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.
That was her best moment of clarity all day. I witnessed a fatal accident once where I immediately warned the driver to lawyer up and don't make any statements... It's a fact of life nowadays that people want to find fault and punish for any accident.
I pray I am wrong.
And did she go to work in a T-shirt and jogging shorts?
I'm far from the perfect parent. I also worked. The only time either of my children were forgotten was once when the normal routine was broken. By the grace of God, no harm came to them.
You said it all and well. Accidents do happen. It's true we have a materialistic society and many moms work for "things." But many moms work to just survive and are far too stressed out! V's wife.
Maybe my kids are different, but they've always made such a ruckus that there's no way I could ever (past or present) forget that they are in the car. They are always talking to me, each other or just generally making some noise. Even when they were babies, I don't think they ever slept through an entire car ride! I can't believe there are kids out there that absolutely silent for a whole car ride that they can be forgotten!
Yeah, no kidding. Its called priorities...and living within your means. Most 2 income families couldget by on one just fine if they eliminate the unneeded nonsense out of their lives.
***
That's true in some cases, but not all. I know a number of women who work because they have the health insurance and the other benefits -- their husbands don't.
One such woman was so broken hearted when her son began calling her sister (the child's caregiver) "Momma." If she had her way, she would have been home with her son. But the family depended on her.
When I was fortunate enough to become a stay home mom, I continued the habit. I also thought about Polly Klauss (sp?) each and every day as I made sure the house was always locked while we were inside.
Here's a link to the Pittsburgh story I mentioned at post #28:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05216/548432.stm
This is beyond idiocy. Who can forget a one year old in the back seat? ridiculous.
BS. Air bags have NOTHING to do with this. W/O airbags there would just be some other excuse.
Umm. Hello. A child died because it was put into a car and forgotten. And it broiled to death in its own juices.
And the excuse is that the kid was in the back seat and she just simply forgot? What the hell else does she forget?
And she'll pay for it with her conscience for the rest of her life? Nice. Maybe if I unintentionally kill someone due to my carelessness I could convince the judge that really, I didn't mean to run down that pedestrian. It's just that I forgot to look in the rear view mirror when I was backing up or else I forgot which one was the accelerator and which one was the brake.
We apparently have an epidemic of people forgetting their kids in their cars and roasting them like a joint of beef. What excuses can be made for them?
A while back I read that airbags are actually more injurious to short people (I'm 5'2") than not having an airbag. I always wear a seatbelt, so why should I have to have an airbag, too?
However if the kid was kidnapped.????? Endangerment.
Quote: A little harsh don't you think? She'll be paying for her absentmindedness the rest of her life
No it's not harsh. Notice the rash of these happening over the last several years. Does the Susan Smith case come to mind (drowned her kids)?
Leaving your lunch box at home is absentmindist. Leaving a baby to die in a car is criminal.
"poor woman"
My thoguhts exactly. she will be villified by all , including many on this posting, and still have to live with the fact she was responsible for the death of her child. I don't think anytihng the state can do to her will be as harsh. Her sentence is for life. I cant imagine ever getting over it.
what a terrible situation for all. god bless the child.
Quote: We apparently have an epidemic of people forgetting their kids in their cars and roasting them like a joint of beef.
Lots of Susan Smith's out there isn't there?. Just consider these another form of late term abortion. Check the mother. She probably has a boy toy on the side who does not want kids.
Quote: I don't think anytihng the state can do to her will be as harsh. Her sentence is for life. I cant imagine ever getting over it.
Yeah right!! You are a criminal coddler!! Betcha she has a boy toy on the side.
Does the Susan Smith case come to mind (drowned her kids)?
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The difference is that in the Smith case, she intended to kill her children. In this case, we don't know if the neglect was intentional or not.
It's a gray area to me. I don't have children, and I'm not in whatever position these parents are...I don't have the stressors or whatever that may have caused this. Obviously, if as I said, a parent intentionally leaves the child in a hot car while he/she buys drugs or something like that -- then yes, there is wilful neglect. Here, I'm not so sure.
Right now, it doesn't appear that all the facts are in, and it's still under investigation. I don't know if I want to make a judgment at this point.
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