Tiny woman scared children, police say (Kenmore Abuse Update)

The Plain Dealer ^ | May 7, 2003 | Karen Farkas

[mabelkitty]

Akron- Despite her small stature, Alice Jenkins was clearly the father figure to the six children of her partner, Mary Rowles.

Rowles had adversarial relationships with the fathers of her children. But several now might seek custody of the children who have been removed from Rowles and Jenkins and placed in foster care.

The women were each charged with five counts of child endangering for mistreating the boys. Jenkins also was charged with two counts of felonious assault for striking two boys with hammers and kicking another boy. Police said the boys, who were severely malnourished, were locked in a closet and the bedroom.

The five boys and one girl, ages 4 to 13, called Jenkins "Dad," said Akron police Detective Crystal Bowen Carter. "And while they were scared of Rowles, they were terrified of Alice," she said.

Jenkins is 4-foot-11 and 90 pounds. Jenkins, 27, and Rowles, 30, have been together about seven years, police said.

Any future role for the fathers will have to be determined by Summit County Children Services Board and Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio, who granted the county emergency custody of the children.

Over the years, numerous claims about the children's care have been made to the county, Domestic Relations Court and police by Rowles and the fathers. The county is reviewing those calls as part of an internal investigation into how it responded.

Yesterday, Summit County Executive James McCarthy asked a 26-member volunteer board to review the case. The board examines child deaths or abuse and neglect cases in the county.

According to police and court records, Rowles was 17 when she had her first child in September 1989. The boy's father, Darrell Shaffer Jr., 32, is also the father of a son born to Rowles in July 1998.

Rowles had two sons by Ronnie Curtis Stuart, 42, the only man she married. Their children were born in December 1994 and September 1996. They separated that month and were divorced in 1999. Rowles regained her maiden name. Stuart has no visitation rights. He was convicted in 1996 of gross sexual imposition and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Rowles' only daughter was born in April 1991. In 1997, she and the father, Brady Postlethwaite, 33, reached an agreement to share custody in which he had the girl during the week and Rowles had her on weekends.

In court documents, Rowles said she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and was afraid she would be physically unable to get the child to school.

But in subsequent years, they had custody and other court battles claiming one party did not allow the other to see the girl. Rowles was granted custody in 2001. Police said the girl was not mistreated.

Rowles' other son was born in March 1993. No name was given for the father.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

kfarkas@plaind.com, 1-800-628-6689

[r9etb]

Alice Jenkins (left) and Mary Rowles walk to the North Hill area Saturday after their release from Summit County Jail. The women were freed after posting bonds of $1,000.

[CFW]

The whole story makes me sick. The two witches, the fathersssss, the Child Services, THE ENTIRE WORLD HAS GONE CRAZY....Where are my meds.... eeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

[egarvue]

Bull-dyke lesbian hate crime vs. the boys. Disgusting.

[Nachoman]

Bonnie Parker was a small woman, too.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

I shake my head at stories like this. What would our great-grandparents say??

[SuziQ]

The county is reviewing those calls as part of an internal investigation into how it responded.

I guarantee you that the county officials were afraid that, if they went after them, these women would come back with a lawsuit claiming discrimination because they're lesbian!

[Freakazoid]

The court should just blow off the whole raggedy-ass bunch and send the kids to decent/normal families.

[Redcloak]

Is that 4'11" with or without the hair?

[martin_fierro]

Despite her small stature, Alice Jenkins was clearly the father figure to the six children of her partner, Mary Rowles.
Rowles had adversarial relationships with the fathers of her children. But several now might seek custody of the children who have been removed from Rowles and Jenkins and placed in foster care.
The women were each charged with five counts of child endangering for mistreating the boys. Jenkins also was charged with two counts of felonious assault for striking two boys with hammers and kicking another boy. Police said the boys, who were severely malnourished, were locked in a closet and the bedroom.

...not that there's anything wrong with that. <|:/~

[Lijahsbubbe]

Over the years, numerous claims about the children's care have been made to the county, Domestic Relations Court and police by Rowles and the fathers. The county is reviewing those calls as part of an internal investigation into how it responded.

Aaargh!! That is so frustrating. WTH are we paying these people for?

I just saw a thread pulled on this website for having erroneous information. It took people eight minutes to check, cross-check, refine and pull the post! And they did it for free! Where's the concern for these children? This is pathetic. If someone had some compassion for what they're doing, this would have been taken care of.

Then it spills over to the court system. $1,000 bail. Is that all the kids are worth?

[luckodeirish]

Where are my meds....

You are not the one who needs the meds..!

[ImphClinton]

I really hope they get at least 20 years each.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Dittos.

[Humidston]

This makes a good argument for forced sterilization.

[joesnuffy]

Many years ago in a laudramat near the UW Oshkosh...I got to witness a lesbian couple like this with a young boy (son?)...the mom and the new dyke daddy...
The little boy looked absolutely miserable as his mom kept refering to the dyke as his "dad"
He was very angry but held his temper as the dyke took him out to their van for a "talking to"
For embarassing dyke daddy in public...
That poor kid lived with this shame...he'd probably be in his late thirties now..if he is still alive..
It was not a "family life" I would have wished on anyone...
For the US to "tolerate" this crap will be its death nell imo...crap like this is mullah fodder....

[TaMoDee]

"Alice" would demand 30 years in a women's prison.

[martin_fierro]

Bull-dyke lesbian hate crime vs. the boys. Disgusting.

Be on the lookout for a sympathetic Lifetime Channel Movie Of The Week treatment any time now.

[Johnny Gage]

All I see are two people who are worth nothing
more than target practice for a .308 Sniper rifle.

But even that is too good for what these two deserve.

[MississippiMan]

For the US to "tolerate" this crap will be its death nell imo.

Yup, but that's where we're headed, more clearly so each day. Not even the alleged conservative, pro-family party has one bit of spine to stand up against it.

MM