Martha Toogood Is Sick Now

Various | Sep. 25, 2002 | Self

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Since the Martha Toogood's story is being dissected into the most minute details, here's one aspect not yet discussed:

- Martha gets a spanking from her mommy (some call it a savage beating). Whatever that was, it turns out that not one doctor, not even the prosecutor could find any sign of abuse such as bruises, cuts, broken bones, missing limbs or rigor mortis. In fact there are nude pictures apparently showing Martha as intact as ever.

- The state takes Martha under its own loving wing and... MARTHA IS SICK NOW!!! In fact, Martha is so sick, not even her mother can be allowed to see her.

Can anyone explain what's going on here? Is Martha better off with the authorities in charge? Or is she a victim of the authorities loving care. Perhaps too much love got Martha sick?

[blackdog]

I have seen plenty of such beaters in department stores, grocery stores, amusement parks, etc... The parenthood/childhood experience is not always a story book one. That's life. It is what neighbors are for. What cooked the mom in the eyes of the media was that it was not spontaneous. She made an attempt to make sure the coast was clear before swinging. No way to overcome that. Sad situation which will only get worse for everyone now that the wheels of government have begun rolling. I wish it was time for her church or neighbors to rescue them both. I'm afraid it's too late.

[AppyPappy]

The State is always right????

Cyn,

Child abusers are always right????

[Humidston]

Good question, Registered. I've been wondering the same. My guess is he's been brainwashed into being a model citizen of the State by now.

[Catspaw]

Actually, Mommie Dearest said she first went to Maryland, then to New Jersey before she and the child headed back to Indiana. I'm not sure where she dyed her hair to change her appearance (she admitted this to either Greta or Connie Chung), but she said she took Martha to a doctor in New Jersey (Fairfield, I do believe), and the pictures of a naked Martha were taken there. From what I've heard from various sources, the pictures were too blurry to be used, but a person somewhere in the photo-developing pipeline called the cops because he or she thought these pictures were child porn.

[Sir Gawain]

The mark of an educated man is the ability to make distinctions. There is a distinction between spanking and beating.

A beating would leave marks, wouldn't it?

[Humidston]

You demanded I give documentation of the nude pic. I did so. If you have a beef with the authorities, take it up with them.

Look, I'm a mother. I raised two children of my own and I spanked them. But I NEVER ever beat them in the head or face with my fist. I call that child abuse.

I also call putting your 12 yr old daughter up to be paraded around in front of men and marrying her off at that age, abuse.

Little Martha has nothing to look forward to but a life of theft, lies, and ducking the law. I think that's pathetic!

[sinkspur]

How come Martha got sick only AFTER she was separated from her family?

As someone else said, she may be around other children.

[ofMagog]

Methinks you are trying to convince a traveller.

[al_c]

What should we conclude?

Maybe that she ate something that didn't agree with her? Or perhaps she caught a cold? Happens all the time. Kids get sick. I just nursed my two back to health after colds/sinus infections. Should I blame the state?

[Humidston]

No Sinkspur, apparently some believe the dreaded STATE infected that child with some mysterious germ. Never mind the fact that the flu takes some time for gestation....

[The FRugitive]

Personally I think the whole thing was blown out of all proportion. I was beat way worse then that when I was a kid.

Yes, the mother was out of line, but I think she's remorsefull. Make her go to parenting classes/counseling whatever and let them on their way.

But for this to be national news for weeks is rediculous and for the state to take the child away is a travesty especially since there are relatives who will take them.

There's all this criticism of their lifestyle (as Irish Travelers) - well guess what, this is a FREE country. Their lifestyle shouldn't be an issue.

[cynicom]

Pappy...

I had the misfortune to be involved in court cases involving CPS, over a period of several years. In many cases they were the last resort, for truly abused children. For those children it was there only way to survive. For the majority of their cases, they did more harm than good. Always the bad was overblown to the judges, as in other government agencies, the more victims they had, the more money. We have to keep in mind the entirety, not one case, not three minutes of video.

[AppyPappy]

I've seen enough abused kids that I recognize that some people should not be parents. This woman is one of them.

[Tired of Taxes]

I know this is wierd but I couldn't help noticing the kid's feet when she put her in the car seat. There was something not right.

I noticed that, too. That was really strange. Her kicks almost looked happy, not like strong temper tantrum kicks. But, how could she be happy if she was just brutalized? Was she convulsing? Strange, indeed.

[Humidston]

Amen, AppyPappy. AMEN!

[justshutupandtakeit]

That makes me think that there was more action and motion than any real contact, like the mom was trying to scare the little girl by putting on a big act but not really hurting her.

[skeeter]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/757095/posts

For a related thread on the benefits of foster care.

[OXENinFLA]

I knew it was something like that.

Also I was very interested watching O'Reilly last night and he brought up to Toogood's lawyer "Rocket" that she has Five cars registered in her name, I think he said in 3 states.

I would like to know how she affords them.

[johnny7]

If Hillary gets elected in 2004, all white males over 30 will have to have their “package” photographed at the closest NOW office available.

If they are registered Republicans, they will have to undergo a “reduction” operation to make them more equal to the masses.

If they refuse, there will be a tribunal edict for an immediate, frontal lobotomy. :^[]

[frnewsjunkie]

It's really sad to think we have parents out there who would do this to their child. The seemingly "punching in the face" that I witnessed on the video, is what bothered me the most.

But the little girl is paying the price on both ends. She doesn't need to be in a foster home, being cared for by strangers.

Yes, the mother was wrong, (and I don't imagine it was the first time). But the authorities overstated the possibilities of the child's condition. I just have trouble with the "state" taking a child and doing what they want to with that child.

BTW... does anyone know why the woman did this to the child? Did the child do something to even warrant a spanking (let alone a beating!)... or did the woman just take out her anger on whatever was handy at the time?

Too bad we have children who are in homes like this.