Mom Goes Free In Kid's Scald Death

The New York Post ^ | March 6, 2003 | Denise Buffa

[paulklenk]

March 6, 2003 -- A Brooklyn woman responsible for her 4-year- old daughter's scalding death walked out of court yesterday - free to try to get back her three other children.

Tarajee Davis, 28, was sentenced to five years' probation as part of a bargain in which she pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in the death of little Da'Jhanae.

The young girl was scalded by bath water in the family's Flatbush home on Feb. 3, 2002 - and succumbed to her injuries nearly three weeks later.

Davis is still trying to get back her boys, ages 2 through 9, who are in the care of a relative, her lawyer said.

Davis had no prior criminal record but she'd been investigated three times before on neglect allegations and had been referred to counseling at one point, authorities said.

[paulklenk]

Bill O'Reilly brought this to my attention in this evening's show. The judge has a lot of explaining to do. If anyone has more relevant facts, let me know.

[paulklenk]

This article was no longer available on the NY Post's Web site, but I found it cached on Google. Thanks, Google!

[sinkspur]

The judge? It was the stinking DA that made the plea deal.

The poor little one. She's black, and poor, so nobody cares.

[paulklenk]

Headline: Mom who scalded 4-yr.-old strikes plea deal

By NANCIE L. KATZ
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

A Brooklyn mother who scalded her 4-year-old daughter to death in a bathtub strolled out of court yesterday a free woman - a year after cops charged her with the girl's murder.

It was not clear whether Tarajee Davis, 29, would regain custody of her other children - ages 2, 8 and 9 - who were turned over to relatives after little Da'Jhanae Davis died from burns on over 80% of her body.

Under a plea deal sealed yesterday, the East Flatbush mother will get only "intensely supervised" probation.

Prosecutors agreed to let Davis plead to criminally negligent homicide because she had no criminal record and "it was going to be difficult to prove it wasn't an accident," a source said.

"It wasn't clear how the baby was burned," the source said.

Davis did not speak as Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Neil Firetog handed down the sentence.

Da'Jhanae was severely burned when her mother dunked her in a scalding hot bath in their Foster Ave. apartment on Feb. 3, 2002.

Da'Jhanae held on an agonizing 19 days at Weill Cornell Medical Center before dying from second and third degree burns on her head, torso and extremities.

Cops originally charged Davis with second-degree murder.

But a grand jury reduced the rap to manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child and criminally negligent homicide, charges that could have landed her 15 years behind bars.

Several complaints

Even before Da'Jhanae's death, the city Administration for Children's Services had investigated several complaints against Davis.

Allegations that she provided inadequate guardianship in April 1999 were ruled unfounded.

But a month later, and then in September 2000, ACS caseworkers verified incidents of domestic violence and made Davis undergo counseling, officials said.

Originally published on March 6, 2003

[paulklenk]

You're right. Everyone involved should be ashamed. Read on [see previous post].

[stainlessbanner]

The article states how thte baby was burned was "unknown", but then states the baby was burned by a scolding bath. Inconsistent.

[paulklenk]

By the way, I searched the NYTimes for the word "tarajee". Except for the original article in 2OO2 -- which merely stated that charges had been filed -- the Times has NOT followed up on this story. Not ONE article has been published mentioning this woman.

[ladyinred]

This is absolutely incredible. Liberal judges are the downfall of this country, and are responsible for the high crime rate. I am appalled beyond belief that this woman is not even slapped on the hand, and may get her other kids back! We have gone mad.

[paulklenk]

Where do you read that? I'm having trouble finding it.

[paulklenk]

This decisions absolutely destroys law, order and justice and throws it into the garbage. I'm still waiting to hear the "other side of the story" but can't find a thing.

[stainlessbanner]

Post #4

"It wasn't clear how the baby was burned," the source said.

Then two lines down, the article states baby was burned by a scalding bath.

[The Coopster]

What's extra sad is that this was a 4 year-old. I'm not condoning any reason, but at least with an infant you could claim stupidity, in that you ddn't know (or whatever). I have a 4 year-old, and I can tell you that she lets me know about every single thing that bothers her, no matter how minute.

I'm not a violent guy, but I'm no peace frog either. She's no different than that looney who drowned her children. She deserves the same fate her poor daughter suffered......

[paulklenk]

I see it now; thanks.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

The poor little one. She's black, and poor, so nobody cares,p>You care sink i care and alot of people right here on this board care i know it wont bring her back but but we still care buddy

stay vigil!

[katze]

O'Reilly said there is evidence the 4 yo tried to fight, but the mother pushed her back in the water.

[homeschool mama]

Oh my God.

[Ford Fairlane]

If the bath water was responsible for the scalding, there was no mixing valve on the tap as required by all current building codes, and any building inspector, plumber, etc that has worked in that home in the last 10 - 15 years should also be held responsible. (Speaking as an engineer)

[sheik yerbouty]

Charles Joseph Hynes is the worst DA in America.