Posted on 01/09/2003 1:29:24 AM PST by kattracks
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- The woman who was supposed to be taking care of the three brothers in the Newark torture and abuse case was captured early Thursday in a city apartment.
Sherry Murphy was sleeping when police found her around 2 a.m., Lt. Derek Glenn said. She had been sought since the body of a 7-year-old boy was found in a storage bin on Sunday, a day after his two brothers were found starving in a locked room.
Murphy, who was wanted on child endangerment charges, had been caring for the boys since their mother, Melinda Williams, was jailed on assault charges in March.
The FBI has also been preparing a warrant charging Murphy, a go-go dancer, with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Newark police had been flooded with tips that Murphy left New Jersey, but Glenn said she was found in the city's Vailsburg section.
Authorities quickly began searching for Murphy after the body of Faheem Wilson was discovered. His twin brother, Raheem, 7, and another brother, Tyrone Hill, 4, remained hospitalized Wednesday in fair condition.
Much of the mistreatment of the boys happened while the boys were supposedly under the protection of New Jersey's child-welfare agency.
"This is the most horrible story I have ever heard," said Mayor Sharpe James. "There's enough blame here to go around for a lot of people."
Gov. James E. McGreevey has ordered an investigation of the Division of Youth and Family Services and wants new procedures for investigating allegations of abuse. The supervisor in charge of the Williams case was suspended with pay Wednesday.
"It appears that's where mistakes were made in this case," said Micah Rasmussen, a spokesman for the governor.
Neither the supervisor nor the caseworker have been identified by state officials, but The Star-Ledger of Newark -- citing an unidentified source close to the investigation -- identified her as Donna Wells-Tucker, 42, a veteran DYFS staffer. She will continue to be paid while the investigation continues, according to the union contract, Rasmussen said.
Wells-Tucker declined to comment on the case, but her husband said any action taken against her would be aggressively contested.
"Any disciplinary action taken against my wife will be extremely unfair, when there are other subordinates and superiors involved," said Lonnie Tucker, a former spokesman for the Newark Fire Department. "They pushed her and agreed with her in taking the steps to terminate this case."
DYFS has 1,400 people to supervise some 47,000 children; the average caseload is 35. National advocates recommend that a caseworker handle no more than 25.
Union officials say the caseworker assigned to the Williamses was juggling 107 cases, but state officials claim the number was far less. They say the unidentified worker was responsible for 53 children in 27 families.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Evidently she had not been caring for them. That's the problem.
Bet she wouldn't last for long.
Does not have to answer to anyone, hides those guilty of crimes and makes their own rules.
Great, just fu**ing great.
Crimial Charges against state employees? 100 to 1 says NONE !
In Springfield, Missouri a 4 year old boy dies in Foster Home while under the "PROTECTION" of The State of Missouri, Division of Family Services. Reason for death: Repeted Beatings by Foster Parent.
Father of the child made reports of visible abuse injures to SOMDOFS (State of Missouri, Division of Family Services; a totalitarian state agenecy).
Actions to protect child by SOMDOFS, NONE.
Again odds of crimimal charges against state emplyees? 100 to 1, says NONE!
Any takers ? .
Kwanzaa puts forth seven key values, the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles) which offer standards of excellence and models of possibilities and which aid in building and reinforcing family, community and culture: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, Imani.
Where were all of the Community People!!
Where was Bill and Hillary and Jessie Jackson, the Rainbow Coalition, PUSH, Al Sharpton, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Newark Board of Education, social workers, the Division of Youth and Family Services, THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, the libs in the Division of Youth and Family Services, Social Service Block Grant money, Community Development Block Grant Money, the Newark Board of Education, Head Start, the Baptist Church, the AME Zion Church, IT TAKES A VILLAGE doesn't it? or just good parents and a good nuclear family unit.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.