Father and Stepmother Charged in Girl's Murder

[foryourwine]

http://cbs3.com/topstories/Feltonville.Philadelphia.Police.2.1262982.html

Scum.

[LaLaw2000]

This is so very sad. This little girl had been abused for quite some time. Another example of the system letting another child down. An investigation into her possible abuse was in 2007 and closed out. Well, now she is dead. :furious:

God Bless this child. She is in Heaven now and will never know pain again.

[FifthEssence]

Heartbreaking.

Everything, every part of this child was abused.


Father & step-mother are SAVAGES-they need to be EXTERMINATED

AN EYE FOR AN EYE

[lizzybeth]

I agree. No need for a trial, just put them down. Unfortunately it would be in a more humane way than they treated this little girl.

[SunnieRN]

May God bless this angel and may these a** holes rot in hell for eternity!

[ziggy]

snipped from article: "Sources say she was suffering from a broken wrist, ribs and hip, and had an 8 inch gap in her skull that was stuffed with gauze and covered by a weave. Sources said she was also sexually assaulted and mutilated."

and this is heartbreaking to me somehow

"Despite her injuries and repeated abuse, sources say Ferreria made her way to school every day and kept perfect attendance. No one at the school was apparently aware of the terrible pain the little girl was enduring."


She was a 10 year old little girl.

Our world is so sad.

[Lyn1001]

Makes me think of the song "Concrete Angel" by Martina McBride.

[believe09]

So resilient. Oh My. How do people come up with this stuff?

[believe09]

One more thing-they always call. Someone always calls and claims the child fell. I don't get why they bother? Honest. I have no idea why these folks call when they are done destroying the poor little ones...or when they realize that they took it too far. They can't make the call before they do it?

[Heroine]

YouTube - Dad, Stepmom Charged With Girl's Brutal Murder

These last 2 videos explain more about the whole situation.
http://cbs3.com/video/?id=89962@kyw.dayport.com

http://cbs3.com/video/?id=89947@kyw.dayport.com
That poor little girl. I wish they would have done something sooner. :(

[steelergirl]

I saw this on the news last night, absolutely disgusting. This poor angel suffered horribly by the WHOLE family. The article also mentions that there was evidence of sexual abuse, and she confided in her friends who was behind that.

So sad, she had no one behind her. Scary world out there, just when you think it can't get much worse it does.

ETA: another link, the video here has her friends saying what she told them happened.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7079349

[believe09]

She had friends-she was going to be somebody some day-a Supreme Court Justice, an actor, discovering the cure for cancer. Because in spite of the horror of her life, she was always on time for school (her refuge) and she had friends she could confide in.

She had friends she could confide in....OMG somehow this thought makes me so weak. She could have been saved.

[JoH]

Heartbreaking.

[opme]

This is just so heartbreaking.. I am brought to tears everytime I hear more on this child and the horror that was her life. I just dont understand how no one did anything to save her.. how no one knew ( ie neighbors) what was going on .. how none of her friends who did know didnt tell a parent or report the abuse.. how social services didnt do their job and uncover the abuse and remove this poor child from a horrific and pain filled nightmare..
God crimes like these just make me so angry and I am sorry in this case there is no justice for the pain she endured .. there is no punisment great enough for these 2 animals..

May this child now be embraced by the warm and loving arms of the angels and never feel another ounce of pain or fear.

[jnTexas]

How can we save our kids from monsters that are strangers when we can't save them from their caretakers?

This little girl endured more on daily basis then anyone should have to endure in a lifetime.

The crimes against children get worse everyday. Wish I knew how to even start to make a difference in our system.

Disgusted!!

[opme]

The "father" or pos has committed suicide in his jail cell .. thus there will be no justice here on earth for him... however I am sure he will be punished justly where he is headed..

He didnt even have the B*))s to stand trial ... yet he could do those horrific things to that poor child..


http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7081623

[jjenny]

The "father" or pos has committed suicide in his jail cell .. thus there will be no justice here on earth for him... however I am sure he will be punished justly where he is headed..

He didnt even have the B*))s to stand trial ... yet he could do those horrific things to that poor child..


http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7081623
We don't know what his role was. The OP article says that sources told CBS3 that stepmother confessed to the child's murder.

[eleven]

We don't know what his role was. The OP article says that sources told CBS3 that stepmother confessed to the child's murder.


We DO know that he lived with her, and she had obvious injuries. There was a pattern of abuse with her healing fractures that were older, as well as the new fractures. Her hip was broken! She was in major amounts of pain with each step.....he knew. She had a gash in her head that was stuffed with gauze and covered with a hair weave.

She was sexually assaulted.

