Missouri, St. Louis - Teenage girl critically injured after brutal fight with another female teen near Hazelwood East High School, 8 March 2024

[MollyDDD]

I agree. My mother had so many sayings....
Two wrongs don't make a right
Don't judge a book by it's cover
It takes two to tango
Actions speak louder than words (one of my favorites while raising my children)
Where there's a will, there's a way
It's better to be safe than sorry! (applicable to this case)
The pen is mightier than the sword
Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill

I'll stop here. My point is that even if things are taught in school, they need to be reinforced in the home. I'm showing my age!

lol, honestly for a minute there I thought you were my sister! lololol

 

[Yuletide]

KG was suspended from school the previous day for fighting with another student. She should have been on the radar of the school counselors and resource officers and given the help she needed. Our local school district offers free family counseling sessions.

JMO

Correct. She was. I think it might be possible that those services were offered. I believe the adult guardian would have to accept said counseling. I guess none of us really know for sure if the service was offered or not. One thing is for sure. Per KG’s Dad, she was regularly participating in physical combat with other students. She needed help in a big way. My opinion only

 

[Puzzles8]

Correct. She was. I think it might be possible that those services were offered. I believe the adult guardian would have to accept said counseling. I guess none of us really know for sure if the service was offered or not. One thing is for sure. Per KG’s Dad, she was regularly participating in physical combat with other students. She needed help in a big way. My opinion only

I so agree with you. I sadly think both KG and MD (as well as their parents) could have benefited from anger management and conflict resolving counseling.
I have to wonder if these programs were even available in their high school or community prior to this incident.
My prayers are for both girls and their families and that KG has a complete recovery.

JMO

 

[al66pine]

Programs Available to MD & KG.

... I sadly think both KG and MD (as well as their parents) could have benefited from anger management and conflict resolving counseling.
I have to wonder if these programs were even available in their high school or community prior to this incident. JMO

snipped for focus @Puzzles8 Thx for your post.
Seems imo, programs along the ^ lines are available, would have been available to these two students. IIUC often prompted by "incidents" but seems these two would already have been on the schools radar, "watch list" or equivalent.

Info below is from the "2023-2024 STUDENT-PARENT HANDBOOK / BEHAVIOR GUIDE."
______________________________________________________

https://www.hazelwoodschools.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=11624&dataid=34912&FileName=23-24%20Handbook_and_Behavior_Guide%20%207.24.23.pdf

Page 57: "BEHAVIOR CONTRACT/PLAN OR BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION PLAN
A behavior plan is defined as a document developed by students, parents/legal guardians and staff to provide support for a student to address misbehavior and assist them in better
decision-making."

"CONFLICT MEDIATION (PEER AND/OR ADULT DIRECTED)
Mediation is defined as a meeting between two parties to address an area of concern with the outcome being that each will understand the other’s perspective and make better choices moving forward. This may be facilitated by a staff member or a student peer leader."

Page 59: "REFLECTION ACTIVITY
A reflection activity is an assignment provided by a staff member for a student-designed to have them reflect on their behavior and to think of methods to help them not repeat the behavior."

"RE-TEACH EXPECTATIONS
Re-teaching expectations is defined as teaching building-wide behavioral expectations to a student which have been taught earlier in the school year to reinforce the importance of positive decision-making."

Page 60: "ROLE-PLAY
Role-play is defined as an activity where a staff member helps students to understand a situation in which they were involved in from a different perspective. This may result in the student taking on the role of another student to help them gain a better understanding of the choices that were made."

Page 61: "SOCIAL SKILLS INSTRUCTION
Social skills instruction is defined as a situation where a staff member teaches a student appropriate and expected social behavior."

