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.
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http://kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=3684036
Wednesday, August 3rd's high temperature was 93 degrees. It wasn't a record high, but it was enough to kill a Lubbock boy. Police say Joseph Duemer was left in his mother's SUV all day. It was outside the Madison's Place Daycare, located in the 5200 block of 13th street, that the mother realized she never took her son inside. That was around six o'clock in the afternoon. Police are still investigating how long the child was alone in the car.
Just after the discovery, police took Joseph's mother to the police department for questioning. Police believe he was never at the daycare. Police say she went to Madison's to pick up her son, she then realized he wasn't inside when employees said no one dropped him off.
They're trying to find out what took place Wednesday morning that would lead the mother to believe the one-year-old was there. As of Wednesday night, Duemer's mother was the main suspect. Police will also question other family members and daycare employees.
Duemer's mother works just across the street at a doctor's office. One of her co-workers used to work at the daycare, she tells NewsChannel 11 this must've been an accident because their mother loved Joseph and her other son, believed to be five or six, too much to hurt them on purpose.
Tasha Carrillo said, "They just had family pictures taken a couple weeks ago and she just showed me those and she showed them to all the patients at work and to all her co-workers and everything. She was just so in love with both and it's so hard to believe this could happen."
Joseph just turned one on July 15th. Police aren't releasing the names of his parents until they conduct further investigations.
Women make bad judges. They also tend to be more judgmental than men - obviously. I assum you are female.
Twenty bucks to a dollar she never forgets to take her groceries out of the back seat after a shopping trip, just her child.
Exactly! Couldn't have said it better myself. If they "downsized" somewhat, mom could stay home and be a MOM.
When my son was young we worked it out that I stayed home during the day and worked PT at night. My son's Dad worked during the day. That way, #1 we weren't wasting money on a babysitter and our son was always with one of us. Did we have the latest/greatest/newest of everything - Hell No. But was my son well taken care of...yes! We even homeschooled.
what i don't get is that the dc center was just across the parkinglot from her office. i'd be over there 4 times/day if that close
Bravo! I'm in complete agreement with you.
Oh, you mean the kind of busy body that's always telling others that they are horrible parents. < /sarcasm >
How the hell do you "forget" a child in your car?! I wouldn't even leave my DOG in the car without knowing it! You don't just FORGET a child. They obviously make noises. Unless this "mother" is a complete idiot.
My '99 minivan is loaded with friends that love to hang out with a REAL FAMILY. Their friends are amazed to sit down for a meal together after my husband blessed the meal. Priceless time that cannot be exchanged for any amount of money.
Good for you for making it so that your wife can stay home with the kids. It is such a great investment, and the dividends are tremendous. And you reap them in the teen years, I believe. Way to go.
No, Virginia required child seats, even back in '84..
Ah, the good old days, child seats, booster seats, strollers, diaper bags...
I don't believe all of the kids dying because mom or dad "forgot" they were in the car are accidents.
Yup. To a Working woman having a child is like deciding to own a pet or take up swimming. It's a casual hobby.
Absolutely.
it's a "I'm a friggin' dumbass" problem...
Sure, that's another way of putting it.
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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