Mother to surrender in videotaped beating of girl

Associated Press ^ | September 21, 2002 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Mother to surrender in videotaped beating of girl

09/21/2002

Associated Press

MISHAWAKA, Ind. - A woman seen on a department store security tape punching her 4-year-old daughter plans to surrender Saturday, her attorney said Friday night.

Police have been searching for Madelyne Gorman Toogood since Sept. 13, when a camera in a department store parking lot videotaped her punching and shaking her 4-year-old daughter.

The attorney, Stephen Rosen, said Ms. Toogood is on her way to Chicago and will surrender. She is charged with felony battery to a child.

Indiana police took the search nationwide Wednesday when they released the tape. "We want to get the girl the medical attention she needs," Police Chief Anthony A. Hazen said. "We want to get her to an emergency room and let them examine her."

Ms. Toogood is also wanted in Texas on at least two warrants. Fort Worth police said one warrant involves a shoplifting charge in March. Authorities in White Settlement, a Fort Worth suburb, issued an arrest warrant on an unspecified Class C misdemeanor.

Ms. Gorman's sister, 31-year-old Margaret Daley, who authorities say was present at the time of the incident, was arrested and charged with failure to report child abuse.

Police received more than 1,000 calls about the video, which was first aired Wednesday night.

Staff writer Laurie Fox contributed to this report.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/092102dnnatbeating.86c.html

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

I know.

Perhaps the bleeding-hearts out there should note that she is using the spanking method advocated by their #1 idol, O'Reilley of Fox. Mr. O'Reilley advocated spanking for as long as it is done with an open hand and not on bare skin.

SHE IS FOLLOWING O'REILLEY ADVICE!!!!

As for the 'outraged' out there, they've probably raised their kids following Dr. Spock's Bible. And we all know what came out of that.

Thank you for your commenting of what brought that about. It's exactly the discussion I had with my wife last night.

I believe I suffered spankings a lot worse that what 'millions of outraged Americans' saw on TV last night and they were to my own good, God bless my mother who was usually in charge with my discipline. I love her for helping me turn into the happy, successful individual that I am today and I love her for loving me enough to really care about what I growing into.

Get a life people and look after your own kids. Their future depends on what you do today to keep them on the right path.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

notice on that tape how the white trash whore

I don't believe this is an appropriate comment.

You could have written 'what appears to be a white trash whore'. I couldn't help noticing that the woman was 'white'. Now, I don't believe that she was 'trash'. In fact, she appeared to be dressed the way most women do when they go to Walmart. Now, why would you call her 'whore'? Do you have any evidence that she had sex with other people for money or other type of compensation?

So, you could have written 'what appears to be a white trash whore' but you would have been wrong.

Explain 'white trash' please????

[Conservative til I die]

Can't wait to see how many posts come in decrying the liberal nanny state trying to dictate how people discipline their kids. As predictable as daily sunrise.

[Conservative til I die]

Well, my prediction was right after only 5 posts. The next type of post I await is the "My father shot me in the face with a bazooka every night, and it was GOOD FOR ME!"

[JZoback]

People need to have the right to discipline their children. I am not condoning the way she did it. She needs to be taught the right way to spank a child, for bad behavior.

I believe I covered your comments with my statement above. BTW, I agree with your post. I hope you were not inferring that I don't know how to discipline my own children.

BTW, Do not think for a moment, I am not appalled by her actions. If the child was misbehaving loving, corrective discipline should have been done at home.

Taking her child away or putting her in prison is not the answer.

[catonsville]

As a father of a girl ( now grown)
I am amazed at your statements. The woman pummelled, slapped and violently shook her child.
No bruises perhaps, but maybe a few head, neck and brain injuries.

And the psychological scaring? I'll bet mom has been using her 4 year old daughter for a punching bag in the past. Ms. Toogood did not get a cash refund from a Kohl's Store ( and with her history of shoplifting I can guess why).

You don't take it out on your kid. Never!!!

[mewzilla]

Discipline is not rendered with a closed fist. And i did watch the tape. When she wasn't pulling the child's hair, slapping her, and shaking her, the mother was indeed striking the child with a closed fist.

That's not discipline. That's abuse.