Page 62: "LIST OF INTERVENTIONS
"Tier 1 Interventions may include, but are not limited to, the following: ....
" - Bullying Prevention
● Restorative Practices
● De-escalation strategies
● Support from the school behavior intevention staff..."
^ among 25 plus factors.
Page 63: "Tier 2 Interventions may include...."
"Tier 3 Interventions may include...."

https://www.hazelwoodschools.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=11624&dataid=34912&FileName=23-24%20Handbook_and_Behavior_Guide%20%207.24.23.pdf

https://www.hazelwoodschools.org/cm.../385/An Overview of Restorative Practices.pdf

 

[SteveP]

Certification hearing for Hazelwood teen accused of violently beating Kaylee Gain set for next week

First Alert 4 has learned new details on the case where a 15-year-old juvenile is accused of violently beating 16-year-old Kaylee Gain.

www.firstalert4.com

 

[tlcya]

from @SteveP link:

The certification hearing is set for Friday, May 10, where evidence will be presented to the judge. At the certification hearing, the victim’s family will have the opportunity to speak, as well as the suspect’s family.

Although that hearing is set for next Friday, the judge does not have to make a decision that day. The judge will then look over everything presented at the hearing. A decision could take several days or potentially even longer.

 

[tlcya]

After a month in the hospital and two weeks in a rehabilitation facility, Kaylee Gain has returned home, though she suffers from short term memory loss and must wear a helmet.
[snip]
Kaemmerer says Gain will not attend the May 10 hearing, but that her mother, father and stepmother will.
Kaylee Gain Is Home from Hospital After March School Fight, But Wears a Helmet and Has Memory Loss

 

[airportwoman]

Thanks for the updates.

 

[mickey2942]

Programs Available to MD & KG.

snipped for focus @Puzzles8 Thx for your post.
Seems imo, programs along the ^ lines are available, would have been available to these two students. IIUC often prompted by "incidents" but seems these two would already have been on the schools radar, "watch list" or equivalent.

Info below is from the "2023-2024 STUDENT-PARENT HANDBOOK / BEHAVIOR GUIDE."
______________________________________________________

https://www.hazelwoodschools.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=11624&dataid=34912&FileName=23-24%20Handbook_and_Behavior_Guide%20%207.24.23.pdf

Page 57: "BEHAVIOR CONTRACT/PLAN OR BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION PLAN
A behavior plan is defined as a document developed by students, parents/legal guardians and staff to provide support for a student to address misbehavior and assist them in better
decision-making."

"CONFLICT MEDIATION (PEER AND/OR ADULT DIRECTED)
Mediation is defined as a meeting between two parties to address an area of concern with the outcome being that each will understand the other’s perspective and make better choices moving forward. This may be facilitated by a staff member or a student peer leader."

Page 59: "REFLECTION ACTIVITY
A reflection activity is an assignment provided by a staff member for a student-designed to have them reflect on their behavior and to think of methods to help them not repeat the behavior."

"RE-TEACH EXPECTATIONS
Re-teaching expectations is defined as teaching building-wide behavioral expectations to a student which have been taught earlier in the school year to reinforce the importance of positive decision-making."

Page 60: "ROLE-PLAY
Role-play is defined as an activity where a staff member helps students to understand a situation in which they were involved in from a different perspective. This may result in the student taking on the role of another student to help them gain a better understanding of the choices that were made."

Page 61: "SOCIAL SKILLS INSTRUCTION
Social skills instruction is defined as a situation where a staff member teaches a student appropriate and expected social behavior."

Page 62: "LIST OF INTERVENTIONS
"Tier 1 Interventions may include, but are not limited to, the following: ....
" - Bullying Prevention
● Restorative Practices
● De-escalation strategies
● Support from the school behavior intevention staff..."
^ among 25 plus factors.
Page 63: "Tier 2 Interventions may include...."
"Tier 3 Interventions may include...."

https://www.hazelwoodschools.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=11624&dataid=34912&FileName=23-24%20Handbook_and_Behavior_Guide%20%207.24.23.pdf

https://www.hazelwoodschools.org/cm.../385/An Overview of Restorative Practices.pdf

Really? You think that what occurred, is something that can be made right, "Restorative Justice"?

I have always found that the perpetrator and society re-victimized the victim, by forcing this on them, and if they don't agree, they are the one with the "problem".

Kaylee may never be the same person that she was before she was brutally attacked. Let that sink in...

Shouldn't the perpetrator have to accept responsibility for her actions that day? And have her life changed as well?

