Couple Arrested on Charges of Starving Kids

Doyle · #1 10-26-2003, 06:46 AM

A couple whose adopted teenage sons weighed less than 50 pounds have been arrested on charges of starving four boys they adopted through the state Division of Youth and Family Services
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,101235,00.html

Doyle · #2 10-27-2003, 07:22 AM

The sicko New Jersey couple who starved their four sons apparently preferred their daughters - allowing them to pig out in front of the boys, authorities said.
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/9191.htm

Doyle · #3 10-28-2003, 05:56 AM

Oversight Blamed in New Jersey Starvation Case
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...-nation-manual

Jersey fires 9 for not noting 4 starved kids
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/loca...p-117316c.html

Toth · #4 10-28-2003, 09:53 AM

The "home visits" were probably all done on paper only.

#5 10-28-2003, 10:54 AM

That's my guess. How else could the social workers not have noticed that the boys were seriously underweight? I hope there are some criminal sanctions that apply to those social workers as well.

Arielle · #6 10-28-2003, 02:51 PM

Does anyone know if these 4 boys were biologically related as well as being adopted by the same folks? The "parents" blamed their appearance on some kind of genetic defect keeping them from absorbing food or something of the sort. If the boys were not related, then this really should have raised red flags. If they were related, it is more probable that they could all be suffering from some sort of problem. I'm not making any kind of excuses for anyone here. I'm just curious.

Jeana (DP) · #7 10-28-2003, 04:21 PM

I heard this morning on the radio that they were biologially the couple's children and the reason they were "small" was because they were born addicted to herion and "never really grew." I find this amazingly difficult to believing considering the fact that one of them has already gained something like 5 pounds. The mere fact that they were born drug addicted seems to me like something that should have prevented these "people" from breeding again!!!

Toth · #8 10-28-2003, 04:34 PM

Its simple. The couple's only income was from the CPS people. If they fed the kids, no money would be available for the parents food and 'other substances'.
Heroin, eating disorder, genetic defect,,, I'm sure a defense lawyer will come up with a few more eventually.
I won't believe any of them. And I doubt anyone else will either.

Ghostwheel · #9 10-29-2003, 01:08 AM

I don't see how they could be the couples "biological" children, though. They would not have to be adopted if that were so.

Jeana (DP) · #10 10-29-2003, 02:03 PM

I think I was mistaken. Heard the wrong info on the news!! They were adopted or foster children.

Doyle · #11 10-30-2003, 05:39 AM

Child-welfare workers under criminal probe
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/n...al/7128825.htm

N.J. abuse case points to lack of school oversight
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/n...al/7127192.htm

Ghostwheel · #12 10-31-2003, 01:10 AM

Blame it on them being homeschooled? Puleeeeze! I'd like "Point the blame with smoke and mirrors" for $1000, please.

Because they were homeschooled, yeah, right.

#13 10-31-2003, 10:09 PM

I always like to point out that most abused kids go to school. It didn't help them any.

Toth · #14 10-31-2003, 11:42 PM

I'm sure it was a matter of the social workers goofing off while they filled out forms that said they had visited the home.

You can't see a 45 pound 19 year old and think everything is fine in the home. No matter how dumb the social worker is, none can be that dumb.

Doyle · #15 11-01-2003, 07:43 AM

911 tape: 'He says he's 19. He can't be 19'
Mike Byrd made a call that led police to 4 starving brothers.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/n...al/7145578.htm

Doyle · #16 11-02-2003, 07:03 AM

Jailed Couple Deny Starving Boys
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,101932,00.html

Arielle · #17 11-03-2003, 03:25 PM

I just can't beleive this! I've read it several times now and I just keep thinking one thing. My 3 year old is 3 foot 4 and weighs 40 pounds! We are talking about a 19 year old who was only 5 pounds heavier and 8 inches taller! How is that even possible?

