Infant Death or Murder-RIP Richard Flood
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Each night I try my very best to avoid the news because quite frankly it is not only depressing but basically becoming more and more political. Yes, this is the beginning of a new presidential election year but the fact remains there are other stories that need to be focused on more and heavily discussed to make a true difference.
Last night upon listening to the news I was drawn in by the story of a one year old boy being found unconscious by his stepfather and two hours later pronounced dead at the hospital. This baby didn’t have a voice yet and if he had no one around him listened, but simply turned the other cheek as they so frequently do in New York City.
Upon the police arriving at the scene they noticed the baby had a previous broken leg as he was wearing a cast, had bruises on his face and body and cigarette burn marks on his arms. The neighbors upon being questioned stated they heard a lot of commotion within the apartment, yet never reported it. Had they acted sooner they could’ve saved this little soul and given him a chance to be taken away from his parents and a chance to be alive today.
There was no mention of the mother within yesterdays news segment and upon buying the newspaper this morning I had to search and search for the article as Demi Moore’s seizure episode was front page news and the story on the baby, “Dead Infant had signs of Abuse: Cops,” was found on page 32 within the obituary section with no picture of the infant and again no mention of his mother.
As a parent I cannot comprehend how someone can possibly abuse a small child to the extent of murder and why no one got involved. This baby based on the police officers on the scene was obviously abused. The stepfather who was taken in for questioning said he found him in the middle of the living room floor unconscious and called for an ambulance. When the officers asked why the baby had a cut on his face the response was, “we were sleeping on the sofa and he fell off.” Red flags go up automatically when you see the evidence of abuse described within this article, and again the neighbors did nothing. Since I grew up in the City I know all too well how easy turning the other cheek as I have seen others do the same growing up, but that was my main reason for wanting a better place to bring up my child.
My heart truly aches for this little baby as if he was my own and the tears I shed for him last night upon hearing about his ordeal will forever haunt me. This baby didn’t deserve to be tormented as he was, and even though the autopsy results aren’t in yet I know he was murdered. The signs are evident and this little soul suffered needlessly in the hands of people that should’ve loved and cared for him. To think what his tiny little mind wondered makes me shiver. Since there was no one there to protect and love him as he should’ve been I can only find solace knowing he is now in a better place and finally feeling the love he should’ve had from the start.
Rest in peace little soul lost, I will always keep you in prayer.
Copyright © 2011~Susan B. Anna
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Thank you Ms. Campbell for your input. As a mother it hurts me more and more every time I read this piece and my heart just aches as I can only imagine the little life this child had since he undeniably suffered a lot in the hands of his caregivers. Whether the stepfather or mom is guilty I still have to find out more, but you are right, for the neighbors to remain quiet and not do anything in their power to help him have a better life. No one deserves this kind of torment or abuse. Thank you for sharing a bit of your ordeal as it needs to be heard from the victims perspective and this child will never have a voice, but will forever be remembered.
You're welcome. Everyone deserves to be heard even in the sight of all the pain and suffering, this fragile human being would've have a chance if someone chose to speak. At the end of the day, being an honorable voice would have sufficed. A life could have been here with us today, but today that's not permissible. I wish he were here today and he'll be in our thoughts and prayers. Also, thank you for letting me share my words.
I try to avoid the news too. It's hard for me to hear stories like this. To do this to a child is beyond heinous. That poor little baby. To think of all the good and loving people in this world who can't have a child (like me) but people like this keep on reproducing. It makes me sick. Hope this guy rots in prison. Rated up and THANKS FOR SHARING.
Thank you amymarie_5, and yes it is truly a shame that people less deserving of having children get to have them when there are many in this world who would just love the opportunity to be parents but can't. My sister can't conceive a child of her own either, and many children are brought up in terrible homes because no one attempts to speak up on their behalf.
These stories break my heart too. So many people out there (like my own brother and sister-in-law) who would give anything to have a baby, and people like these can have all the children they want. And then they abuse them. Sick, sick, sick!
I know children, especially babies and toddlers, can be frustrating at times but WALK AWAY if you've reached the breaking point. How hard is that? And if walking away isn't enough, seek help. HELP BEFORE HARM!
There is a special place in hell for people like this stepfather and mother. Prison life as a child abuser is only going to be a miniscule taste of eternity.
Horrible story, great hub. Voted up! :)
Thank you Kim Cantrell, and wonderful statement. "Prison life as a child abuser is only going to be a miniscule taste of eternity." Definitely counting on that.
I know the mother I to well and fir some odd reason by the way she's carrying herself I know she had to have something to do with it.I cryed knowing that I touched tooooo close to home.I wish I was there to do something our friendship has been over but if I would have forgiving her maybe he would be OK.may Jr rip.and may God have mercy on there hearts.
Thanks love for expressing yourself, and I am deeply sorry. Can't imagine how you must feel being so close and not being able to help as your comment truly portrays. Right now we can only say he's in a truly better place.
K Vivian Campbell 3 months ago
This is a truly touching piece. It breaks my heart. I believe the people involved were off-the hook for a long time overdue. How can the individuals within the community one lives in hear signs of abuse and forever hold their tongue? Your voice has so much power and yet you choose not to use it. If I were in that position, I would have spoken because I know what it's like to go through the good, the bad and the ugly even as a child; the good times often never out weigh the bad. That's just the way it goes, but even if I didn't know what it was like, I still would have raised my voice because it was mine. I have that choice and it is a birthright. I would be the voice for that little baby though I have no children of my own, I do am aware of what's ethical and immoral. What if that was your child, my unborn child, your sister, brother, cousin, then what would you do? The first signs of abuse will lead to a myriad of destructive events that'll transpire. Whatever happened to speaking up and helping one another; at one point in my life I needed help and I was that helpless soul with no one to turn to, but I was older than the infant; I was 12 years of age. Regardless of the matter it's not about me because I survived whatever I've been through and the kid hadn't a care in the world. The stepfather was abusive and the mother, I gather, had role in this. Although I am unaware of all the facts, the proof is in the pudding and an innocent life is gone. If the tables were turned I'd ask the Universe to take me because this child needs a place on earth. The sad story is he'll never have the chance. A chance taken, which is a life loss. There are so many things to be thankful for and we must be humble for our lives and a voice. But, what's the sense of having one if you're not going to use it for the good of mankind? Let's be real.