While we are not 100% certain what his role was, and we will never know because he is now dead, I have no doubt that he, at the very least, knew what was going on. At the very least, he turned a blind eye on his beautiful little girl who was in major physical pain and getting the life beaten out of her. I hope he rots.:furious: May Satan have no mercy on his soul.

[Capri]

"According to sources, the Department of Human Services had been alerted in 2007 by school officials of possible abuse; the DHS investigation was discontinued after a doctor certified that she was not being abused."

So heartbreaking, the system failed her on so many levels. I am glad that the school tried. I'd like to know the Dr. who "certified", who he is.

[Sheromom]

She had friends-she was going to be somebody some day-a Supreme Court Justice, an actor, discovering the cure for cancer. Because in spite of the horror of her life, she was always on time for school (her refuge) and she had friends she could confide in.

She had friends she could confide in....OMG somehow this thought makes me so weak. She could have been saved.

That is a hard one for children, though; no matter how we try to teach them. My daughter had a friend she was with in preschool and every year until third grade. Her mom and I often did things together. Because I knew them so well, her friend was often at our house and my daughter at theirs. Then one day, my daughter told me the man hit his daughters in the face with a belt. When I asked why she hadn't told me before, she said she was afraid I wouldn't let them be friends anymore. Needless to say, I went to CPS and they basically told the mom to leave the man or give up the girls. So she left but went through YEARS of being unsettled and barely making ends meet. They even moved out of state for a year. They are back now and our daughters are juniors in high school and, once again, best friends. But it was hard........for my daughter, hard for my friend, hard for her girls..........hard for ME!!!! AND the &#%*# man still has visiting rights!

[kaymo]

I know LE are looking at her 16 and 19 year old step brothers also for the sexual abuse that Charleeni suffered because a classmate of hers came forward and said Charleeni told her that one of the step brothers was assaulting her.
The step mother was involved in covering up her open head wound by shoving gauze in her head wound. That injury was months old that skin started to grow over the gauze, and then she made Charleeni wear a wig.
The broken hip she suffered was at least a year old because Charleeni had been limping for about a year.
When some of the neighbors asked the stepmonster about Charleeni's limp, swollen face, etc. the stepmonster responded by saying she has some disease that can't be diagnosed. The sad part about this is she had seen a doctor twice to specifically look for abuse because the school nurse suspected abuse. DCF scheduled an appt. with a doctor but nothing was "proven". The school nurse insisted again and demanded that she see another doctor who also couldn't find evidence to substantiate abuse. So case closed.:banghead:

Every adult that lived in that house should be charged for her death. The physicians who examined her should be questioned and their charts reviewed. I'm guessing no x-rays were taken until it was too late.:furious:

[kaymo]

one more thing...she was living with her father because her bio mom had abused and neglected her in Puerto Rico. She had been living with her dad for a few years, but when abuse was first suspected and DCF became involved including the first physician to examine Charleeni, the bio mom was blamed. What happened the last year and a half was due to monsters brutalizing a child and the negligence of agencies who could have stopped it.

[MomofBoys]

How horrific. I'm aghast. This almost reminds me of the Sylvia Likens case, only I guess there's no evidence of non-familial participation. Yet. This poor angel went to school with an eight inch gap in her skull? How did no one notice any of this? How was she disciplined/scared enough not to run into someone's arms and tell them about this?

So tragic. These are the cases I understand least. The routine, sadistic abuse. Sex crimes are horrific, but I get there are sick freaks driven by their perversions. I get that parents snap and shake a baby, and I hope they spend the rest of their lives dealing with that guilt and their punishment. But cases like this make me most disillusioned, because the parents have so many chances to end it. To try to start over. What do their sick minds crave that a whack on the butt doesn't fulfill? How do you make the leap to torture and beatings?

[Cicada]

How horrific. I'm aghast. This almost reminds me of the Sylvia Likens case, only I guess there's no evidence of non-familial participation. Yet. This poor angel went to school with an eight inch gap in her skull? How did no one notice any of this? How was she disciplined/scared enough not to run into someone's arms and tell them about this?

So tragic. These are the cases I understand least. The routine, sadistic abuse. Sex crimes are horrific, but I get there are sick freaks driven by their perversions. I get that parents snap and shake a baby, and I hope they spend the rest of their lives dealing with that guilt and their punishment. But cases like this make me most disillusioned, because the parents have so many chances to end it. To try to start over. What do their sick minds crave that a whack on the butt doesn't fulfill? How do you make the leap to torture and beatings?

