A Toddler is Dead...
@zoey7879 (3092)
Quincy, Illinois
August 6, 2009 12:00am CST
I recently read this in a newspaper from a town that I used to live in.
Last weekend, a family was visiting relatives. During this visit, (we'll call them Family X), Mrs. X took several children out onto a nearby lake while Mr. X chopped wood and Grandma/Grandpa X left to visit a neighbor. Mrs. X left at least her child, age 13 months asleep on the boat while she took off on a jet ski. The article does not state the ages of the other children, how many of them were present, or what they were doing. When Mrs. X returned to the boat to discover the other children pointing to the now drowned toddler.
Everyone's wanting to place the blame with someone. Some local residents believe that BOTH parents and/or even the Grandparents should be held responsible for the neglect and manslaughter of this poor child. Who do you think should be charged, and what do you believe that they should charged with? If any of the children were over the age of 14 (the age to legally be left home alone and to babysit in that state) should they too be charged? Or do you believe that this was simply a mistake, as other local residents would claim? Please keep in mind again, I do not know how many other children were present or their ages.
2 people like this
9 responses
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
6 Aug 09
Hello there,
Leaving her toodler for jet-ski?What the xxxx,how can she enjoyed it and not being nervous what could happen in a snap.Granting that there were other children around,it's not acceptable as an escape for being irresponsible.A 13 month old baby should not be left with other kids too since it's too small to be taken care of with same kids.My goodness i can't imagine how can a mother do such thing.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
6 Aug 09
I would say that the grandparents are not responsible, because the parents were around so the grandparents weren't left in charge of the other kids. If a 14+ year old was appointed as a babysitter, then I guess at least some of the blame should be put on them. But if they weren't specifically supposed to be babysitting, then they shouldn't be at fault. Either way, the parents should be charged with neglect at the least, especially the mom since she's ultimately the one who was in charge of the kid at the time. Even if she did just pick a bad babysitter.
1 person likes this
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
7 Aug 09
I don't know any sane mother who would let a 13 month old alone on a boat for any reason. I wouldn't even do that if a teenager was present to watch the kid. The water is just too dangerous. It does seem like someone should be held accountable for this, but I'm not sure who. The mother definitely as she was ultimately responsible for the child's welfare. But perhaps, other adults if they allowed the situation to go on without intervening.
@zoey7879 (3092)
• Quincy, Illinois
7 Aug 09
The grandparents weren't present - they had left the premises and the father had begun chopping wood before the mother took the children to the lake.
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
6 Aug 09
Hi zoey7879! This is so sad! A child this age should never be left alone under any circumstances! I think both the parents and the grandparents should be charged, myself. This is just plain ignorance! I think they should be charged with negligence and manslaughter, myself. I guess the children should be charged, too, if they are over the age of 14. Children don't always think, though. Kathy.
@ashley1171 (109)
• United States
6 Aug 09
I disagree with you on the grandparents. The grandparents had other things to do. And obviously she is a mother of these kids so she should have the capability of taking care of them by herself. The grandparents are completely innocent in my opinion :)
1 person likes this
@ashley1171 (109)
• United States
6 Aug 09
I am so completely outraged by this. This is horrific. What mother leaves her 13 month old child alone on a boat?! I think it's the mother's fault. She should NOT have gone jet skiing. That was completely irresponsible on her behalf. I think she should have full blame! Yes, the kids should have been watching too.
One question that bothers me is how did the 13 month old child get from the boat to the water?
Did the kids put him there? and why didn't the kids try and do anything
If the kids were under the age of being able to rescue a child then the mother should be charged even worse because you don't need to leave your child with other children that can't react to immediate danger.
This is outrageous!!
@vkondrad (47)
• United States
6 Aug 09
Wow... I have to say I don't watch/read the news for a reason and this is a heartbreaking story. Some people have told me that I am over protective of my daughter and watch her too closely (not sure there is such a thing). My daughter is 2 1/2 and I would NEVER leave her in a boat with other children who I was not 120% sure would watch her and make sure she stayed out of trouble... in fact I don't think I would leave her on a boat without me being there with her.
I personally think the Mother should be held responsible for neglect and manslaughter. That is just insane.
