Son: Starving Brother Ate With Us

CBS News Online ^ | 11/12/03 | CBS News

[NYC Republican]

Last month, Bruce Jackson, a 45-pound, 19-year-old boy, was found eating food out of a garbage can in New Jersey. Jackson and his three adopted brothers, whose ages range from 9 to 19, weighed 136 pounds collectively.

Local authorities allege that the boys' parents, Vanessa and Raymond Jackson, were starving their four adopted sons.

The Jacksons' biological children tell Correspondent Dan Rather that the allegations brought against their parents are false, in an exclusive interview on 60 Minutes II, Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Although Vanessa and Raymond Jackson agreed to tell their story to 60 Minutes II, they changed their minds after a lawyer advised them to cancel the interview.

They did, however, meet briefly with Rather in New Jersey. "I miss my kids a lot," Vanessa Jackson told Rather. Her husband, Raymond Jackson, added: "...We want our children back."

The Jacksons' biological children were also advised not to talk to 60 Minutes II, but decided to talk to Rather since their parents couldn't. The Jacksons' biological son, Raymond, tells Rather that the he knows from firsthand knowledge that his foster brothers were not being starved.

"Well, I mean [Bruce] would eat normally the same things we would eat," says Raymond Jackson. "We would eat together. I mean, we would have, like, the same meals: we'd eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and stuff together."

One of the Jacksons' biological daughters also tells Rather that she is sure her adopted brothers were not being starved. "...I would make huge pots of, like, beans and rice with, like, meat and casseroles," says Renee Jackson. "I love Italian food, so we would always have Italian dishes and Asian-influenced dishes and I even remember, like, Bruce would be the one sitting next to me eating that, and he told me how much he even loved my casseroles, my tuna casseroles."

Le Rae Jackson, another biological child, says Bruce and the other boys suffered from a complex eating disorder that caused him to eat garbage and chew wallboard. She tells Rather why her parents put an alarm, not a lock, on the family's refrigerator at night.

"...[Bruce] would come down and, like, gorge on all of the food," says Le Rae Jackson. "Usually, when something extreme happens, he'll probably go and do it. Like recently our dog died and it probably upset him, so it's probably something from his past. Like every time he would [gorge on food], probably something bad happened...'cause I know he used to go through the trash before he even came with us."

Despite Bruce's problems, Vernee Jackson says her parents cared for him. "A lot of people said, 'Get rid of him, he's not worth it,'" says Vernee Jackson. "...My parents just stuck with him 'cause they said, 'If no one will take him, we will. If no one else is gonna love this boy, we will. If no one else is gonna give this boy a home and shelter for his head, we will.'"

But that home and shelter were used not to give love, but to hide suffering, according to child advocate Kevin Ryan: "...These were boys, really, on the verge of very serious medical problems....If it weren't for the Collingswood Police Department…responding to that neighbor's call, I think it's very likely that some of these children would have perished."

Rather asks, "Has Bruce said why he was out rummaging around garbage cans?"

Ryan responds: "He was hungry." Ryan tells Rather that although Bruce and two of his brothers haven't been released from the hospital, they are gaining weight. "Today [Bruce] weighs almost 65 pounds," says Ryan. "His other brothers have gained: 16 pounds, and 14 pounds and 9 pounds, respectively....And all that's going on there, Dan, is they're being fed. No steroids, no medicine, no other special medical intervention. They're just being fed for the first time in a very long time."

[NYC Republican]

Does they think that ANYONE will really buy their lies? The whole family should be ashamed at their disgraceful behavior. Collecting money from the state, then starving these poor kids... How much can it possibly cost to feed the kids anyway? If these fat slobs would have just had 8 daily square meals instead 12, they could have fed the others. DISGRACE!

[Cinnamon Girl]

Those sick, fat, JERKS. They need to eat garbage in prison.

[EggsAckley]

These folks don't look like THEY have missed any meals.

