Posted by
DawnDawn on Friday, February 13, 2009 10:12:17 PM
There are far too many stories being reported about children being abused and there are thousands more that never come to light. A 43 year old mother from West Virginia, Tammy Smith, was jailed for burning the word "wimp" into the neck of her six-year old daughter. The little girl had gone to school and the injuries were noticed by a teacher and the police were called. The child told the officers her mother burned her because she was clumsy and had tripped. She is now "safe" in foster care.
Last fall, in Maryland, a seven year old girl jumped from a second floor window to escape unrelenting abuse and savage beatings. The terror and despair she must have felt fueled her strong survival instincts and gave her the fortitude and courage to make that brave leap. She ran to a neighbor`s house to get help. She was wearing a bloodied nightie, had swollen lips and her entire body was bruised. She could not remember the last time she had eaten. Police were called and the girl`s adoptive mother, Renee Bowman, 43, was arrested for felony child abuse. She confessed to the police she had beaten the child with a hard-heeled shoe. Soon after, a gruesome discovery was made in the freezer in the basement of her home. The bodies of two little girls, between the ages of 5 and 7, were found in the freezer. It is assumed they are the remains of two of Bowman`s other adopted daughters who had not been seen for over two years and no doubt, were beaten to death at the hands of their adoptive, sadistic mother.
In Texas, an 18 year old "mother" and her "boyfriend" were arrested for the murder of her 13 month old baby girl. The little child had been beaten with a hammer and had over 20 bite marks on her body. The couple lied to authorities by saying the toddler inflicted the grave injuries to herself. They later admitted they had been attempting an exorcism to remove demons from the child.
In Florida, a utility worker stumbled upon a plastic garbage bag, tied in duct tape, which contained the remains of a very small child. They were positively identified as those of Caylee Anthony. She had been found with duct tape over her little mouth with a red heart sticker grotesquely displayed on the tape. Her mother, Casey Anthony, led authorities on a wild goose chase for over six months to the stunned amazement of us all. The toddler had been missing for six weeks before her disappearance was finally reported to authorities by her grandmother. Photos emerged of the "mother" dancing and partying in nightclubs without a care in the world. After her computer was seized, searches for words such a chloroform and "how to break a neck" were prominent. We can only assume what she did with her newly found knowledge.
There are so many unanswered questions and the one that comes most readily to mind is "Why"? It is an anathema for all of us who love children and life to wrap our minds around how others could inflict such grevious injuries, bodily harm and extreme psychological damage onto the smallest and most innocent among us. All life is precious and should be embraced. Those who assault, brutally harm or murder children should pay the ultimate cost in sterilization or death.
This Valentine`s Day weekend, please take a moment to reflect and pray for these children and for the countless other children who live a nightmare every day and are in jeopardy.