Dead Boys Alive in Trunk for 17 Hours

FOXNews.com ^ | 7/19/2005 | Associated Press

[AbeKrieger]

CAMDEN, N.J. — Three boys who suffocated in a car trunk last month were alive for at least 17 hours, slowly succumbing while police searched their neighborhood, a lawyer for the family of one of the boys says. Lawyer Peter M. Villari told The New York Times that officials of the Camden County prosecutor's office went over details of an autopsy report with him, the newspaper reported Tuesday. The boys, ages 5, 6 and 11, disappeared from the yard where they were playing a little after 5 p.m. on June 22. Their deaths were ruled accidental. Relatives searched for the boys for three hours and then called authorities. A two-day search that included dogs, helicopters and boats on the nearby Delaware River ended when the father of one of the boys found them dead in the trunk of an inoperable car sitting just feet from where they had been playing. The autopsy report, which has not been released publicly, found that the boys died between 10:30 a.m. on June 23 and 2:30 a.m. on June 24, Villari said. That estimate was based on fluid and tissue samples and weather data, he said. Villari told the newspaper that responsibility for the deaths is now "squarely on the shoulders of the police." "I think the numbers speak for themselves," he said. "They were certainly alive when the police arrived and certainly well after the search started." Villari did no immediately return a call seeking additional comment Tuesday. The prosecutors' office had no immediate comment.

[Cougar66]

There were bad thunderstorms that night and they say that might have drowned out the calls for help. Still, I don't see how they didn't hear them. The rain didn't last that long. The trunk should have been searched right away.

[linkinpunk]

The insurance policy for the police department will pay.

[new cruelty]

Cherry Hill, NJ (located in Camden County) will pay.

[layman]

Don't you think they bear some responsibility?

Only if the parents also bear some responsibility since they also searched for three hours. This was a tragic accident ... the insertion of a lawyer only makes it more tragic.

[new cruelty]

I wonder if the parents will also sue the car manufacturer for not making a child-proof trunk.

[ikka]

Was the immigration status of these folks ever confirmed?

[RushCrush]

...insurance policy for the police department we will pay.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Uh, since the police searched the car while the boys were alive in the trunk. And the police missed them. Don't you think they bear some responsibility?

Spoken like a true welfare queen.

[linkinpunk]

If the police officer failed to check his rear-view mirror and backed over the three boys, and killed them, would you still claim that he bears no responsibility?

[AbeKrieger]

And the police missed them. Don't you think they bear some responsibility?

So I guess what we're saying is if police do not check every possible lead, or shred of evidence, or possible hiding place, or nook and cranny, and some unfollowed path turns out to be the correct one, then they should be held criminally or financially negligent? I've seen many comments on this story where the "parent" says the children played in the trunk. 1) Are you kidding me? 2) Was this EVER mentioned in the presence of police before the bodies were found? If the cops did not have ALL the information, how could they be responsible?

[CheneyChick]

Villari told the newspaper that responsibility for the deaths is now "squarely on the shoulders of the police."

Otherwise, the responsibility would rest on his clients: the parents.

[linkinpunk]

The police should pay, insurance policy or not.

If a Microsoft security guard screwed up like this, would you feel the same?

Or are you just against this as a taxpayer?

[newfrpr04]

what about the OWNER of the inoperable car? where is his liability for allowing a nuisance /potential liability exposure tempting the children to crawl into vehicle. Where is the Parents personal responsibility if they searched that area why didn't they too check the car ? Lawyers are such maggots

[RushCrush]

I'm against my insurance rates going up.

[AbeKrieger]

If the police officer failed to check his rear-view mirror and backed over the three boys, and killed them, would you still claim that he bears no responsibility?

You sure you are coherent? How do you compare one to the other. Keep on rambling.

[Gunrunner2]

Perhaps. . .but why didn't the parents look there! They are the one's with the car on their property and much like a refrigerator in the back yard, best to look their first.

Parent share a huge blame on this.

And why didn't the dogs alert on the car?

Dogs are to blame as well.

[sandydipper]

Oh sure blame the police because you are stupid. This sucks and has $$$$ written all over and under it - just a POS!!

[linkinpunk]

If the cops did not have ALL the information, how could they be responsible?

"Sargent Jones, go search the car."

"I looked in the windows and everything looks fine. Can I get a dough nut now?"

If you told one of your officers to search the car, wouldn't you expect him to include the trunk?

Or would you say, "Ah, well. Close enough."

[linkinpunk]

One example is negligence.

The other one is negligence.

(try some intelligence next time)

[Thombo2]

"The person who left the trunk open or otherwise accessible to children...100% responsible."Good point.Who owned the vehicle?I recall from bus law that there's a law that applies to minors(esp young children)getting injured or killed due to a homeowners negligence.EX a pool w/out a fence or some barrier to deny access.Homeowner can be liable(civily and criminally)if a minor wanders into the pool and drowns.Wouldn't this apply as well?Cannot for the life of me remember the legal term.Any ideas?