 

[cujenn81]

Really? You think that what occurred, is something that can be made right, "Restorative Justice"?

I have always found that the perpetrator and society re-victimized the victim, by forcing this on them, and if they don't agree, they are the one with the "problem".

Kaylee may never be the same person that she was before she was brutally attacked. Let that sink in...

Shouldn't the perpetrator have to accept responsibility for her actions that day? And have her life changed as well?

I agree. From the People article, it sounds like Kaylee suffers from short term memory loss — meaning she no longer has the ability to retain new memories. This explains why her dad reported that KG asks the same question over and over and talks in a loop. IMO, this isn’t something she’ll likely overcome. She’ll learn ways to cope with it, of course — by learning how to live a “normal” life via rote memorization and muscle memory and the like — but she probably won’t ever remember new people that she meets or new information that she learns… and that makes me incredibly sad.

 

[al66pine]

Really? You think that what occurred, is something that can be made right, "Restorative Justice"?

I have always found that the perpetrator and society re-victimized the victim, by forcing this on them, and if they don't agree, they are the one with the "problem".

Kaylee may never be the same person that she was before she was brutally attacked. Let that sink in...

Shouldn't the perpetrator have to accept responsibility for her actions that day? And have her life changed as well?

@mickey2942 Thx for your response.
From your post: "Really? You think that what occurred, is something that can be made right, "Restorative Justice"?"

No, no, no.
Pls reread my post, which did not say RJ can make something "right."

Another poster said: "both KG and MD (as well as their parents) could have benefited from anger management and conflict resolving counseling.
I have to wonder IF these programs were even AVAILABLE in their high school or community prior to this incident." (<- my CAPS)

My post noted - it seems those types of programs were AVAILABLE and my post did NOT say those programs would have made ANYthing RIGHT.
IDK what, if anything, could have made this situation "right."

 

[mickey2942]

Juvenile officer recommends 15-year-old be tried as juvenile in beating of Kaylee Gain

The recommendation that Maurnice Declue be tried as a juvenile doesn’t come as a surprise given her lack of a juvenile record.

www.ksdk.com

Juvenile officer recommends that the perpetrator is certified as a "Juvenile", due to lack of previous history in Juvenile records.

The judge hearing the case will take the recommendation under advisement and deliver a ruling at a future date.

 

[al66pine]

Juvenile officer recommends 15-year-old be tried as juvenile in beating of Kaylee Gain

The recommendation that Maurnice Declue be tried as a juvenile doesn’t come as a surprise given her lack of a juvenile record.

www.ksdk.com

Juvenile officer recommends that the perpetrator is certified as a "Juvenile", due to lack of previous history in Juvenile records.

The judge hearing the case will take the recommendation under advisement and deliver a ruling at a future date.

@mickey2942 Thx for keeping us current.

"Research has shown the brains of juveniles aren’t as developed as an adult’s and lack the ability to fully grasp consequences, however repeated high-level offenses can lead officers to certify children as adults."

IDK about ^ "research" but will withhold further comment.

Juvenile officer recommends 15-year-old be tried as juvenile in beating of Kaylee Gain

The recommendation that Maurnice Declue be tried as a juvenile doesn’t come as a surprise given her lack of a juvenile record.

www.ksdk.com

 

[mickey2942]

@mickey2942 Thx for keeping us current.

"Research has shown the brains of juveniles aren’t as developed as an adult’s and lack the ability to fully grasp consequences, however repeated high-level offenses can lead officers to certify children as adults."

IDK about ^ "research" but will withhold further comment.

Juvenile officer recommends 15-year-old be tried as juvenile in beating of Kaylee Gain

The recommendation that Maurnice Declue be tried as a juvenile doesn’t come as a surprise given her lack of a juvenile record.

www.ksdk.com

Family of teen assault suspect says 'she wants to apologize' to Kaylee Gain

The family of 15-year-old Maurnice DeClue identified her as the suspect charged with assaulting Kaylee Gain. They say she was bullied for months before the fight.

www.ksdk.com

I am surprised that the perpetrator never disclosed to her parents, or other school officials that she was being "bullied".