BBM:

She was disciplined enough because, evidently, that is all she knew. If her mother abused her in PR before the father got custody a few years back, then she had to be small when all of this started.
I can not imagine being 10 yrs old and living with this nightmare all of the time. I can only think that she was more afraid of the unknown treatment she would get in a stranger's home than she was of the treatment she received in her father's. That and the fact that most kids are afraid of getting their parents in trouble. A misplaced loyalty. Stories like these make me hug my child a little more each day. I wish I could have hugged her.

[lizzybeth]

The "father" or pos has committed suicide in his jail cell .. thus there will be no justice here on earth for him... however I am sure he will be punished justly where he is headed..

He didnt even have the B*))s to stand trial ... yet he could do those horrific things to that poor child..


http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7081623

I only hope that he didn't die immediately and suffered greatly.

[believe09]

Imagine what happened to her after the two doctors visits for the 2007 CPS complaint. JUST. IMAGINE. That was her incentive not to confide in an adult.

I would like the names of the Dr's as well-I would like to know why they didn't do at least a set of XRAYS on this child as well as a full physical and I would like to know who was in the room with her when she was examined-stepmonster, bio dad monster?

[believe09]

I wonder if he had a cell mate. Just sayin.

[opme]

We don't know what his role was. The OP article says that sources told CBS3 that stepmother confessed to the child's murder.

Frankly at this point whether teh violence was delivered by his hand or other means or simply allowed to happen by his failure to protect his child.. makes no difference to me.. he is just as guilty in my eyes.

I simply can not fathom how much this child endured at that hands of all of those who were referred to as her "parents".. nor how anyone can do this or allow this to happen to their child.. it makes me sick to think of the life this poor child suffered through. There is no justice that could be meeted out to those who caused such harm to a innocent child like this one. I cant understand how the so called physicians missed all the signs.. and how they didnt to any xrays.. at least they nurse was trying .. the rest of the system failed so miserably..

[Salem]

The "father" or pos has committed suicide in his jail cell .. thus there will be no justice here on earth for him... however I am sure he will be punished justly where he is headed..

He didnt even have the B*))s to stand trial ... yet he could do those horrific things to that poor child..


http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7081623

I'm glad. Yes, it was chickens*!t, but at least he recognized he was a monster and took himself out. Now the jury will not have to decide to take him out. I always hate it when these POS's put it upon someone else to decide. He was broken and couldn't be fixed and he knew it.

Salem

[Boyz_Mum]

I can't get past the part of the story about the gauze put in her head injury and wigs and weaves to cover the wound.

There are no words. :furious:

[SunnieRN]

I wonder if he had a cell mate. Just sayin.

It was reported on the newscast that he was alone in his cell.

Repeated sexual abuse....that kid, whichever one it was, needs to be locked up for at least 100 years!!! He should NEVER be allowed into society again! If they know it was repeated then sentence him to 50 years for each offense and charge him with two offenses.

That "mother" who not only beat this sweat angel, threw her down the stairs, filled her 8" gash with gauze for so long that skin was growing over the gauze, beat her so badly that she had broken ribs that punctured her lungs wasn't satisfied with that. She also allowed her child/monster to repeatedly rape his step sister. I don't know what kind of a low life scum sucking b**** could EVER live with herself after doing that. I hope there is a special place in hell for her. Hmmmmm, maybe she needs an extra sheet on her bed tonight!

I hate the fact that not only do we as taxpayers have to feed, house and lock her up, give her a trial with defense lawyers, fund her appeals, but we have to pay for extra guards to make sure she doesn't kill herself! There is something SO wrong within our judicial system. No suicide watch, no special isolation cell, general inmate population for her please!! :croc:

[mysterygirl]

As horrible as these crimes are there is always a little everyday part of a story that really gets to me past the obvious horrors.

She loved to watch Hannah Montana and she never missed school.....oh that just kills me. Poor baby.

[sindydee]

OMG. This is horrific. Dont often feel the need to post on here but like a previous post said, can not, firstly get past the fact that the head injury was suffed with gauze and covered with a wig, Secondly, bless the poor little girl she went to school, every damn day with those awful injuries. Why does the breakdown in the chain happen, the nurse at the school obviously knew and asked twice for this girl to be examined. She was taken from her natural mother for abuse and placed with her father and suffered even more abuse, and THEN was possibly sexual assulted by more family members. Jesus, I can not get my head round this one. They ought to plough the money saved from not having to put him on trial and keeping him in prision back into the social services, even if this means one more child would be saved. disgusting.

[2goldfish]

Sometimes I wonder why I do this to myself reading these things. I almost cant bear it. But they are happening whether I read about them or not. And these poor kids at least deserve that. This one is bad -

really bad. I cant even formulate words.

