Posted on 08/04/2005 6:41:41 AM PDT by WestTexasWend
A mother's horror turned to a grave reality just before 6 p.m. Wednesday when she stopped to pick up her 1-year-old son from Madison's Place Day Care, located in the 5200 block of 13th Street.
According to police, day care employees told the mother they had not seen Joseph Duemer - born July 15, 2004 - all day, and he had not been checked into the facility.
The mother returned to her vehicle to find Joseph dead in the back seat, said Lubbock police spokesman Lt. Roy Bassett.
"He was in the back seat and had been back there all day," Bassett said.
Although Joseph was transported for treatment, Bassett said it was too late to save him.
According to Lubbock police Sgt. Leland Hufstedler, unconfirmed reports indicate the mother left her home about 8 a.m. Wednesday to drop off the child at Madison's Place.
"Right now, it doesn't look like it was anything intentional," said Hufstedler.
The high temperature in Lubbock was 93 Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. The temperature dipped to 90 at about 6 p.m.
The mother was being questioned Wednesday night by police about the incident, Bassett said.
"The mother was taken to the police station to possibly give a statement and possibly speak to detectives if she chooses to," said Bassett, who indicated the father arrived at the day care shortly after the baby's death was reported to 911 from the facility.
At press time, a Lubbock police investigator said the mother had yet to give a statement to police and did have an attorney present at the station.
Exiting the police station at about 9:30 p.m., the mother was consoled by her husband along with a Lubbock attorney and a small group of people.
Leaving in a white T-shirt, black jogging shorts and tennis shoes, the mother dabbed at eyes swollen with tears before getting into a vehicle and leaving the station.
Hufstedler said the investigation continues as they plan to determine whether the case should head to Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney Bill Sowder for presentation to a grand jury.
Bassett said there will be an autopsy conducted to determine the cause of death.
There is a reason it's called corrections. Not punishment. The idea is that she would learn that in her hurry to go be a man and work all day she should not leave her new child in a hot car to die in a gruesome horrible way.
The one 'thing' which should have been most precious is gone. My point is that none of the rest is worth that.
You're going to have a heart attack or contract cancer with all that bile and hatred you nurture.
According to local news reports the mother is a 38 yr old social worker.
I agree, however you are pointing out a bunch of things that this woman might OWN and none of us are privy to that info.
How is the childs death by NEGLECT in this instance any different that if it had died by other forms of neglect? Starvation, lack of medical care, abandonment? I've seen many posts on FR against incidents like those where children died or nearly did- and didn't we expect prosecution for the neglectful 'parent'? WHY NOT HERE?
Why should THIS neglect be excused, because she was 'busy'??
A human being is dead because the 'mother' was too busy, preoccupied, to care for it. Would we buy that excuse if she had left the child in a crib,forgot to feed it, and it died?
To reiterate, the one 'thing' in her life which should have been as precious as, or more precious than life itself is gone, forgotten in the pursuit of whatever else.
Were this person neglecting her child for a methadrine fix, everyone on this tread would be down on the drug, the user, etc.
But letting your child die, strapped into a chair in the sun in an enclosed space, unable to move, helpless, in a way that would provoke universal outrage were someone to execute even a cannabilistic sex-offender in this fashion is OK if you did it because you spaced the kid out on the way to work?
I not only do not get how anyone could defend her, but if people are going to blame the rat-race lifestyle, then I do not understand how anyone could defend that either.
If your child is not first and foremost in your mind, you are missing a lot.
good point
Legalized infanticide.
I can't begin to imagine what the mother must be thinking and feeling about herself right now. I don't think putting her in jail would accomplish anything other than costing a lot of taxpayer money.
Oh good grief. This is the "lump of labor" fallacy and it's utterly false. I agree that taxes are too high and that as a result many mothers feel the need to work when they would rather stay home, but the idea that they're "taking jobs" from others is ridiculous.
My kids/grandkid did/do sleep in the car but one look in the rear view you could check on them,so there is no excuse to ever leave a kid in the car. I think this is just the latest in our throw away culture.
I may be wrong, but I don't recall these tragedies being anywhere near as common before it was required that children be in the back seat.
This woman is responsible.
Of course she is, and she will rightly blame herself for the rest of her life. But still, this probably wouldn't have happened if not for the government regulations.
"Yeah right!! You are a criminal coddler!! Betcha she has a boy toy on the side."
you got all that from the article?
what can i say ,you are amazing, you should be a judge, impartiality being your forte. I guess freedom of speech makes us put up with everybody in here.
There are some people around here who are as bad as empty head liberals. Our culture is witnessing the death of responsiblity. It's not the fault of airbags, or not being allowed to have the kid in the front seat. It's the parents responsiblity to know at all times, every single minute of every single day where their kids are. This woman is responsible. My God! What is so hard to get here?
NEEDS REPEATING
Case very similar to this in Iowa some years ago. "Professional" woman. Hospital Administrator. Apparently became preoccupied with something, left her infant in the car seat, went to work. Child died.
County prosecutor actually brought charges, the case went to trial, but she was found "not guilty". Amazing. There was great public outcry that "she has suffered enough already". Child still dead however.
Agreed, but not murder. They will condemn themselves all the way to the grave. Imagine that horror on your conscience.
You said, "...this probably wouldn't have happened if not for the government regulations."
We rode in the front seat as kids in the 70's with no seatbelts. If my mom drove off the road, hit a tree, and I was thrown from the car, then who's responsible? Not the government for sure.
The mother didn't pay attention. End of story--no excuses. Own up to what she did and face the consequences.
If you leave an animal in a hot car you can be fined. Why would you not make a person responsible for the death of another human being? Where do excuses end and responsiblity for one's actions begin?
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