Father of Hypothermia Victim, 11, Charged With Murder

Fox News.com ^ | 12/30/2008 | Fox News

[autumnraine]

TWIN FALLS, Idaho — The father of an 11-year-old girl who died, likely of hypothermia, after trying to walk 10 miles in the snow on Christmas Day has been charged with second-degree murder and felony injury to a child.

Robert Aragon, 55, of Jerome, made an initial appearance Monday in 5th District Court, where Judge Mark Ingram appointed a public defender for him. The judge denied Aragon's request to lower his $500,000 bond. He was being held in the Blaine County Jail.

Aragon was emotional during the short hearing. He banged his head on the defendant's table as Ingram read the charges against him, The Times-News reported. After Ingram noted that second-degree murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, Aragon said "Oh my God" as he banged his head on the table one final time.

[autumnraine]

Apparently the truck got caught in the snow and he sent the kids on to walk the 10 miles left to their mother's house. The boy was found in a rest area, but the girl died in the snow.

I'm torn at the stupidity but also realize this man will never live this down in his own mind.

[krb]

The boy was found in a rest area, but the girl died in the snow.

Maybe the boy should be charged too.

[ClearCase_guy]

My understanding is that there were two adults present, and two children. The car got stuck, the kids were sent to walk 10 miles in the snow to some place where they could get shelter. The two adults stayed in what shelter was available (the car) and when they got the car unstuck, they drove the car in the opposite direction seeking shelter.

More than manslaughter -- that's murder.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

I agree that this is stupidity, but I don't see what is gained by charging this father with second degree murder. He didn't want to kill his daughter. He is obviously devastated by it. He made a very stupid decision to let them walk but the murder charge seems over the top.

[AU72]

He violated countless rules of survival and commonsense. It’s not criminal but he will pay for his stupidity for the rest of his life.

[1rudeboy]

Maybe the boy should be charged too.

With what do you plan to charge him? And he's twelve.

[cripplecreek]

I was reading about this last night. There’s something very wrong with this whole family. They all seem oblivious to each other.

Dad leaves the kids to their fate. Mom says dad has been punished enough and the brother doesn’t seem to know when he and his sister got seperated.

For all of our fighting when I was a kid, my sisters and I would never leave the other along side the road. Period.

[nuconvert]

I’d like to know his IQ

[1rudeboy]

He didn't want to kill his daughter.

That's why it's second-degree. No "intent" necessary.

[krb]

I know, I was kidding.

[netmilsmom]

Because someone this stupid should not be left in society to lay his stupid on others.

[SamAdams76]

I'm an experienced hiker and keep in good shape. A 10-15 mile walk hike is not much of a problem for my 46-year-old body and I still make those hikes on a regular basis. However, with snow on the ground, all bets are off. My area received about a foot of snow a few weeks ago and just walking around in it for about a half hour in the woods behind my house with the dog kicked my butt. I cannot imagine anybody walking more than a mile in that stuff without snowshoes. And even with snowshoes, a 10-mile hike in deep snow is challenging for all but the top athletes.

I just cannnot imagine a father doing this to his two youngsters. There's got to be more to the story than I read here. No parent can possibly be that stupid and irresponsible.

[3catsanadog]

It was stupid and negligent all the way around. No reason why he shouldn't have insisted the children stay in the truck till he and the other adult dug it out.

Then, after freeing the truck, it became criminal not to go look for his children and take them on to their mother's.

[WayneS]

I think alcohol must have been involved in this incident in some way.

[Finny]

... this man will never live this down in his own mind.

Maybe, but then again, this man could currently be a monster who fails to comprehend the awfulness of his act, who sees himself as the victim of unlucky circumstances rather than the cause of his daughter's death. It's all about him.

If that is so, perhaps God will have mercy on him and before this man dies in prison of old age or where ever he may be, he fully comprehends the badness of what he did. "Was blind, but now I see."

[E. Pluribus Unum]

He probably assumed that, since they’re Native American Indians, the kids knew how to take care of themselves in the wild.

[Lazamataz]

With what do you plan to charge him? And he's twelve.

Felony: Underage While Being Below The Age Of Consent, Aggravated.

[driftdiver]

“Dad leaves the kids to their fate. Mom says dad has been punished enough and the brother doesn’t seem to know when he and his sister got seperated.’

The brother had severe hypothermia and was not thinking correctly. He was taking his clothes off as is common in people freezing to death. Their body starts to feel warm in the last stages. He was very close to death.

[MeanWestTexan]

I would assume the boy became delerious.

[driftdiver]

More than that, he had a cell phone and didn’t call anyone to let them know. I’m guessing he was drunk.