[Soulmagent]

I know LE are looking at her 16 and 19 year old step brothers also for the sexual abuse that Charleeni suffered because a classmate of hers came forward and said Charleeni told her that one of the step brothers was assaulting her.
The step mother was involved in covering up her open head wound by shoving gauze in her head wound. That injury was months old that skin started to grow over the gauze, and then she made Charleeni wear a wig.
The broken hip she suffered was at least a year old because Charleeni had been limping for about a year.
When some of the neighbors asked the stepmonster about Charleeni's limp, swollen face, etc. the stepmonster responded by saying she has some disease that can't be diagnosed. The sad part about this is she had seen a doctor twice to specifically look for abuse because the school nurse suspected abuse. DCF scheduled an appt. with a doctor but nothing was "proven". The school nurse insisted again and demanded that she see another doctor who also couldn't find evidence to substantiate abuse. So case closed.:banghead:

Every adult that lived in that house should be charged for her death. The physicians who examined her should be questioned and their charts reviewed. I'm guessing no x-rays were taken until it was too late.:furious:

I am proud of that little girl for stepping forward ,it must of laid heavy on her to have the courge to step forward like that in her grief. Hopefully she has the emotional suport needed at a time like this. She could be saving others from abuse from those boys.

[misheley26]

Couldn't agree with you more SunnieRN. I'll preface my feeling on the subject with an advance apology to those who feel we have a just system...you have every right to your opinion. I believe if the evidence is undeniable (DNA could be safety-proved to never be wrong)...I'd like people like this to just be put to death immediately. No long wait where I have to pay for their free education, meals or for that matter, peeps to cook them for them, healthcare, gym equipment - all things I'm not receiving on someone else's dime. No endless appeals when the victim wasn't given the chance to make a decision in appealing their fate at the hands of the offender.

And in addition to these and what I've bolded from your post...having another child/person have to experience the same fate when the justice system fails by releasing her earlier than the term she's sentenced to.

It was reported on the newscast that he was alone in his cell.

Repeated sexual abuse....that kid, whichever one it was, needs to be locked up for at least 100 years!!! He should NEVER be allowed into society again! If they know it was repeated then sentence him to 50 years for each offense and charge him with two offenses.

That "mother" who not only beat this sweat angel, threw her down the stairs, filled her 8" gash with gauze for so long that skin was growing over the gauze, beat her so badly that she had broken ribs that punctured her lungs wasn't satisfied with that. She also allowed her child/monster to repeatedly rape his step sister. I don't know what kind of a low life scum sucking b**** could EVER live with herself after doing that. I hope there is a special place in hell for her. Hmmmmm, maybe she needs an extra sheet on her bed tonight!

I hate the fact that not only do we as taxpayers have to feed, house and lock her up, give her a trial with defense lawyers, fund her appeals, but we have to pay for extra guards to make sure she doesn't kill herself! There is something SO wrong within our judicial system. No suicide watch, no special isolation cell, general inmate population for her please!! :croc:

[Texas Mist]

<snip>

In a statement to police, Margarita Garabito said she beat her 10-year-old stepdaughter, Charleeni Ferreira, because she was depressed and the girl wouldn't listen to her, according to law enforcement sources.

In court yesterday, Garabito's attorney said she questioned the validity of any statement her client made to police, and cast blame instead on Charleeni's father, who hanged himself in his jail cell Sunday morning.

.....

"She was the mastermind," one law enforcement source said. "She ruled that house."


more here

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20091029_Charleeni_s_death_blamed_on_her_dead_fath er.html

[Texas Mist]

Panel exonerates DHS in child-abuse death

By John Sullivan
Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted on Fri, Feb. 19, 2010


A panel of experts who reviewed the abuse death of 10-year-old Charlenni Ferreira found no fault with the city Department of Human Services' handling of her case, but said city agencies responsible for children needed to work together to prevent deaths.

Charlenni, a fifth grader at Feltonville Intermediate School, died in October in what investigators called one of the worst cases of child abuse they'd ever seen.

She first came to the agency's attention in 2006 after a school nurse called the agency's child-abuse hotline, saying Charlenni had gashes on her hands, a split lip, and other injuries.

But the agency said that after investigating, monitoring the family, and twice taking Charlenni to doctors who specialize in abuse cases, it could not prove abuse and had no legal ground to keep the case open. During the investigation the Ferreiras complained that DHS was harassing the family.

The case was closed in March 2007; two years later, the girl was dead.