Doyle · #18 11-03-2003, 03:42 PM

Is it possible that starting someone so much can stunt their growth?

these are very sad cases.

jat · #19 11-03-2003, 05:17 PM

Absolutely! The body of a child is still in its growing stages. Children need nourishment in order for their cells to metabolize. Without enough nutrients and water, their cells will not divide (or will divide at a much slower pace) and grow. Starvation definitely stunts growth in children.

In adults, that wouldn't happen so much because the majority of your growth is over.

Doyle · #20 11-04-2003, 05:40 AM

Couple Accused of Starving Kids Make Bail
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,102043,00.html

Church delivers accused couple from jail
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index....8294166660.xml

#21 11-04-2003, 12:35 PM

After reading this story and visiting the web site that the pastor of the Jacksons church set up at http://savethejacksons.org I am starting to wonder if LE has jumped the gun on this one. When I first read the horrifying story of these poor starving children, I too was very upset by it and could not understand how anyone can do such a thing, but maybe the whole story has not come out. I know that the web site was set up to defend the Jacksons so it really only talks about them being wrongly accused but it doesn't hurt to look at their story. It sets up reasonable doubt for me. After seeing the pictures of the Jackson family and the children, the only child (just judging by the pics) that looks terribly sick is the oldest, Bruce 19 years. Then I looked up some things on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome to see what some of the characteristics are and I think Bruce does show many of them.

Just being open minded about this one...don't shoot me.

Doyle · #22 11-05-2003, 05:47 AM

INSIDE HELL HOUSE -
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/9916.htm

MDs doubt Jacksons' explanation on kids
Say disorders not sole cause in starvation
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index....2884366380.xml

DYFS caseworkers speak out
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/n...al/7178444.htm

Jeana (DP) · #23 11-05-2003, 10:16 AM

Mysunshyn, (by the way LOVE your name),

I agree we need to wait until all the evidence is in before we rush to crucify these people. However, some questions, at least for me, beg answers.

First, why weren't the kids in school?

Second, if the kids were not starved, why was this boy in the garbage looking for food.

Next, why was the kitchen locked?

How have the kids managed to gain so much weight so quickly?

Why weren't the kids taken to the doctor for yearly check ups?

Why didn't the kids see a dentist?

How come child welfare workers didn't note the kids' weights on their visits?

If the state was paying for the children to receive medical care, why didn't the kids see doctors for their supposed illnesses?

If the state agency was not doing anything for these kids, who clearly had a need, how come the parents were doing nothing to try and get them the help they needed?

Why would the kids be eating the walls if they were not starving?

I certainly don't expect you to have the answers to any of these questions. I do hope that the answers come out during the investigation of this case though. I don't think the parents can get off the hook here at any rate. I believe the children may have been born with some problems because of the addictions they might have been born with. However, there are treatments for these ailments and for them to still be suffering the affects of any addictions they may have been born with appears to be unnecessary.

Toth · #24 11-05-2003, 12:11 PM

>First, why weren't the kids in school?
Homeschooled.

>Second, if the kids were not starved,
>why was this boy in the garbage looking for food.
Clearly he was starved. Only the social worker's union disputes the starvation.

>Next, why was the kitchen locked?
So the kids couldn't steal food, what else? Only the defense lawyers will come up with other reasons.

>How have the kids managed to gain so much weight so quickly?
Those nurses keep feeding them three meals a day.

>Why weren't the kids taken to the doctor for yearly check ups?
Costs money that could otherwise be spent on drugs.

>Why didn't the kids see a dentist?
See above.

>How come child welfare workers didn't note
>the kids' weights on their visits?
Probably because those "visits" were paper visits. You know, you sit in the office and fill out the forms for 86 home visits. Then you get on the telephone and spend the rest of the day selling magazine subscriptions.

Doyle · #25 12-24-2003, 04:54 AM

N.J. Couple Accused of Starving Four Adopted Sons Not Allowed to See Boys Over Christmas
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20031223_888.html