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Prosecutor: Boys in abuse case improving
Monday October 27, 2003
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) Three of the four boys allegedly starved by their adoptive parents have improved enough to take a trip to a local mall and attend a birthday party, but authorities were still trying to determine Monday how the case ``fell through the cracks'' even though a child welfare worker had often visited the home.

Meanwhile, the oldest boy remained hospitalized in a cardiac unit Monday while their parents Vanessa Jackson, 48, and Raymond Jackson, 50, remained in the Camden County Jail. The Collingswood couple were both charged with four counts of aggravated assault and 14 counts of child endangerment and were each being held on $100,000 bail.

Speaking Monday on ABC's ``Good Morning America,'' Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi said Bruce Jackson, 19, had gained eight pounds since he and the other boys were found Oct. 10. At that time, Jackson was 4 feet tall and weighed 45 pounds.

Authorities said the four, who are aged 19, 14, 10 and 9, were locked out of the family's kitchen and fed a diet of uncooked pancake batter, peanut butter and jelly and cereal. The boys, who told investigators that they also gnawed on wallboard and insulation for more nutrition, were found after a neighbor found Jackson rummaging through trash for food.

``This case apparently just fell through the cracks,'' Sarubbi said. ``I know that sounds simplistic, but it's still too early to tell (what happened). We're going through voluminous records and it's going to take time to go through this.''

Sarubbi said the three younger boys who were released into other foster placements after being briefly hospitalized were in ``fairly good condition'' and were adjusting to their new families. The 14-year-old weighed 40 pounds and stands 4 feet tall. The 10-and 9-year-olds also were dramatically underweight, according to the prosecutor's office, who said they had been adopted in 1996 and 1997.

Two adopted girls ages 5 and 12 also were living in the Jacksons' home. They were placed in foster care, along with the 10-year-old girl in the Jacksons' home pending adoption. The girls' physical condition ``appeared to be within normal range,'' the prosecutor said.

Meanwhile, state and county officials continued to investigate why a Division of Youth and Family Services case worker who visited the family as it tried to adopt the girl did not intervene in the boys case. That case worker has resigned, and eight other DYFS workers have been suspended with pay.