Police charged Charlenni's stepmother, Margarita Garabito, 43, of Feltonville, with murder. Her father, Domingo Ferreira, was also charged, but he committed suicide in jail shortly after his arrest.

much more here (and it only stirs up more questions, IMO, than providing answers)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/84762207.html

[VespaElf]

Some interesting things from the last 2 articles.........
The bio mom is apparently dying of cancer which is why Charleeni went to live with her father & the abuse claims against bio-mom came from the step -monster & bio-dad ONLY.
Also Step-Monster & Bio Dad were advised by some Hispanic community group who were handling the case instead of DCF at some point(& whose records show they ,basically,would do whatever they had to prove Charleeni was NOT abused they were so convinced of their innocence)to pursue a lawsuit against DCF & magically DCF closed the case.......that makes one go "hhhmmmmmmmm" does it not?

The school Nurses(TWO from TWO separate schools!)did what legally & morally they shouldve & the child was STILL let down & left to be murdered.I cant imagine the heartbreak they must feel!!!They did all the could & I hope they understand that! Its DCF that failed this child ! Im sick they already completed their 'internal investigation' & cleared themselves of wrong doing!!!!!!!!! GGGrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!
Im so mad right now!!!!!!!!!!:furious:

Whats worse is DCF probably honestly believes they did nothing wrong & will carry on "business as usual"!!:banghead:

[believe09]

Panel exonerates DHS in child-abuse death

By John Sullivan
Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted on Fri, Feb. 19, 2010


A panel of experts who reviewed the abuse death of 10-year-old Charlenni Ferreira found no fault with the city Department of Human Services' handling of her case, but said city agencies responsible for children needed to work together to prevent deaths.

Charlenni, a fifth grader at Feltonville Intermediate School, died in October in what investigators called one of the worst cases of child abuse they'd ever seen.

She first came to the agency's attention in 2006 after a school nurse called the agency's child-abuse hotline, saying Charlenni had gashes on her hands, a split lip, and other injuries.

But the agency said that after investigating, monitoring the family, and twice taking Charlenni to doctors who specialize in abuse cases, it could not prove abuse and had no legal ground to keep the case open. During the investigation the Ferreiras complained that DHS was harassing the family.

The case was closed in March 2007; two years later, the girl was dead.

Police charged Charlenni's stepmother, Margarita Garabito, 43, of Feltonville, with murder. Her father, Domingo Ferreira, was also charged, but he committed suicide in jail shortly after his arrest.

much more here (and it only stirs up more questions, IMO, than providing answers)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/84762207.html

I am going to state this as calmly as I can-they cannot be exhonerated because they were WRONG. She was beaten to death by the people they investigated. They cannot in any way shape or form be given a pass. Their abuse specialists missed old, current and healing fractures. Their abuse specialists SUCK. Pardon my language. She was sexually abused. If the medex could determine it, a doctor could determine it.

So, their system for evaluating risk is broken because this child was murdered under their watch. They can deny it on paper, but the facts stand. The required reporters (the school nurses) did what they were supposed to do.

This child was tortured. This is a hate crime against a child simply because they were vulnerable to people who were sadistic monsters. Dad took the easy way out because he was busted. Step mom now has a patsy.

But getting back to the system, if I were the folks involved I would not get too comfortable. Just because there is no person legally responsible for this baby left to scream to the heavens about how this case was BLOWN by the agency does not make her death any more justifiable.

Imagine being responsible for determining that there was no oversight here. Just imagine signing off on that piece of paper. It is SICKENING. They should have had to attend her autopsy.

Scuse me-I am bent out of shape I guess.

[BeanE]

http://childabuseheadlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Charleeni-Ferreria-PA-Oct-09.jpg


Rest in peace, Charleeni Ferreria. I'm so sorry this happened to you.

[believe09]

And of course, the child is beautiful. Just beautiful. There is no doubt she is a princess for real where she is now.

[Salem]

This is slightly off topic, but I have to say this. This is a 10 year old child. She could talk. And I imagine she did during the investigation in 2007. So what happened? Apparently no one could hear her? :( Docs say she is okay. DHS gets to close the case and they are glad, because after all, these POSs are saying they are being "harrassed" and DHS just doesn't need that kind of press.

Charleeni learned that it is painful to disclose. Because no matter what the adults that say they are going to help you do, no matter what you tell them, you still have to go back.

In reality and generally speaking, the only time it is safe to disclose abuse is when the child lives with both their bio dad and mom and they are loving parents and the abuse happened by someone outside the family. That really is the only time a child is safe, as far as I can tell.

I am so sorry Charleeni that no one listened, that the Drs. were idiots and that you suffered so much, sweetie. The angels will take good care of you and you will never have to be afraid again.