Perhaps, the school system needs to have a program in place to allow students to report bullying occurrences.

The problem is that what one person may perceive "bullying", another person sees it as nothing more than verbal exchange.

 

[MyBelle]

Juvenile officer recommends 15-year-old be tried as juvenile in beating of Kaylee Gain

The recommendation that Maurnice Declue be tried as a juvenile doesn’t come as a surprise given her lack of a juvenile record.

www.ksdk.com

Juvenile officer recommends that the perpetrator is certified as a "Juvenile", due to lack of previous history in Juvenile records.

The judge hearing the case will take the recommendation under advisement and deliver a ruling at a future date.

It won't surprise me if the Judge decides "Juvenile" is the best option. The fact that both girls were willing participants in their "fight" should also factor into it.

JMO

From your link:
Gain had been suspended from the school the day before for fighting with a different girl.

 

[SteveP]

It won't surprise me if the Judge decides "Juvenile" is the best option. The fact that both girls were willing participants in their "fight" should also factor into it.

JMO

From your link:
Gain had been suspended from the school the day before for fighting with a different girl.

I tend to agree that she will likely be tried as a juvenile.

 

[Puzzles8]

Programs Availa

Family of teen assault suspect says 'she wants to apologize' to Kaylee Gain

The family of 15-year-old Maurnice DeClue identified her as the suspect charged with assaulting Kaylee Gain. They say she was bullied for months before the fight.

www.ksdk.com

I am surprised that the perpetrator never disclosed to her parents, or other school officials that she was being "bullied".

Perhaps, the school system needs to have a program in place to allow students to report bullying occurrences.

The problem is that what one person may perceive "bullying", another person sees it as nothing more than verbal exchange.

I agree with the difficulties of defining bullying. I suspect the definition is even different between school districts and parts of the country.

Even though they attended the same school, the incident occurred off campus. I don't know if the school's arms reach that far. It would be interesting to know.

JMO

 

[Yuletide]

It won't surprise me if the Judge decides "Juvenile" is the best option. The fact that both girls were willing participants in their "fight" should also factor into it.

JMO

From your link:
Gain had been suspended from the school the day before for fighting with a different girl.

In my opinion, the words in text messages leading up to the planned fight could also play an important role in deciding how she is tried. Jmo. I stand behind my opinion that she should be tried as an adult. Trying her as a juvenile will be a quick slap on the wrist, so to speak, and then she will bounce on with her life, and her record will be sealed from impacting her further. Meanwhile, Kaylee is missing part of her skull and has to wear a helmet and requires another surgery and is learning how to talk, and her education has been halted, and quite possibly may not be able to ever learn again at full capacity. In addition, it is my opinion that MD is a seasoned fighter so to speak and is well versed at inflicting grave injuries on another human being.(my opinion only). She may not have a juvenile record, but in some cases that just means a youngster wasn’t caught yet.

 

[MollyDDD]

@mickey2942 Thx for keeping us current.

"Research has shown the brains of juveniles aren’t as developed as an adult’s and lack the ability to fully grasp consequences, however repeated high-level offenses can lead officers to certify children as adults."

IDK about ^ "research" but will withhold further comment.

Juvenile officer recommends 15-year-old be tried as juvenile in beating of Kaylee Gain

The recommendation that Maurnice Declue be tried as a juvenile doesn’t come as a surprise given her lack of a juvenile record.

www.ksdk.com

We’ll see her name in the news again within five years, and it ain’t gonna be that she graduated from college.

 

[Kaley Smith]

I so agree with you. I sadly think both KG and MD (as well as their parents) could have benefited from anger management and conflict resolving counseling.
I have to wonder if these programs were even available in their high school or community prior to this incident.
My prayers are for both girls and their families and that KG has a complete recovery.

JMO

I think anger management classes should be taught in school, along with teaching about consent in sexual relationships and how to help oneself through a breakup. Many young men become angry or depressed when a young woman rejects him, and thoughts of revenge or suicide sometimes lead to tragic actions.