[NYC Republican]

Le Rae Jackson, another biological child, says Bruce and the other boys suffered from a complex eating disorder that caused him to eat garbage and chew wallboard. She tells Rather why her parents put an alarm, not a lock, on the family's refrigerator at night.

If this is even remotely true, wouldn't you think they would have been seen, and diagnosed, by a doctor? Where's the proof that he does in fact have this eating disorder?

This lie was shot down with the fact that the boys are all gaining weight very rapidly.

One more question the media are afraid to ask... Is it possible that all 4 kids have the same exact eating disorder? They aren't even all biological brothers. What are the odds? Think about it.

They are disgusting excuses for human beings.

[new cruelty]

Ryan responds: "He was hungry." Ryan tells Rather that although Bruce and two of his brothers haven't been released from the hospital, they are gaining weight. "Today [Bruce] weighs almost 65 pounds," says Ryan. "His other brothers have gained: 16 pounds, and 14 pounds and 9 pounds, respectively....And all that's going on there, Dan, is they're being fed. No steroids, no medicine, no other special medical intervention. They're just being fed for the first time in a very long time."

Given that Bruce and his two brothers are gaining weight just by being fed and not through the use of steroids or medicine, I am puzzled as to how the family expects others to believe there was no wrong doing.

[KantianBurke]

One of the Jacksons' biological daughters also tells Rather that she is sure her adopted brothers were not being starved. "...I would make huge pots of, like, beans and rice with, like, meat and casseroles," says Renee Jackson. "I love Italian food, so we would always have Italian dishes and Asian-influenced dishes and I even remember, like, Bruce would be the one sitting next to me eating that, and he told me how much he even loved my casseroles, my tuna casseroles."

"Yeah, that's the ticket!"

[Kaslin]

Does they think that ANYONE will really buy their lies?

The liberals and left-wingers will.

[Arpege92]

From what I see in that picture, it doesn't look like this family has been starving themselves! In fact, it looks as if they could shed a few pounds.

[OldFriend]

LOLOL....Dan Rather who thinks a person can lie and still be honest. Perfect venue for these liars.

[Lijahsbubbe]

"...I would make huge pots of, like, beans and rice with, like, meat and casseroles,

[anniegetyourgun]

Thanks for pointing out the history of Dan "I can't recognize a liar 1 foot in front of me" Rather.

[FITZ]

Collecting money from the state,

More proof about the welfare system. I can't understand for the life of me why children would be adopted to a welfare family. For one kids need to see how important it is to work --- and a fat mother and father who lay around eating all day isn't any kind of example.

[Cicero]

I've just been reading Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby--or rather, listening to it on an MP3 player while I commute. This reminds me of the headmaster of Dotheboys Hall, Wackford Squeers, and his fat little son, Wackford Squeers, Jr. Little Wackford is stuffed, while all the little schoolboys are beaten and starved. Little Wackford would be happy to testify that his father treated the boys as they deserved.

[WackyKat]

Looks like they've been hitting the mashed potatos pretty hard, doesn't it?
Unless they get the Durst jury, they're going to jail for a long time.

[spectre]

"Does they think that ANYONE will really buy their lies? The whole family should be ashamed at their disgraceful behavior."

They took their children to CHURCH with them. Didn't ANYONE there notice something was wrong with these kids!!??

sw

[NYC Republican]

They took their children to CHURCH with them. Didn't ANYONE there notice something was wrong with these kids!!??

Exactly! Look at (my) post 4.

[Dianna]

Bruce would be the one sitting next to me eating that, and he told me how much he even loved my casseroles, my tuna casseroles."

Geez, if you're gonna lie, at least be believable. No one REALLY likes tuna casserole.

[MontanaBeth]

Can you imagine how horrible it would be for those poor kids, watching these heavy weights using both hands to get the food to their faces and then having to dig in trash cans to just stay alive. Didn't these kids go to school? How did they fall between the cracks? (no pun intended)

[finnman69]

they have a defense website up

www.savethejacksons.org

[finnman69]