Salem

[believe09]

Thanks for writing that Salem-I had to write to the reporter who did the piece on the panel of experts. I had to explain that I thought in spite of what all these learned folks came up with, the equation was simple...Charlenni was murdered so DHS was wrong in their risk assessment.

[Salem]

(((((believe09))))) - I agree with you. If we could only see the report to learn for ourselves what this little 7/8 year old girl had to say, I bet we could determine that DHS closed it ears to her voice. :(

I'm glad you wrote the reporter. Maybe that reporter should ask DHS what Charleeni had to say during that investigation and why DHS thought that Charleeni's words were not important?

I am only assuming that Charleeni disclosed abuse at the time. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Children in trouble generally have NO reason to believe the adults that are supposed to save them. Its a lesson they seem to earn early, poor babies.

Salem

[VespaElf]

Oh and another point..........the 2nd Doctor with the Indian name who saw her & simply ordered blood tests?
They said he was in KENSINGTON........I wouldnt take a stray dog to a free Vet in Kensington let alone a child for an abuse investigation! Kensington was/is known as "The Badlands" & Im shocked theres even a supposed legit doctor practicing there(Im biting my tongue as to not get o/t about the Doctors possible nation of origin) but it once again shows how failed this girl was as why wasnt she brought toa qualified,legitmate medical facility??
TWO school NURSES from TWO seperate schools reported abuse & this girl wasnt rushed to C.H.O.P(childrens hospital of philadelphia)? Why was her abuser allowed to pick some shady doctor to examine her??


AS for her not saying anything..........SHE WAS A CHILD!!!!!!!!! Why didnt SHARON MARSHALL ever say anything? Why didnt JAYCEE??? THe finger pointing needs to be done at the family,the "medical professionals" and DCF **NOT** at the VICTIM regardless of age! NOt only was she physically abused she was mentally & emotionally! We cant begin fathom or question the abused 10 year olds state of mind!!

[believe09]

I want to add this physician to the tags-here is a snip from one of the links:

"In September, the family took Charleeni to Ramesh Parchuri, a family practitioner in Kensington. Parchuri said he did not have any paperwork telling him about the nurse's concerns or that there had been previous abuse allegations.
Parchuri said he ordered blood tests for Charleeni's anemia and planned to see her again. He did not notice any of her injuries."

Didnt notice any of her injuries.

[dr dona]

In Iowa the DHS case workers call me to give me a heads up and my office schedulers put ? abuse in for the presenting complaint..When I evaluate the child I do a full hx. If saw a ? abused child with a limp I sure as h--- would order an Xray of hips and of ribs ( frequent site of fractures in abuse) and I might have ordered a full body evaluation for fractures. DHS and the Docs screwed up big time!!!!!!

[Salem]

~respectfully snipped ~

AS for her not saying anything..........SHE WAS A CHILD!!!!!!!!! Why didnt SHARON MARSHALL ever say anything? Why didnt JAYCEE??? THe finger pointing needs to be done at the family,the "medical professionals" and DCF **NOT** at the VICTIM regardless of age! NOt only was she physically abused she was mentally & emotionally! We cant begin fathom or question the abused 10 year olds state of mind!!

VespaElf - I hope you did not misunderstand my post - I was NOT blaming the victim - I was blaming DHS for NOT listening to her. I agree both docs should be disqualified BUT in addition, DHS does NOT get a free ride just because they took her to the DOC. I am sure this child said something AND DHS REFUSED TO LISTEN TO HER AND PLACED HER RIGHT BACK IN HARM'S WAY.

It is my opinion that when a child complains of abuse - that child should immediately be removed from the home. I don't give a ***** how many lawsuits the parents might want to file. If a child complains - they need to be removed from the home - I don't what the Doc says, I don't care what the parents say. The child should be listened to FIRST. And if the child shows any fear about being returned to the home, the child should NOT be returned!

Salem

[kbl8201]

Panel exonerates DHS in child-abuse death

By John Sullivan
Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted on Fri, Feb. 19, 2010


A panel of experts who reviewed the abuse death of 10-year-old Charlenni Ferreira found no fault with the city Department of Human Services' handling of her case, but said city agencies responsible for children needed to work together to prevent deaths.

Charlenni, a fifth grader at Feltonville Intermediate School, died in October in what investigators called one of the worst cases of child abuse they'd ever seen.

She first came to the agency's attention in 2006 after a school nurse called the agency's child-abuse hotline, saying Charlenni had gashes on her hands, a split lip, and other injuries.

But the agency said that after investigating, monitoring the family, and twice taking Charlenni to doctors who specialize in abuse cases, it could not prove abuse and had no legal ground to keep the case open. During the investigation the Ferreiras complained that DHS was harassing the family.

