and Louder were arrested on Monday night. They were both charged with aggravated assault of a victim less than 13, conspiracy, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and tampering with evidence. Both women were locked up at Luzerne County Correctional Facility with bails set at $125,000. They are due in court on May 6. 'It is difficult to imagine the sense of hopelessness abused children in these situations must feel,' Sanguedolce said. 'We will seek the maximum penalties permitted by law in the hope of sending the message that this behavior deserves fierce punishment.'
CBC
09-04-2025
- General
- CBC
Indigenous child welfare is a part of my family and is shaping my vote
This First Person column is the experience of Jolene Saulis Dione, who grew up in New Brunswick and now lives in Ottawa. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ. Motherhood holds many wonders, but perhaps one of the greatest is having deep, meaningful conversations with all children. These aren't the everyday chats that involve them calling me "bruh," but rather the moments when they set aside their phones and gaming consoles to truly connect. Over the past year, my 12-year-old, in particular, has developed a keen interest in social sciences, history and politics. This has led to profound discussions and complex questions that challenge me to provide thoughtful answers — though she still manages to roll her eyes when I suggest she read a book instead of watching TikToks. On a recent car ride home from school, we talked about the upcoming election and what it could mean for Indigenous peoples particularly children. Gwen asked, 'What about all the Indigenous children still in foster care, Mom? Why aren't governments doing more to protect them and ensure they're cared for?' It hit close to home. Our family holds deep roots in Tobique First Nation and Kahnawà:ke (my husband's community) — a source of immense pride that also comes with the responsibility of being honest with my daughter about Canada's dark history and its lasting impact on Indigenous peoples. My father, Mac Saulis, went to an Indian Day school, where he endured both physical and emotional abuse. My grandparents, too, were compelled to attend day schools. My father went on to work in social work for nearly 35 years, first on reserve and later as a professor. He played a key role in Indigenizing social work programs, incorporating traditional knowledge, values, practices and healing methods into the curriculum. Even closer to home, I have two First Nations adopted brothers who were part of the foster care system, and their remarkable stories of overcoming trauma inspire me every day. Professionally, I spent seven years working as a public servant to support positive reforms in Indigenous child welfare. A highlight of my career was contributing to the development of C-92: The Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Children, Youth and Families, which empowers Indigenous communities to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services. Despite these efforts, I know that Indigenous children remain disproportionately represented in the system. According to the 2021 census, while Indigenous children make up only 7.7 per cent of the child population, they account for 53.8 per cent of children in foster care. Despite efforts to progress forward there is still more work to be done to reduce the number of children in care. The focus needs to fully shift from a failing non-Indigenous system to supporting Indigenous families to keep children with them and their communities. For me, voting isn't just casting a ballot. It's also a way to honour the resilience of those who came before us, including my own ancestors, who faced systemic barriers and discrimination. Many people don't realize that before 1960, First Nations peoples in Canada could only vote federally if they gave up their Indian status through enfranchisement. This granted them citizenship rights but stripped them of their Indigenous identity — one of many examples of systemic discrimination. Which brings me back to my daughter's words during that powerful conversation, which simply captured how I believe we should approach this issue: "We need to think with our head and lead with our heart." When I was her age, I dreamed of studying political science, pursuing law and one day becoming prime minister. But as I grew, I realized that my true calling was to be a mom — a role that shapes not just my life, but the way I vote. Voting, to me, is about advocating for the most vulnerable and striving to create a better world for future generations. As I prepare to cast my vote in this election, I'll be listening to what politicians have to say about the care of Indigenous children on and off reserve. Because for me, voting isn't just about policies — it's about people. It's about ensuring a better future for the next generation. And while I know she'll still call me "bruh" when I remind her to clean her room, I also know these conversations are shaping my daughter into someone who will one day change the world — messy room and all.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Will making clergy mandated reporters curb child abuse? It doesn't have a prayer
(Photo by Getty Images) Late last year, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families said it had made a startling change to its training for mandatory reporters of child abuse. They said they've changed their training to emphasize that reporters should stop confusing poverty with 'neglect.' Substantively, this will change little, since professionals still will be afraid not to report anything and everything. But the statement is a tacit admission of what research has shown about laws put in place decades ago with no studies to see if they would work: Mandatory reporting backfires. It drives families away from seeking help, and overloads the system with false reports, making it harder to find the relatively few children in real danger. Many one-time proponents have had second thoughts. But instead of heeding the research and replacing mandatory reporting with permissive reporting, in which professionals are free to exercise their professional judgment, many Washington state lawmakers want to careen full-speed backward. They want to expand mandatory reporting even further, to one of the few fields where it doesn't apply now: the clergy, including anything heard in confession. Legislation to do this has passed the state Senate and emerged from committee in the House. But that, too, would backfire. The reason expanding mandatory reporting to clergy has support in some quarters is obvious: What comes to mind when you hear the words clergy and child abuse? Likely, the sprawling sexual abuse scandal and cover-up within the Catholic Church. But with expanded mandatory reporting, pedophile priests either will stop confessing or go to a church where their voices won't be recognized. It can also harm survivors, who sometimes first disclose their abuse in confession. 'The Seal offers victims a safe, secure and watertight place where they can be listened to without cost, where they can remain anonymous, and can decide what they're ready, and not ready, to share – and all of this in complete confidence,' said a spokesman for a group representing survivors of abuse in Australia, where there've been similar campaigns to end the exemption for the confessional.'The Confessional Seal as it presently stands literally saves lives and offers every abuse victim the chance to begin to heal.' Now consider some hypotheticals about others who might be affected. A mother is terrified. She's being beaten by her husband. But when she threatened to go to the police, he said: 'Go ahead, call the cops! They'll just call DCYF, and they'll take away the kids.' She turns to her priest/minister/rabbi/imam and says: 'Please help me to escape. Where can I turn to protect myself and my children?' The clergyman replies: 'I'm so sorry. I'm now a mandated reporter, and you may have allowed your child to 'witness domestic violence' if he saw or heard you being beaten. So I have to call DCYF.' A single mother enters the confessional: 'Forgive me, father, for I have sinned,' she says. She says she's guilt-ridden for having left her child home alone when she went to work and her regular child care arrangement fell through. She didn't know what else to do. Her boss said he'd fire her if she didn't show up; then she wouldn't be able to afford the rent and the family would be evicted. After the priest prescribes the appropriate acts of contrition, the mother asks a question: Might the priest know someone in the congregation who could volunteer to provide child care if this ever happened again? 'As a matter of fact, I do,' the priest replies. 'But it's too late to do only that. You see, I am now a mandated reporter of child abuse. What you did can be considered 'lack of supervision.' So I have to report you to DCYF.' The fact that the current Washington state bill doesn't require priests to say who confessed changes none of this. As it stands now, clergy are among the only helpers to whom impoverished families can turn with less fear that they will be turned in to DCYF. Once the word gets around that even the confessional isn't safe, you can bet that parents like those in the hypotheticals above won't come forward and ask for help. Children at risk from pedophile clergy won't get any safer, and children whose families' 'crime' is poverty will be cut off from a potential source of support. Of course, it's not a crime for lawmakers to rush into endorsing bad policy that doesn't have a prayer of stopping actual child abuse because it sounds good in a press release. But it sure seems like a sin.