[Conservative til I die]

I don't like being in agreement with you on this subject, but you are right. People need to have the right to discipline their children. I am not condoning the way she did it. She needs to be taught the right way to spank a child, for bad behavior.

So what you're saying is that doing something to someone that would get you arrested - assault and battery - to another adult is OK to do to a kid? We're not talking spanking here. We're talking about a clearly defined difference here.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Get a life people and look after your own kids. Their future depends on what you do today to keep them on the right path.

And, of course, you helping your soon-to-become a truly totalitarian government criminalize the parent-child relationship is as much in your self-interest as some of you out there asking your gov't to make sure that you don't hurt yourself when sleeping on a mattress.

I am afraid to say, but I can see a time when a parent would be forced to buy some sort of 'parenting insurance', be required to obatain a 'parenting license' and be issued tickets for misbehaving. The kids, of course, would have their own lawyers looking after their interests, to be paid out of a fund to which the kids will be forced to pay into when they become adults - a sort of 'social security' benefits scheme in reverse.

[Conservative til I die]

I love when people pick on the most infinitesmal thing as the focal point of their post.

[Conservative til I die]

Are you delusionally paranoid all the time or just today? "DAMN THE TOTALITARIAN FASCISTS FOR TRAMPLING MY GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO REGULARLY ASSAULT MY CHILD AND USE HIM AS A PUNCHING BAG! DAMN THE MAN!"

[knuthom]

And can you believe her lawyer is claiming that the little girl doesn't have a mark at all on her

How long does it take bruises to heal? The incident happened Monday, six days ago.

[Mike4Freedom]

I will just say that I hope that lawyer gave some good advise and the family has already gotten the kid to a private doctor for examination. That evidence needs to be nailed down before the CPS gestapo gets their hands on the kid.

They have a history of exaggerating the most minor injuries and taking the kid. This removes the possibility of getting another doctor to see the kid. Once they get a kid, their goal is to take her, no matter what happened. Due process be damned.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Can't wait to see how many posts come in decrying the liberal nanny state trying to dictate how people discipline their kids. As predictable as daily sunrise.

And true of course.

Actually, my take is that what we are witnessing right now is the product of the liberal nanny state (can we call it totalitarian?) - millions of brain-washed morons, making other people's busines their #1 concern. By the way, calling them 'morons' is not meant to be an insult. Perhaps the correct word would be 'moronized' - and 'the millions' would really be the victims or the outcome of the moronization process, if you will.

Question: any ideas how many girls went through a lot worse spankings yesterday?

Question 2: What do you propose? Surveillance cameras in every house where parents live with their kids?

If you do not propose Q2, then this whole expression of outrage amounts to absolutely nothing.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

She may well be considered white trash but there's no evidence to suggest she is a whore.

[JZoback]

So what you're saying is that doing something to someone that would get you arrested - assault and battery - to another adult is OK to do to a kid?

I watched the tape and did not see her punch her. I don't agree with the way she did it, I'm appalled by it.

So, by your definition, when I took my wooden paddle and spanked my son on his bottom several times because he was disobedient, I committed assault and battery?

Putting the kid in a foster home and the mother in prison is the answer?

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

No friend, I really need you to watch me and my kids. Right?

Now THAT makes a lot of sense.

Okay, let me tell you. We are planning to take a 5 mile trail through the woods today. It's going to be me, my wife the 2 kids and the dog. We will be taking some drinks with us but no food - don't want to attract the bears. I am planning to insist that the kids don't stray too far and, if they do, I WILL be going after them and bring them closer to the group. If one of them slows down or claims he's tired I will be using my own judgement when deciding whether to ask him to keep going or to take a brief break.

Do you approve of my plans so far?

[JZoback]

I disagree with your assessment of what the mother did on the tape.

She was way out of line, but I did not see her punch her.

If she punched her, I would agree it is abuse.

BTW, how many kids do you have?

[alnick]

No adult has a right to PUNCH A FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILD IN THE HEAD. That is NOT discipline. It's people with attitudes like that that give the media fodder for classifying right wingers as nuts.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

She was way out of line, but I did not see her punch her.

Tell that to the hysterics. They already KNOW she is 'a whore' and 'white trash'.

Can anyone define 'white trash' for me? I thought FR was not supposed to allow 'racist' remarks. Is 'white trash' a racist thing?