The case was closed in March 2007; two years later, the girl was dead.

Police charged Charlenni's stepmother, Margarita Garabito, 43, of Feltonville, with murder. Her father, Domingo Ferreira, was also charged, but he committed suicide in jail shortly after his arrest.

much more here (and it only stirs up more questions, IMO, than providing answers)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/84762207.html

oh of course dhs is never to blame for anything
\
how about the doctor who claimed there was no abuse?

[Bobbisangel]

Those darn doctors should lose their license to practice. Did they not talk to this little girl and why no xrays? What does it take to tell that a child is being abused. That poor little girl. I wish just one of her friends would have told someone. Why do people talk after the fact but not when it counts? Kids could have talked to their parents who could have gone to LE.

Her dad was nothing but a coward. He had the guts to pick on a little girl but was probably afraid of what would happen to him in prison. Well dad, I would guess that being in hell is a lot worse then anything that could have happened to you in prison...burn daddy burn.

[kbl8201]

maybe the kids did tell there parents and the parents did nothing.

[believe09]

I am waiting patiently for DNA to be released. Dad was gone to the DR until 3 days before she died. By then she had the gash and the broken hip at a minimum.

IIRC she told her friend who was raping her. The pneumonia that killed her was from multiple broken ribs-so that injury was older than 3 days...both lungs collapsed right?

I mean her poor tired body just couldnt do it anymore. She lived at least 4 years like this.

[BeanE]

I just wanted to point out that Charleeni was not just sexually assaulted, but sexually mutilated. This little girl's suffering is unimaginable.

http://cbs3.com/topstories/Feltonville.Philadelphia.Police.2.1262982.html

[believe09]

Thanks for the reminder, BeanE. I have to assume that she was not in school at some point-the number of her CURRENT fractures would have made it impossible for her to function...the broken wrist alone and the broken ribs.

What is so frustrating for me DHS and the physicians are the only ones left to rail against. Stepmom is behind bars and dad is dead. It is all too little too late.

[BeanE]

Thanks for the reminder, BeanE. I have to assume that she was not in school at some point-the number of her CURRENT fractures would have made it impossible for her to function...the broken wrist alone and the broken ribs.

What is so frustrating for me DHS and the physicians are the only ones left to rail against. Stepmom is behind bars and dad is dead. It is all too little too late.

The articles indicated she went to school most, if not all the time, but I think I know why. As painful as it must have been for her to navigate her way to school, at least she knew while she was there, nobody would hurt her, nobody would beat more on her wounds, so she could have a few hours with some easing of her physical pain, a few hours without being tortured.

If your choice is to walk to school on a broken hip, or stay home and get it beaten on, and more bones broken, and your skull slashed open, and get sexually mutilated, then survival instinct kicks in, and you walk on the broken hip. It hurts less than the alternative. Just like an animal will gnaw its own foot off to get out of a trap. This is what Charleeni was reduced to. This is why Charleeni hobbled to school, and sat at a cold hard desk with her gashed scalp and broken bones.

The torture, the physical and emotional pain Charleeni suffered, is... well, I consider myself to be an articulate person, but I can not find the words for it.

[Salem]

All I can say is Oh My God! This poor child. :(

Salem

[reen]

Awful, awful, awful that no one helped this poor child. In reading more I think she knew she was about to die. And did, a week before turning 11.

"Emanie Feliciano, 9, who...played with Charleeni, remembered the girl saying recently, 'I'm going to have a birthday. Well, maybe not.'

"'What 10-year-old is going to say that?' asked Emanie's mother, Leslie Santiago, 28."

My heart is breaking.

http://tinyurl.com/yjn6t9u

[aprilshowers]

snipped from article: "Sources say she was suffering from a broken wrist, ribs and hip, and had an 8 inch gap in her skull that was stuffed with gauze and covered by a weave. Sources said she was also sexually assaulted and mutilated."

and this is heartbreaking to me somehow

"Despite her injuries and repeated abuse, sources say Ferreria made her way to school every day and kept perfect attendance. No one at the school was apparently aware of the terrible pain the little girl was enduring."


She was a 10 year old little girl.

Our world is so sad.

OK .. I just almost threw up! Dear God ... please take special care of this little girl, when she arrives.

[SunnieRN]

(((((believe09))))) - I agree with you. If we could only see the report to learn for ourselves what this little 7/8 year old girl had to say, I bet we could determine that DHS closed it ears to her voice. :(

I'm glad you wrote the reporter. Maybe that reporter should ask DHS what Charleeni had to say during that investigation and why DHS thought that Charleeni's words were not important?

