Toddler Left Home Alone Found Dead

The Stir ^ | 11-2-2011 | Julie Ryan Evans

[Mountain Bike Vomit Carnage]

Time and again the headlines are filled with stories of young children left home alone. Typically they're found fine, and we all fret about what could have happened. In Joplin, Missouri, however, it's what did happen that's heartbreaking.

According to The Joplin Globe, Eric Hicks, 28, was watching his girlfriend's 18-month-old son, Emjay Corn, Saturday morning. He had an appointment at a methadone clinic, but instead of taking the boy with him or finding alternative care for him, he just left him there, alone in his crib. Sometime later the boy was found dead.

The boy's cause of death is still under investigation, and Hicks has been charged with felony child endangerment. Other details are murky as to why police arrived at the house when there was no record of a call being made to them that day and where the mother was. But regardless of the specifics, on the surface, it's such a blatant and sad example of why young children should never be left home alone -- not for an hour, not even for a couple of minutes.

It's hard to find child care, I know. And for some who have to work to pay the rent or keep medical appointments, leaving the children alone may feel like the only option, perhaps especially so for someone coping with drug addiction. But it never can be. Even children who are sleeping or otherwise engaged can get into a dangerous situation in no time at all. People who don't understand that shouldn't be left in charge of them.

I feel for this entire family. I can only imagine their pain and suffering right now as they piece together what happened, contemplate what they could have done to prevent it, and beat themselves up for the rest of their lives over what they didn't do. But that's the thing when it comes to our children's safety -- we don't get do-overs, and that's why we have to put it first, above anything else.

[Mountain Bike Vomit Carnage]

[TexasFreeper2009]

not even for a couple of minutes?

lol

so much for sleeping !

or checking the mail, or heck even letting them watch TV while you cook.

They must be stared at 24/7 !

now having said all that, this guy is a creep and probably killed the baby for messing with his TV remote.

[teenyelliott]

I feel for this entire family. ..as they... contemplate what they could have done to prevent it,

Well, gee, I just wonder.

What kind of source is this???

[ozark hilljilly]

now having said all that, this guy is a creep and probably killed the baby for messing with his TV remote.

You and me both- that poor kid was dead before the dirtbag left for the clinic. Bet ya.

The most dangerous words to a child are: "Say Hi to mommy's new boyfriend!"

[Haiku Guy]

If you have bought any kind of opaque bin in the past few years, it will have this warning sticker inside:

Seems kind of obvious...

[Rightwingacademic]

What kind of mother leaves her 18-month old child with a boyfriend who has a drug habit? I just don't get it — so often, when we read of child abuse, it's by some guy the mother is hooking up with at the time. Don't they ever think of their children when they bring these low-lifes home?

[cuban leaf]

—Other details are murky as to why police arrived at the house when there was no record of a call being made to them that day and where the mother was.—

Murky? That’s an understatement.

[Responsibility2nd]

I feel for this entire family. I can only imagine their pain and suffering right now as they piece together what happened, contemplate what they could have done to prevent it, and beat themselves up for the rest of their lives over what they didn't do. But that's the thing when it comes to our children's safety -- we don't get do-overs, and that's why we have to put it first, above anything else.

 

 

Ohhh, I don't know. Mommy can always have another child. And find another meth addict boyfriend to watch it.

[WayneS]

His defense: But it worked out so WELL for that kid in the movies...

[cuban leaf]

I can’t get past the fact that the police found the baby even though there is no record of any police call.

Something is fishy here.

[jagusafr]

“Eric Hicks, 28, was watching his girlfriend’s 18-month-old son, Emjay Corn, Saturday morning. He had an appointment at a methadone clinic”

Holy crap. With that kind of mom, this kid never had a chance.

[WayneS]

What was he supposed to do?

“Take Your Child to the Methadone Clinic Day” was LAST week...

[umgud]

What kind of mother leaves her 18-month old child with a boyfriend who has a drug habit?

Do you really have to ask?

[dead]

What a goofy article this is!

She writes it like the sordid tale is some sort of parable to help teach other drug addict boyfriends some valuable baby sitting lessons.

[WayneS]

I just don’t know WHAT the baby’s mother could have done to prevent this...

...apart from NOT LEAVING HER CHILD IN THE CARE OF A HEROIN ADDICT...

[Responsibility2nd]

“Eric Hicks, 28, was watching his girlfriend’s 18-month-old son, Emjay Corn, Saturday morning. He had an appointment at a methadone clinic”

Holy crap. With that kind of mom NAME, this kid never had a chance.

[momtothree]

Any child can be left for a couple of minutes providing they are in a safe environment etc... An hour or so at 18 months is ludicrous. I agree with you... this child was probably deceased when the man left the house. So very sad that children can’t pick their parents (I know that sounds silly but one can wish)/

[Ouderkirk]

You know fully well that if he can ring the bell for her, he can do no wrong, at least for a while.

[fortheDeclaration]

Sounds like the writer is blaming the death on lack of child care!

[Shannon]

What kind of mother leaves her 18-month old child with a boyfriend who has a drug habit?

I agree with you but I bet a lot of people, including the mother, probably wouldn't. They'd look at his Methadone habit as "being in treatment" because it's legally dispensed. Legal or not, it's still one mighty drug addiction.