I am only assuming that Charleeni disclosed abuse at the time. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Children in trouble generally have NO reason to believe the adults that are supposed to save them. Its a lesson they seem to earn early, poor babies.

Salem

I am sure that Charleeni learned NOT to say anything to anyone about the abuse she underwent, long before 2007 when DHS failed her the first time.

I am sure her step monster "Mother" threatened her against saying anythig to anyone! Poor baby must have been terrified when the school nurse reported her condition.

I hope the DHS system is NOT allowed to get away with denying guilt in this matter. This case continues to gnaw at my soul! TWA sweet girl!

[VespaElf]

Saw this & thought it was related as apparently theres Doctors who just do not see abuse.If you havent heard about Baby P.......its one of the most brutal,heartbreaking abuse cases EVER and here is another "Doctor" who simply saw no abuse:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2863408/Baby-P-doctor-is-feeling-suicidal.html

[believe09]

VE is making a huge point-the panel of experts that exhonerated DHS in Charlenni's case means squat. I am certain that there are cases of abuse that are subtle-Charlenni's was NOT. Glad Dr Parchuri could bill himself out as a "child abuse" expert but frankly he sucks. Why? Because she had multiple old, current and healing fractures. So if he took any xrays, he cant read them very well. If he claims he never read them, well his radiologist sucks. If I were the state I would be looking closely at the money changing hands situation between this DR and DHS. Just sayin.

God Bless America, this case has completely taken me over. What a waste of such a very, very special soul. Stepmomster will never ever be missed in this society-but Charlenni, man she held the keys to the kingdom. We are poorer for her loss.

[concerned4kids]

This is absolutely one of the most heartbreaking stories I have ever read. I am at work holding back tears for this little girl. I can not believe that someone could treat this Angel like that. She is definitely in Heaven now where she is no longer suffering. RIP Charlenni...

[VespaElf]

VE is making a huge point-the panel of experts that exhonerated DHS in Charlenni's case means squat. I am certain that there are cases of abuse that are subtle-Charlenni's was NOT. Glad Dr Parchuri could bill himself out as a "child abuse" expert but frankly he sucks. Why? Because she had multiple old, current and healing fractures. So if he took any xrays, he cant read them very well. If he claims he never read them, well his radiologist sucks. If I were the state I would be looking closely at the money changing hands situation between this DR and DHS. Just sayin.

God Bless America, this case has completely taken me over. What a waste of such a very, very special soul. Stepmomster will never ever be missed in this society-but Charlenni, man she held the keys to the kingdom. We are poorer for her loss.
Personally I think,& Im really trying not to get o/t ,that there is a possible CULTURAL bias with some Doctors from 3rd world countries that has them not being sensitive (?)enough or aware enough to diagnose or recognize abuse.I also think that the reason DHS contracts with this Doctors is that they may possibly charge less .Sucks but it always comes down to the dollar doesnt it? I bet Dr Parchuri charges far less than the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia! :(


I think ,however,we need additional if not MORE training in abuse for not only medical professionals but teachers ,the general public and CHILDREN! I.e "What to do if you think or KNOW your classmate/friend is being hurt".
WE could bring back the "bad touch/good touch" (and adding in curriculum about "bad" pictures & videos) as well as what a child should do if they witness or know of another child being abused.
I would LOVE to see this in every school in America ,every school year in EVERY grade(done age appropriately of course -like the "bad pictures" for high schoolers could cover 'sexting')if this saved ONE child wouldnt it be enough???
How could this get started? I guess whenever they overhaul each states DCF!HA!:banghead:
Im sad because Charleeni is not the first nor will she be the last! :(

[VespaElf]

~respectfully snipped ~

VespaElf - I hope you did not misunderstand my post - I was NOT blaming the victim - I was blaming DHS for NOT listening to her. I agree both docs should be disqualified BUT in addition, DHS does NOT get a free ride just because they took her to the DOC. I am sure this child said something AND DHS REFUSED TO LISTEN TO HER AND PLACED HER RIGHT BACK IN HARM'S WAY.

It is my opinion that when a child complains of abuse - that child should immediately be removed from the home. I don't give a ***** how many lawsuits the parents might want to file. If a child complains - they need to be removed from the home - I don't what the Doc says, I don't care what the parents say. The child should be listened to FIRST. And if the child shows any fear about being returned to the home, the child should NOT be returned!

Salem

Salem,
So sorry! Totally misread post! I was so angry I didnt realize it was you who wrote the post I was replying to!:blushing:
Arrrrgghhhhhhhhhh! This case has me on the warpath! What makes it the worst is how helpless it makes me feel!:banghead: