Father pleads guilty to rape of 1-day-old daughter
PBB Tipper Shanna has sent in this article about Jonathan Goodrum, a 19 year old man who has pleaded guilty of raping his 1-day-old daughter.
1-day-old and still in the hospital, after a routine examination, vaginal tears were found on the infant. Police are only saying the tears were made with an “unknown object”.
The mother, Kristina Sawyer, 18, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failure to report child abuse. It’s currently unclear what her involvement in this incident was. The guilty plea, to me, suggests she at least knew of the incident, but again, this is unknown.
He was sentenced to 10 years, minus the 11 months he has already served. I’m not exactly sure how this could happen, but… *sigh* the remaining 9 years of his sentence will just be probation?! Does this mean he will have only served 11 months for this? Somehow my brain is having trouble processing this information…
He’s not allowed to see his daughter, though it is unclear as to whether this applies to his other daughter, now 1-year-old. He’ll also have to register as a sex offender and see a psychiatrist.
To me, this seems to be a case where the punishment doesn’t match the crime. If anyone has any additional information on this case, please send it in!
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107 opinions for Father pleads guilty to rape of 1-day-old daughter
anna
Mar 8, 2007 at 6:13 pm
That’s sick, what motivates these people who do these things?!! I hope they teach him in prison how it feels!
Mrs. Flinger
Mar 8, 2007 at 6:48 pm
I’m speechless. Seriously. Oh. My. God.
Melissa
Mar 8, 2007 at 6:58 pm
This is incredible. I have been following this site for a while and now feel compelled to comment. This is beyond anything I have ever read or heard. This is so sick! I would never ever could imagine such a thing could happen. I hope he suffers a slow and humiliating death in prison.
Samantha
Mar 8, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Just when you think it seriously COULD NOT get any worse- what do ya know? it does. cripes. can you imagine doctors and nurses that had to handle this?? not enough counselling in the world.
EchoedMemory
Mar 8, 2007 at 8:26 pm
I hate the human race…. I seriously do.
halfmama
Mar 8, 2007 at 8:31 pm
This is by far the worst thing I have read. I am at a loss. This is so, so sad.
EchoedMemory
Mar 8, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Would someone kindly go through all the cases on here and count how many of these are from people who are under the age of 25 (or, better yet, 20) please?…. Yep… I thought so…. nothing further.
Nancy
Mar 8, 2007 at 9:15 pm
When I read the title of this post my jaw just dropped to the floor. This just tops everything I’ve ever read here. I just want to cry for that baby.
Danyell
Mar 8, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Please, Please God someone stop these people!
One day old! I just don’t even know the words to describe how horrible this is. What kind of world is this that we live in that someone could do this to a One day old infant. To any child of any age for that matter. DEATH PENALTY isn’t even good enough for this guy. What are the court systems thinking letting him off this easy! I really hope someone in jail finds out what he did, and I really truly hope they take him out!
alalee
Mar 8, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Any reason a caning and then a castration wasn’t the prescribed punishment in this case? Oh yeah, we’re a *civilized* country. My thought: This shouldn’t happen in a so-called civilized country, raping a 1-day-old infant. Period. Then let’s compound it by letting him serve only 11 months. Yeah, that’s soooo civilized.
Shanna
Mar 8, 2007 at 11:13 pm
I sent the tip in on this one, and I had blogged about it back when it happened in May, because I thought it was the saddest thing I had ever heard. jackson Sun has taken down the article link to those 2 old articles, so I copied my blogs for you all to read the original articles. Sorry about the ads and lack of pictures that was just how it turned out. I can not believe the lack of justice in this case, and the fact that it has not gotten anymore national attention than it has. It actually barely got local coverage either, because of the whole Mary Winkler circus going on. Sure the WInkler case is very sad, but what about the one day old baby RAPED in the mother’s hospital room?????? And he will get no “prison justice” (i.e- 500 pound, very well-endowed cellmate named Bubba who REALLY likes him) because he will finish out his “hefty” senetence in an isolation cell in county jail, because he was being “harrassed” by the other inmates (poor baby), according to the local TV station. Anyway, here’s those blogs.
update
Current mood: sad
Here’s the latest article on the baby rapist I wrote about last time. This one has pictures, and what’s scary is that these two actually don’t look like monsters. And I happen to think the girl’s sister sounds like an idiot. I mean come on, ” the baby’s fine”????!!!!
Aunt: Baby doing fine after suspected rape
By TONYA SMITH-KING
tsmithking@jacksonsun.com
MCKENZIE - The infant whose parents are accused of raping her is doing “fine,” her aunt said Monday.
“She’s healthy,” Donna Ward said of the child in a telephone interview on Monday. Ward said she is keeping the baby girl and her sister’s 1-year-old daughter.
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Police have charged Ward’s sister, 18-year-old Kristina Louise Sawyer, and her boyfriend, Jonathan Wayne Goodrum, 19, with the March 24 rape of the child.
The couple was arrested in April, according to arrest warrants filed in Carroll County Circuit Court. The Carroll County Grand Jury indicted them May 1.
The court has set June 6 as the date to hear any motions in the case, a court clerk said.
An object inserted in the child’s rear private area caused “minute tears” around that area with a larger tear extending to the front private area, arrest warrants said.
McKenzie Police Lt. Tim Nanney has said the incident happened before the child was taken home from McKenzie Regional Hospital.
Sawyer and Goodrum were still in jail Monday, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department.
Goodrum is being held on a $100,000 bond. Sawyer’s bond was reduced to $5,000 following her arraignment because police are still looking into what role, if any, she had in the incident.
Huntingdon attorney Steve West was appointed to represent Sawyer. Goodrum is being represented by the 24th Judicial District’s Public Defender’s Office.
Neither West nor Public Defender Guy Wilkinson could be reached late Monday afternoon for comment.
Ward said she doesn’t condone what happened and she doesn’t believe her sister had any part in it.
“I raised her,” Ward said of Sawyer. “I know she didn’t do what they said she did.”
Asked what Sawyer did for a living, Ward said she was a student in an adult education program.
Police have said Sawyer and Goodrum were living at the Value Inn Motel and were engaged to be married.
Ward was not certain why her sister was at the Value Inn Motel because all her belongings were still at their mother’s McKenzie apartment, where Sawyer had been staying, she said. Ward said she doesn’t believe Sawyer would have married Goodrum.
Their mother, Lorraine Brandl of McKenzie, said she was too hurt by the incident to comment Monday. A sign on her apartment door stated in part: “Do not disturb. My daughter is not a rapist.”
Residents who have heard of the case find it disturbing.
“I can’t even fathom where the idea would come from to do something like that,” said Joe LaPorta, a former New York resident who is living in McKenzie and doing renovation work at the Value Inn Motel, located on Highland Drive in the town’s business district.
Value Inn resident Larry Thomas had seen the couple around the facility when they lived there. He said there needs to be a tough penalty if the couple is guilty.
Nanney said Monday the case is very unusual.
“I’ve never had any case like this before,” said Nanney, who has worked more than 16 years in law enforcement. “I’ve had child rape cases before, but nothing dealing with a child this young.”
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- Tonya Smith-King, 425-9680
Originally published May 16, 2006
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Police have charged Jonathan Wayne Goodrum, 19, and 18-year-old Kristina Louise Sawyer with the March 24 rape of their 1-day-old baby girl. They were arrested in April, and the Carroll County Grand Jury indicted them May 1.
What to know
Kristina Louise Sawyer, 18, and Jonathan Wayne Goodrum, 19, have been charged with the March 24 rape of their 1-day-old infant girl.
Both remained in the Carroll County Jail Monday.
The next court date in the case is June 6 when any motions attorneys may have are slated to be heard.
To share your thoughts about this case, visit the TalkBalk forums at http://www.jacksonsun.com.
What to know
Kristina Louise Sawyer, 18, and Jonathan Wayne Goodrum, 19, have been charged with the March 24 rape of their 1-day-old infant girl.
Both remained in the Carroll County Jail Monday.
The next court date in the case is June 6 when any motions attorneys may have are slated to be heard.
Zoom Photo
Police have charged Jonathan Wayne Goodrum, 19, and 18-year-old Kristina Louise Sawyer with the March 24 rape of their 1-day-old baby girl. They were arrested in April, and the Carroll County Grand Jury indicted them May 1.
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1:02 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
Saturday, May 13, 2006
One of the worst things I ‘ve ever heard…
Current mood: enraged
This is todays front page article on the Jackson Sun. I can’t believe that such evil exists in this world. Keep in mind while you read this the size and the innocence of a newborn baby. It’s just unimaginable. Let’s hope this guy is currently getting it from his big burly cellmate. I truly believe God reserves a special spot in hell for this sick fuck.
2 charged with rape of newborn
Newborn placed with relatives after both parents arrested in McKenzie
The Jackson Sun
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While both parents have been charged, Sawyer’s bond was reduced because police still are investigating what role, if any, she played in the possible rape of her child, Nanney said. She was charged because “I could not exclude her from being part of it, so I had to charge her also,” he said. “I could not exclude her at the time from being a participant of it.”
Nanney said hospital officials notified police of the possible rape after noticing injuries to the child’s rear during a routine examination given before newborns are released from the hospital.
“There were some skin tears in and around the private (back) area of the child,” he said.
The investigation led to the child’s parents, Nanney said, and there was no indication that any hospital worker was involved in the incident.
“Based on the investigation, we ruled out everyone but the mom and the dad,” Nanney said.
The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services has placed the baby girl with a relative, Nanney said. The parents are not allowed to have contact with the girl, who is now about 6 weeks old.
The couple was engaged to be married and was living at the Value Inn Motel on Highland Drive in McKenzie at the time of the incident. Sawyer is a McKenzie native, and Goodrum also has relatives living in Carroll County, though Nanney did not know his hometown.
Goodrum is being held in the Carroll County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond. Sawyer’s bond was reduced to $5,000 after her arraignment. Nanney did not know if she still was being held or had been released.
While no trial date has been set, Nanney said one probably would not occur before September.
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Sinthyia
Mar 9, 2007 at 3:41 am
Reading it you realize he won’t serve any more time in jail. We was sentanced to 10 years, you get more for a drugs or stealing a car ain’t our systm so much FUN, with nine suspended. He spent 11 months waiting for trial so he’s basically done with prison . I can’t even describe what I am feeling about what he did but I can about the JUDGE that sentanced the farkwit, chuck his ass off the bench! NOW! How in the name of anything good could he come up with that sentance??????? WTF???
Melissa2
Mar 9, 2007 at 7:32 am
I am so afraid for this world! This is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard of.
Heather
Mar 9, 2007 at 8:12 am
I think this is the first time I have been on this site and was speechless. This is rediculous. And his sentence - he should have gotten a hell lot longer for that shit. That is just disgusting and uh, I don’t even know what to say.
Colin
Mar 9, 2007 at 8:23 am
I wouldn’t be so quick to impeach the judge. It sounds like the prosecution had “probelms” with teh timeline and other evidence, and this plea deal is the best they could get.
http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070309/NEWS01/703090308/1002
No, he won’t be rotting in jail, but he still has to register as a sex offender, and will have no contact with his daughter.
Samantha
Mar 9, 2007 at 9:37 am
I can’t belived this. It is sad and pathetic that he will only be serving 11 months in prison. How can the judicial system live with itself. This makes me wanna be sick.
-LGirl-
Mar 9, 2007 at 10:13 am
How could the punishment ever fit the crime?
D.P.
Mar 9, 2007 at 10:34 am
Let me get this straight…this sick fuck vaginally rapes a ONE DAY old baby, and he is going home soon with “time served” and probation? What on earth was this judge smoking? This is outrageous.
Rosemary Amey
Mar 9, 2007 at 11:20 am
I don’t think it was vaginal rape, one of the articles Shauna posted said “An object inserted in the child’s rear private area caused ‘minute tears’ around that area with a larger tear extending to the front private area, arrest warrants said.”
So it looks like anal rape if I am interpreting the euphemisms correctly.
Either way, it is profoundly evil.
Renee
Mar 9, 2007 at 11:29 am
I think that everyone of these sick f-ing perverts should be tortured to death in the same way that they have violated someone else. none of them should live long enough to be paroled and to be allowed back into the public so they can ruin another innocent life, How could anyone do soemthing so vile to such a small innocent being?? There is noe rehabilitation. They should be cut out like the cancer that they are!
Bob
Mar 9, 2007 at 11:50 am
What about the Mom?
Surely she isn’t innocent. She needs to be tortured too.
bromac
Mar 9, 2007 at 12:29 pm
This makes me vomit
Scott Sandlin
Mar 9, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Exterminate them both (bare minimum sterilize both individuals), and examine and monitor all related siblings on both sides of the parents for the same warped actions.
An additional extreme screening process should be employed for the potential foster parents of the child (and all hideously abused children) should be taken to minimize the probability of future abuse.
Rosemary Amey
Mar 9, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Just realized I misspelled Shanna’s name, sorry Shanna.
Shanna
Mar 9, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Latest news on this is that apparently someone is claiming that the father raped his newborn as a result of his uncle raping him as a child. I went to http://www.tn.gov and clicked on the registered sex offender link and there is one named “Goodrum” with a rape of a child conviction from the same county. Personally, though, as sorry as I am for any child that lives through that it gives NO EXCUSE for repeating the behavior. My childhood also had its definite trauma, but that merely made me more determined to change that pattern for my children, not perpetuate it THE DAY AFTER THEY WERE BORN!!!! I keep imagining the size and innocence of my children at one day old, and it makes me wish lynching was an option. I pray no woman is fool enough to let thi sorry excuse for a human being get her pregnant again, and if the authorities had any sense the mother’s tubes would be tied before she could ever breathe free air again.
And Rosemary Amey, no worries on the name! It’s one of those that everyone has their own pronounciation and spelling for, so I’m very used to it!
alalee
Mar 10, 2007 at 4:49 am
If he didn’t do it, why would he agree to a plea when there was “flawed” evidence? No one in their right mind would agree to register as a sex offender if they were innocent.
I also see they will be trying to reunify the child with her mother, who pled guilty to not reporting the incident in the first place, which to me means she allowed it to happen and then didn’t report it (cock is ever so much more important than your kids, dontcha know?). She’s already got a 1-year-old and now this child, no one has established who’s the daddy(ies). So I guess I have to question, does she have a revolving door on her bedroom? Is the next dude she shacks up with gonna rape the children? She needs to have her parental rights terminated to both kids, IMO, and they both need to submit to sterilization. PERIOD.
I’m sorry I’m so nasty, but I am just disgusted, having seen similar happenings in the past (and continuing to happen due to that LOVELY family reunification program) to 2 beautiful children who are very close to my heart and knowing it will not change until a change is effected from the top-down in this absolutely screwed up system.
Donna
Mar 10, 2007 at 8:58 pm
This is to the girl who referred to me as “an Idiot”, excuse me I am not an idiot…at the time all I wished to say to the news media was that my niece was fine…she is now a happy thriving healthy 11 1/2 month..who luckily will hopefully never know what happened to her. So people who do not know me should really keep their opinions about me to themselves.
Donna
Mar 10, 2007 at 9:04 pm
This is to the boy who commented on both sides of the parents family’s being checked for warped actions…People who do not know me need to just keep their stupid uninformed opinions to themselves…I am 37 yrs old, married with a 15 and 13 yr old…on top of raising “the victim” I have never and would never do or think about doing what Goodrum was charged with… I am not a person with a “warped” mind…but thanks so much for yours and everybody elses opinions…they are SO welcome….NOT
Danyell
Mar 10, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Donna,
Ease up! N one is meaning to attack you! We all really hurt for your niece! What an awful horrible thing to have happen. It just blows all of us away. You must agree, right? I can’t imagine how much your heart bleeds for her, as do ours. I think everyone commenting are just appalled at what her daddy did to her, her first day on Earth! It just makes me cry and also angry that anyone could do that to this precious child:( I don’t think there is any sentence that could be harsh enough for him.
missy
Mar 10, 2007 at 10:09 pm
I just don’t understand… not sure I want to.
Teresa
Mar 11, 2007 at 12:00 am
About the whole ‘family reunification’ thing-it isn’t really about what’s best for the child, the sacredness of the family, blah, blah, blah. It’s just that it costs the gov’t less to hand the kids back over to their biological families than it would to keep funding foster family services, children’s homes, etc. Sure, some of these same families are on state assistance of some sort, but that still costs a lot less than the state having to pick up the entire cost of child-rearing. When you add up the foster parents stipend, medical/dental care, therapy, special programs for special needs kids, it really piles up. Handing the kids back to parents of questionable fitness isn’t about protecting the family, it’s about protecting the freaking budget. These decisions are made by stinking, self-serving hypocrites who make big, moving, impasssioned speeches about the importance of family. It makes me SICK. An orphanage would be a better place for a child to grow up in than in the homes of some of these sick,evil POS’s. People who harm children need to be in prison, period, not ‘in therapy’ or ‘parenting classes’. Therapy and classes are for those who truly want to be good parents but have issues or haven’t had good upbringings themselves to pattern their own parenting techniques after. People who just cut loose and beat children to within an inch of their little lives, or torture them-lock ‘em up and throw away the damned keys, already! Needless to say, that goes double for those who sexually abuse children. Although they should get the death penalty, IMHO.
Don
Mar 11, 2007 at 3:19 am
One. Day. Old.
Oh my fuggin’ god. Scratch that - there is no god.
The only good thing to come out of this is that she’s too young and will never have any memory of this happening.
I hope he gets the same treatment that Jeffrey Dahmer did in prison.
Bob
Mar 11, 2007 at 7:48 am
But you are all forgetting the “mother”
She isn’t innocent. Maybe she didn’t rape the baby but she sure as hell didn’t stop it.
She is scum just like he is.
alalee
Mar 11, 2007 at 9:19 am
Thank you, Teresa. At least I’m not the only one who feels that’s the premise behind these so-called family reunification programs. She’ll be out breeding some more and subjecting more babies to this kind of treatment cuz to people like this, cock is much more important that your kids and what’s already come out from between your legs takes a back seat to what’s going in next. Makes me SICK to see they’re giving this child back to her mother. It’s a sad reality, isn’t it?
Bob
Mar 11, 2007 at 10:16 am
How oh how can they give this baby back to that scum?
You know she is going to go see that asshole that raped the baby.
He may do it again.
That scum called a mother should not breed again.
She is worthless just like him.
Kristy
Mar 11, 2007 at 5:43 pm
What a terrible state of affairs…
While I’m sure that the baby is now being cared for properly (thankyou, Donna, for reminding us that there are more than one side to every story), sadly it’s inevitable that she’ll one day have to deal with the consequences of what’s happened to her.
One day, she’ll question why she’s being cared for by someone who isn’t her mother. One day she’ll ask why her Daddy sin’t around. One day, she’ll Google her own name (we’ve all done it, admit it!) and one day she’ll have to learn what’s happened to her.
Fortunately she was too young to remember the physical pain, but gee imagine what finding out something like that would do to a girl.
I can only hope that she’s got great people around her to support her when that day comes. And I hope that her fury is enough to make sure her Daddy never messes with anyone, ever again.
I hope there’s enough love in the world to save this poor girl.
Bob
Mar 11, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Not if they send her back to her mommy.
Her mommy doesn’t love her because she let this scum do this crap to her in the first place.
I am sure mommy will let him come “visit”
Donna
Mar 11, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Listen, Bob, and to everybody else..the mother IS NOT scum, she is unfortunately, a very stupid easily intimidated girl, who didnt have any business having children so young. However, in her defense, she is doing the right thing now, she is going to let my husband and myself adopt the baby as soon as we are financially able to…so do me a favor people, lay-off my sister, you don’t know her, you don’t know my family, you don’t have all the facts in the situation…all you are basing your opinions on is what you have read in the media…and we all know the media doesn’t always give all the relevant facts. Just Pray To GOD that my sister finds some way to make amends for what has happened, and let my family handle this without the continued media scrutiny..if not for me or my sister or even my family…then at least for that innocent little baby who never asked to be the center of all this negative attention.
Bob
Mar 11, 2007 at 9:07 pm
She is scum. She let this happened didn’t she?
Or did she leave the room while it happened?
Please explain. Did she not notice the redness and tears on the baby? Was the baby not screaming from pain? Is she deaf along with blind and stupid?
So where is this baby going until you are financially able to adopt her? Back to her mother?
Please tell us the facts because in my book your sister is just as guilty as the one that actually raped her.
And don’t give me that young crap. I know plenty of people that have kids young and they don’t kill them, let people rape them or any of that crap.
So age doesn’t really matter does it?
I was 21 when I had my first, my best friend was 17 when she had her first and now her daughter is 21 when and she just had her 1st.
Don’t blame it on age blame it on your sister and she is a nut case.
I really and truely wish that law worked for this baby but as you can see it didn’t.
Her so called mother is free and the rapist is able to rape again. WHAT A WORLD WE LIVE IT!!!
Bob
Mar 11, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Forgive some of my spelling errors in that post but people that claim this mother did nothing wrong just make me want to puke.
Blaming age an crap like that just doesn’t fly.
Your sister will never be able to make amends.And I really hope that when the baby is old enough she finds out what her mother let happen to her. And I hope the baby will never have any contact with that scum when she can make the choice herself since the law isn’t on the baby’s side.
Shanna
Mar 11, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Age is NOT a defense, and in a hospital room, your sister knew what was going on. The child must have been screaming in pain, as she was literally being split almost in two so this sick fuck could get his jollies.She had options- scream, hit him with the nearest hard object, anything!!! But nothing was done. Nothing was said until she was facing the possibility of jailtime herself, and then I can only imagine how quickly she suddenly became an eager witness for the prosecution. If you are adopting this girl, where is your motherly outrage? I love my sister, but if she was present at the rape of my child and DID NOTHING, I’d be damned if I’d defend her. In fact, I’d be hard pressed not to kill her!!!!!
Lauren
Mar 12, 2007 at 6:51 am
I agree with Shanna and Bob, come on Donna set the record straigt, how can you defend this one? seriously this is sick and if ANY of my friends or family did this i would be in jail myself - FOR MURDER!!!! i would never stand by this, if you knew she was young, dumb and easily intimidated why didnt anyone teach her about birth control and guys thatlike to fuck, guess you guys arent the parents you claim to be either…
Heather
Mar 12, 2007 at 7:21 am
I think Shanna, Bob and Lauren pretty much said it all. Age is not an excuse, even though, people like to try to say it is. I was a young mother and I definately have enough common sense to have something about it.
I am curious about one thing - how did this happen? I mean, the baby was at the hospital, correct? How could someone not have seen something?
Bonnie
Mar 12, 2007 at 8:00 am
I believe sex offenders should be put to death or NEVER released on society again! PERIOD! I would have no problem shooting him myself. As for mom, ditto, youth is not an excuse…or is this acceptable, ‘learned’ behavior in her mind, and where’d she learn it? What about the one year old. Was he only interested in his own child? SICK SICK SICK
Susan
Mar 12, 2007 at 9:25 am
So what about the other child, are you telling me she escaped abuse by this guy, and is she getting adopted as well?
Kathy
Mar 12, 2007 at 10:39 am
I don’t have sympathy for anyone in this story except for that poor baby. This is beyond sick.
Even the dumbest animal will try to protect her offspring. the mother, no matter how young or stupid is just as responsible and noone can convince me otherwise. I’ve said it once, I will say it again…if you can’t accept the responsibility of protecting and raising your children, keep your legs closed. It’s as simple as that.
I hope that sick bastard is getting his in prison. I don’t want to hear any of his excuses. Nothing justifies what he did. I would die before I hurt or let anyone hurt my child.
Jassmin
Mar 12, 2007 at 4:54 pm
I can’t understand why someone would want to hurt a newborn infant in such a vile and harmful way. Another reason why some people should never have kids.
Jennifer
Mar 13, 2007 at 6:26 am
How in the blue FUCK is the mother getting off with just a misdemeanor!?!?!?
Nat
Mar 13, 2007 at 9:59 am
I have to sit here and think about this one and pray to our creator for the baby…my biggest question is “Who raised the parents?” Why would they or he think of something so violating and sickening? Where did his thought process come from? Even if this happened to him, it shouldn’t make him think to do something like this to his own daughter…I believe a lot of children’s lives are ruined with whom the mother brings into a relationship, she should hold some responsibility.
Nat
Mar 13, 2007 at 10:01 am
Or maybe a “CHOP IT OFF” perv law????
Patrice Hodge
Mar 13, 2007 at 1:56 pm
As a former crime reporter who covered stories like this, I wish that I could forget the stuff that we just couldn’t print because a) the police were still trying to get all of the interviews with the family done and they wanted a real shot at investigating the entire issue, b) leaving some dignity for the victim while still trying to report things so that other victims might come forward and c) trying to report news in a manner that would keep people from vomiting on a daily basis. The first reason still remains the most important because it is important to try and get the entire story so that a solid case can be made in court so that the second reason can allow for dignity and justice for the victim.
There are three sides to this story - his side, her side and what really happened to the victim. While reporters aren’t perfect and mistakes do happen, I assure you, if relevant information seemed to be missing, it was likely due to one of the above mentioned reasons or perhaps the reporter, editor and copy editor were simply overwhelmed by the magnitude of such cruel and inhumane behavior.
It doesn’t sound as though the guy just got 11 months though. I would think that if the guy got 10 years minus the 11 months served, then he still has 9 years and one month to go. (That’s still not long enough.) Also, often where there were two involved like this, one often gets less time because they “rolled” or tattled on the other. So, while young and stupid and easily intimidated might apply to the mother, and perhaps even drugged up and hooked to IVs, blameless she isn’t. The nurse call button is ALWAYS next to the mother’s fingertips - period. (I just had a baby in the fall. They constantly check to make sure your nurse aid button works properly. So absolutely, positively, in no way shape or form does this young woman have reason to stand, sit, or recline while her newborn is being used as a sex toy. Of course, even worse ladies and gentlemen, and I hate to point this out, but what if the mother just sat by and watched because she was entertained, fascinated or amused by it? That spunds really horrid, but I have interviewed some of these sick animals for stories. They are bad to the core and I don’t ever agree when they let the person who sat by and did nothing get off without much punishment.
This is the worst thing that I have ever heard, and I covered some really bad stuff. The difference is some of what I covered happened in Louisiana and they do offer the death penalty in cases of rape below the age of 12. Mostly, the bad guys or gals plead guilty because the jury sentence is life in prison or the dealth penalty. So, at least 20 years in prison unless you plead out.
Donna, I think it is nice that you want to believe the best in your sister, but don’t be blind or stupid. You are NEVER going to know what really happened on your sister’s part. She will likely never tell you if she can even admit it herself. ALso, her lawyer will likely have instructed her to never tell anyone anything. So, stop kidding yourself and protect that baby who hopefully NEVER has to see her biological parents ever, ever again. I mean, you wouldn’t let her go near a rabid dog, would you?
Oh, and yes, your sister and her boyfriend deserve to be treated as cruelly as they treated that precious baby. He definitely will get that in prison. Too bad your sister probably won’t.
And as far as the baby never finding out. If you let her go near her mother and develop a relationship with her, you are setting her up for some pain. Do you honestly think that she won’t find out? And when she does find out, is she going to want to know that people she trusted let her be near or develop a relationship with someone who hurt her so aggregiously?
Would you want to one day find out that your own mother sat by and let your father rape you the day you were born?
Donna, what would you have done if you have looked over and saw someone raping your 1 day old child? Have you thought about that? Hopefully you would have fought tooth and nail for your child.
Also, would you let her babysit your children now while she has a boyfriend over for a visit? And what if you found out she watched him rape one of your children? Would you still be so quick to defend her and chalk her behavior up to youth and stupidity?
In my opinion, the two of them are animals and should be put down like any other rabid dog in the street. No matter how young and stupid, there is no excuse for putting your hands on a baby like that.
Colin
Mar 13, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Looks like not too many people read the article I posted way back up at #15. This guy got the plea deal he did because there were problems with the evidence, and the prosecutor was concerned that he would be acquited if it went to a jury trial. By making the deal, the prosecutor was at least able to get him tagged as a sex offender, and prevent him from having contact with his daughter. It’s not the judge’s fault. It’s not the prosecutor’s fault. This was just the best way they could play the cards they were dealt.
Frankly, although in this case I wish the guy were spending the rest of his life in jail, I’m glad we live in a country where the State is forced to prove my guilt, rather than being able to lock me up forever on suspicion of committing a crime.
hope in God
Mar 13, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Again another screw up in the system! No justice for the helpless, defenseless, voiceless little child. I think judges who give such easy generous sentences to these demons are just as guilty as these Demons. This poor child may God help her.. Her own Father!! This like that poor little girl who’s father cut out her genitals when she was only 2yrs. Remember that case? around October or November of 2006. That Bastard also got only 10 years and he never even plead Guilty. The Jury found him guilty and he was facing 40yrs and the judge decided it was to much and gave him only 10yrs. I hope both of these men get there damn penis cut off completely while they are in jail. May God help his little children.
kari
Mar 13, 2007 at 5:41 pm
I have never heard of anything so sick in my entire life. I wish they would give that baby to a well deserving family so she could have a wonderful happy life. That bastard needs to fry!
JUST DO IT!!!!
Mar 13, 2007 at 9:30 pm
#44 Bonnie,
Yes, I agree with you. HE SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH. Why should we as a society have to put up with these types of situations. He is going to do it again. Just like many other child molesters have done. Don’t let him get away with this, get rid of him - PERIOD.
And no I don’t agree that any of that child’s family should get the child. I agree with #54 Kari, The baby does need to go to a deserving family and never, never be told of what happened to her, so she will not have to relive that unspeakable situation.
And the mother, no she should not never be allowed to have another baby again. The courts should order her to have a complete historectomy so this could never happen again to another one of her babies.
Poor child!!!!!!!!!
JUST DO IT!!!!
Mar 13, 2007 at 9:47 pm
You know I just went and looked at this so called Judge that gave them both the father and mother a slap on the hands. Boy you know that judge looks a lot like the accused mother. I wounder if they where related? And the judge looks like he don’t even care. He looks like he would rather be some where else.
Shanna
Mar 13, 2007 at 10:09 pm
PAtrice Hodge- he was released the very same day he made the plea bargain. The rest of his sentence will be served at HOME on probation.
http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070313/NEWS01/70313019
75mike
Mar 14, 2007 at 1:28 am
iS THERE ANYONE WHO IS ALARMED BY THE AGE OF MOST OF THE PARENTS IN THESE ARTICLES??????????? Average is prob. 21 yrs!!!!! Like I have said in other articles. WE MUST EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN!!!! THIS IS NOT OKAY!!!!!
Renee
Mar 14, 2007 at 10:46 am
I am really getting sick and tired of hearing “how young these parents are” as if it is a contributing factor to why they do these utterly horrifying things to children. I am a young parent. I had my son 2 months before I turned 17. A mistake yes, but i dealt with it. Abortion was not an option for me as i beleive it is murder and I couldn’t give upo my child with no guarantee of a better life. So I worked jobs that I hated, which by the way I walked to at first, because I had no car. Then I rode my bike, with my son in a baby seat to get to work and drop him off at daycare, which by the way was a 14 mile ride one way. I have always done my best to ensure that he has everything that he needs and that he is safe and happy. And by the way I have done it all on my own. Now he is 8 and I have a one year old daughter. I am still a single parent, which is and always has been a struggle. But when I saw that the father of my child was becoming a drug addict that could hurt my child I cut him out of our life like the cancer he was. Youth is not an excuse. Maybe I am an anomoly, I hope not. But not all people who have made mistakes young are sick fuckers!!!!!
Melissa
Mar 14, 2007 at 11:03 am
Renee,
I applaud you for standing up to these people. Their are just as many stories of awful things happening to children at the hands of “adults” too. I think people are just looking for reasons why this could happen and that’s the only thing they can come up with. I congratulate you for taking care of your children at such a young age. I’m a 29 year old divorced mom and I have to say it’s very difficult at times but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Take care.
Alicia
Mar 14, 2007 at 10:14 pm
That is the most sickest thing i have ever heard in my life!!!!Where was the mother when he was raping her child!!!? WTF was he thinking about!!? You cant have sex with something that small! He has to be insane!!!
75mike
Mar 14, 2007 at 11:50 pm
I am sorry for naking a blanket statement about young parents. I was a young parent and can attest to making some dumb ass mistakes yet non hurt my children. Older parents also do some fracked up stuff!!!! My apologies to all of you young parents who are doing it right!!!!!! You have to admit though that a young IMATURE parent who dosen’t have a strong positive parental figure to model for them is going to struggle! I just hope all these stupid frackers learn one day that babies cry!!! THAT is how they express their needs! MET the needs bond and love the baby and it stops.
EchoedMemory
Mar 15, 2007 at 9:12 am
If the judicial system fails someone, I believe that it should be up to society to take the law into their own hands and deal with the case as they see fit. And boy, would I LOVE to be in a room with him for 60 minutes while he’s bound and gagged.
EchoedMemory
Mar 15, 2007 at 9:13 am
Oops……. I’m sorry……. and that slutbag bitch, too.
Jen
Mar 15, 2007 at 2:42 pm
My inlaws live in the town where this happened. I read it in their local paper and sent the info to the following: Glenn Beck, CNN, Fox News, Bill O’Reilly. From what I know, none of them covered it which infuriates me.
From what I remember reading, this jackass said and I quote
“I WANTED TO BE HER FIRST”
sick.
Crystal
Mar 15, 2007 at 4:42 pm
This story is so sick. I can’t believe the mother did nothing, I pray that she never gets her children back and that she gets no say in where they end up. The woman has shown that she has horrible judgement when it comes to people.
Bob
Mar 15, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Why isn’t her sister posting now defending her?
I guess she may have wised up and can now see what a scum her sister is.
I really and truely hope that the sister can’t adopt this baby.
This baby needs to start a new life AWAY from these sick ass people.
She doesn’t need to have ANYTHING to do with this crazy ass family that she didn’t ask to be born too.
Shanna
Mar 15, 2007 at 10:44 pm
I agree completely, Bob. the further away she gets from this lovely group of people the better!!!!!
And where did sis go? Did she expect that we were all going to feel sorry for her “poor young ignorant” sis? Sorry, lady- I have no sympathy for anyone but that little baby who had the misfortune to be born to the likes of this “family”.
Lauren
Mar 16, 2007 at 5:12 am
exactly….where is Donna at now? wheres the sisterly love. i hope this baby is not adopted by her, she already said when she is financially able to she will……sounds like white trash to me and if there not, please set the record straight
Nat
Mar 16, 2007 at 4:23 pm
To Donna,
Innocent people don’t need to “make amends”, what did your sister, her “man” and everyone expect from the media? I mean geeeez, one day old?! Of course it’s going to be noticed…baby needs love not incompetent sickos!
Alicia
Mar 16, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Im worried about the other daughter….has she been checked as well for sexual abuse? This is just too disgusting!
louise
Mar 19, 2007 at 3:52 pm
this is absolutely vile. As the mother of a young daughter myself i find it unthinkable that someone could do such a thing. In my opinion he should be sentenced to death or at least serve a life sentence. That poor defenceless baby came into the world to be loved and this was allowed to happen, it is truly appalling.
CHW1981
Mar 19, 2007 at 7:24 pm
what i don’t understand is how can someone who gets caught for selling dope get a life sentance; but sick fucks like this man gets a fucking flick on the forehead? Having a baby is suppose to be the most wonderful thing that can happen to a person, i can’t believe this…. i’m at a loss for words.. i pray to god that the baby can recover and live happy and fullfilling life.. I hope this man gets anally raped until he’s dead. that’s just the way I feel!!!
JUST DO IT!!!!
Mar 19, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Well all I have to say is unless the Government gets off its butt and we as US citizen vote these people out of office than these sick people will keep getting away with what keeps on happening.
Or unless as CHW1981 puts it this man gets anally raped until he dies from his new buddies, or you know that would be good for him, I think they should sew up his back parts and let him see how much pain that is for someone to stick something to large for a small hole. How would he like that. I know this sounds sick but dang that would fit the punishment for him. Let him feel that babies pain. Someone, somewhere will get hold of him and we will be reading it in the papers. You know what comes around goes around.
Winter
Mar 20, 2007 at 11:35 am
As the victim of a released sex offender, I know first hand the damage these perverts who have “payed their debt to society” and let go do.
Sexual offenders don’t get better. They don’t go back to the real world and become normal. They don’t.
Many people understand this, but I have yet to meet a lawmaker that does.
JUST DO IT!!!!
Mar 20, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Dear Winter,
I am so sorry that happened to you. I hope that person go thrown back in prision and someone got them back.
I know they don’t get better so why does these lawmakers keep letting these people back out on the street so they can not do it again. I just don’t undersand it. You know I seen over seas that a man raped a young girl. You know that country took that rapiest and held him and took a machettie and chopped off his dick right in front of the young girl that was raped. To bad we don’t do that here. Chopp off what they have so they don’t do it again. I bet people would think twice about doing something like that if the USA was like that country.
I’m sorry again for what happened to you, truly I am.
Ronda
Mar 21, 2007 at 9:08 am
I do not understand why he is still alive as well as the mother because if she knew of this and was still with him she is to blame as well. Because she is a sorry excuse for a mother because i would let someone take my life before i would let them harm my daughters and they are grown now and to this day i feel the same. parents are supposed to protect their children and far to often anymore they are becoming the ones to fear. What happened Think about it The government started telling people when and how to disaplin the children well i dont see a darn thing wrong with spanking your child when they mess up this is also why kids are killing there parents as well as anyone that makes them mad. TOO BAD grab a belt or a willow tree branch and let them have it. IT didnt hurt anything but our pride when our parents did it Not to mention I didnt get a spankin that i didnt deserve and probley should of gotted more for the things i didnt get caught doing
Karen is Thrifty
Mar 22, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Truly sick!!!! I am glad the little girl is young enough not to remember what happened to her. I wonder if they’ll be put into foster care.
Braindead
Mar 22, 2007 at 10:33 pm
I only wish I could catch his prison cell for 5 minutes***His family would never have to worry that this predators genes would ever spread beyond that cell.
allison
Mar 23, 2007 at 2:16 pm
The latest on the Goodrum ‘thing’ is he says he wants a paternity test, and once it’s determined that the baby is his, he will fight for custody! OMG!! What scares me the most is the judicial system obviously didn’t view this quite like the rest of us do.
BTW, he is out of jail…time served. All 11 months of it. Then probation for 9 years, register as sex offender, and pay for his own psychiatric care.
The mother is out of jail too. 11 months, 29 days. But they did let her out too.
Donna, I have read your posts at the Jackson Sun and on here about you having custody and all. I do believe your heart is in the right place, but I think it would be better for the baby to be adopted out to a family whose identity is kept secret. I don’t think it’s a great idea to keep her with family. You will never be able to keep her safe from Goodrum 100% of the time. She shouldn’t have to grow up in a community that knows her past. McKenzie is such a small town. Maybe you will consider the alternative of adopting her out for the baby’s sake.
kari
Mar 24, 2007 at 5:09 pm
That’s just not right
In Ms. Evelyn's Home
Mar 24, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Based on what was reported at first in the newspaper, I certainly understand the outrage everyone is feeling. I cried when I first saw the article in the paper.
My understanding now is that the expert witness the State was depending on could not say what or who caused the injury. He stated that it could even have been that a thermometer was incorrectly used. The hospital tapes also did not implicate the father or the mother.
So, as outraged as I was at the thought of something like this happening in the county I now live in, having worked as a legal transcriptionist for the last 13 years while I’ve raised my own four children, I believe it’s possible that maybe he didn’t do it. Who’s to say that an employee at the hospital didn’t make a mistake with a thermometer.
In today’s news, I discovered that this man now lives within ten miles of my home. Sure, I’m concerned, and will keep my eyes wide open, but the MD did say that the injuries could have been caused by a thermometer, and the tapes did not point to either parent. I will turn this one over to God and pray that he will help me keep my children safe, and if I am naive in my thoughts that he would give me the wisdom and discernment to see it.
Lauren
Mar 26, 2007 at 4:39 am
well….if i didnt do it, i’ll be DAMNED if i would plead guilty….why would you say you DID if you DIDNT and then serve jail time for something i never did? YEAH OK, if it walks like a duck and looks like a duck, then its a dad that fucked his daughter….now he wants custody? what is the world coming to. is he sick enough to actually think after the “charges he never did” were filed against him he can now be her daddy? come on people really think of this one, i doubt he didnt do it after all this has happened and went down the way it did!
In Ms. Evelyn's Home
Mar 26, 2007 at 5:11 am
Obviously, none of us were there and couldn’t possibly know for sure one way or the other. Someone knows who injured the baby, but they’re not talking.
In reading the forums on this subject, it would be next to impossible to find a jury of his peers to deliver a fair and impartial verdict, even though jurors are specifically charged on what evidence they can consider. I have only seen one person post to a forum that said anything similar to what I have said. I would imagine his lawyer told him this was his best option, and whether he liked it or not, he would at least be out of jail.
Yes, it is possible that this man is guilty, but it is just as possible that a hospital employee made a mistake and when their supervisor came in and noticed the injury, the employee was afraid to admit to an accident.
Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, and I am simply stating a possible scenario. In our country, we are supposed to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. The State did not have the evidence to prove him guilty. The press convicted him before he was granted a trial.
Before this story came out, I had never heard of this happening to an infant. It was so horrific, I at first bought into the story as well. As the investigation continued and more facts were revealed, I’m not convinced at all anymore. And if this man is innocent, I doubt anyone will ever know what really happened.
JASMINE
May 30, 2007 at 1:17 pm
WHY WOULD HE DO THIS TO HIS DAUGHTER.HE COULD DO IT TO ANYONE IF HE COULD HURT HIS OWN DAUGHTER…WHAT ARE YOU LAWYERS AND JUDGES THINKING NOW DAYS…
Maria
Jun 7, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Why do people do the things they do. That is just sick how can you do that to an innocent child. Yours to be exact.
Amber
Jul 10, 2007 at 7:27 am
thats horrible unknown object what he needs a dealth penalty its rapepeople that babay was a day old that was his daughter
Holly
Jul 11, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Oh my God. Seriously I can not believe that things like this happen. What in the world could possess a man to do something so evil to a tiny little baby?!?! It’s sick.
Jules
Jul 11, 2007 at 6:53 pm
sick ass mofos shouldn’t be allowed to have kids. sterilize these shit bags.
christine
Jul 12, 2007 at 2:07 am
sick..sick..sick..both the mother and father need to be locked up and turned over to all the other inmates and let them do as they wish to these two sick and twisted people //better yet ANIMALS..!!!!
Julius
Jul 12, 2007 at 3:04 am
I am sorry i think this website spreads rumors more than truth. If a 19 yr old was found guilty for the rape of a 1-day old child it would have made headline Before you go thinking of killing people like this type his name in and read a couple of other articles that are related to get the real story. This is not the only story that, numerous stories i have double checked have been blown way out of proportion. To be honest with you people should sue a site like this. This makes me sick
bob
Jul 13, 2007 at 9:59 am
baby rape: 11 months
sale or cultivation if any ammount in washington DC: felony 5 years $50,000 fine.
welcome to the land of the free
miajemell
Jul 13, 2007 at 10:00 am
Sorry this scum of the earth doesn’t get by on the death penalty with me….He deserves LIFE in prison! Death is such an easy way out. He deserves to be put under the jail in a cold ass cell with nothin but his conscience until his judgement day arrives…the sick bastard! I hope he never forgets and who knows maybe he’ll luck up and get a horny big cocked man to pay him a visit in that dark room to do to him what he did to that little girl….now what about that! As for the judge and prosecution all of them can kiss my natural ass in it’s entirety! How dare they let him *get off* with this disgusting case? They need to be put under the jail too! there is no way I am stupid enough to sit up here and believe there was a problem with evidence to convict him….PLEASE! That is a load of shit! I wish I knew the guy and the momma personally….I’d kick both their asses every day while they are in solitary confinement with Big Bill the jail house thrill !!!!!
babyblue200483
Jul 22, 2007 at 12:53 pm
LET SEE HUM RAPING SOMETHING THAT YOUNG IS SICK DID HE GET A ENJOYMENT OUT WHAT HE DID U KNOW PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD DON’T NO WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW HE IS IN JAIL BUT WILL OLNY SEVER A LITTLE TIME FOR WHAT HE DID HE IS SICK FOR WHAT HE DID HE SHULD BE IN PRISON FOR LIFE. AND FOR THE MOTHER I HAVE READ SOME OF THE COMMENTS OF WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT HE DON’T GIVE HERE A BREAK WHEN U HAVE A BABY AND U ARE IN THE HOSPITAL THE BABY IS IN UR ROOM FOR MOST OF THE TIME AND U SHOLUD HAVE NO WHAT HAPPEN AND SHOLUD HAVE REPORT IT TO I THINK SHE SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THAT CHILD AT EVEY AGAIN.PEOPLE NEED TO STOP FEELING SORRY FOR PEOPLE LIKE HER THATS WHAT HAPPEN TO THIS WORLD PEOPLE FEELING SORRY FOR EVERYBODY AND U SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE KIDS IN THE END THE END UP DEAD RAPE ABUSE AND SO ON AM GOING TO SAY AM SORRY IF I HURT ANY BODY FEELINGS BUT AM JUST TELLING THE TRUTH
Erika
Jul 23, 2007 at 7:36 pm
That is so sick. His stupid ass needs to be serving life in prison. I have a 6 month old daughter and I am in shock someone could do that to a 1 day old brandnew baby, to any child for that matter. Age is used as an excuse anymore these days. I got pregnant with my 6 year old daughter when I was just 18 years old and she is a happy and healthy 6 year old. Age has nothing to do with it. These people are sick. The mom is just as guilty, she could’ve grabbed the newborn and pressed the nurse call button. I get upset seeing my little baby cry just from being gassy. How she didn’t react to what was going on is beyond me.
kelli
Jul 23, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Just wondering how all you people who keep saying things like “god help her” and pray to god that..” can still belive in the silly idea that there is a “god” after watching the news or reading a paper. If there is a “god”..he is as sick as the stories on this site.
Karen is Thrifty
Jul 24, 2007 at 4:52 am
Kelli: God doesn’t make anyone do anything. We all have a choice and the gift of free will. We choose to do what’s right or not.
babyblue200483
Jul 24, 2007 at 6:16 am
i got something for u all that might make u sick let me no what u think about it okay
babyblue200483
Jul 24, 2007 at 6:18 am
This happen in tampa florida and i am actually sorry for the parents of this little girl 2 in a half years old can u believe that one
Family remembers its beautiful princess
Heather Romance’s grandmother didn’t know why the babysitter was arrested until finding out that he is accused of sexually assaulting her.
By ABBIE VANSICKLE and REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published August 19, 2006
TAMPA - In a corner of a mobile home on Jamie Drive, young Heather Marie Romance’s toys are piled up in a jumbled bundle.
There’s a SpongeBob SquarePants doll, a picture book about Cinderella and lots of dolls.
The last time that 2½-year-old Heather toddled around this home, she was a healthy child, a girl who loved the Disney princesses, anything yellow and sloshing in the kitchen sink while her grandmother washed dishes.
“She was a princess,” said her grandmother, Debbie Brown, 45, as she stood on the front steps, a box of tissues in her hand.
Heather was just a few months shy of what would have been her third birthday Nov. 18 when she died earlier this week. At first, the family thought she had fallen off the couch while in the care of a babysitter.
But the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested the babysitter, accusing him of sexually assaulting Heather, causing such severe injuries that she died.
“Heather didn’t deserve what she got,” said Brown, tears in her eyes.
She blames Eric Tate, 18, Heather’s babysitter and the boyfriend of Heather’s mother, Amy Romance.
Romance said she met Tate six months ago after a friend and co-worker recommended him as a good babysitter.
“He knew how to handle 2-year-olds,” Romance said Friday. “We’re all just numb right now.”
Tate was arrested Wednesday and charged with capital sexual battery. He was being held at the Orient Road Jail without bail.
“He lied, he lied,” Brown said. “He lied the whole time, and we didn’t find out until the Sheriff’s Office went out there.”
Brown, a Wal-Mart employee, shares a small mobile home in the East Tampa Mobile Home Park with her daughter Romance, 20.
Romance was 17 when she became pregnant with Heather. She and Jammie Cessna, 28, of Riverview had been dating 1½ years when they learned that their soon-to-be 7-pound, 5-ounce baby girl was on the way.
It was an easy pregnancy. But after eight hours of labor, doctors at Brandon Regional Medical Center decided to take Heather by caesarean section. Brown was in the delivery room.
“It was special,” Brown said. “It kind of made Heather more like my child than my grandchild.”
After Mommy and Daddy, Heather’s first word was “TeeTee,” her nickname for Romance’s sister, Jennifer, Cessna and Romance said.
The wide-eyed blond toddler loved ice cream and any kind of junk food, Brown said. Tate was attentive to that. Romance said he often bought her candy baby bottle pops, one of her favorite treats.
Romance heard from Tate about 11 a.m. Wednesday. He told her that Heather had fallen off the couch and was unconscious.
Romance left her job at a Verizon call center and rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital. Her mother met her.
She brought with her Heather’s favorite storybook, The Perfect Wedding, the story of Cinderella’s marriage.
She never got the chance to read it to Heather.
They weren’t allowed to see Heather right away, she said.
Tate was there, but Brown asked him to leave. Cessna drove from Fort Myers, where he was working on his grandmother’s home.
At the hospital, Brown watched deputies take Tate into custody, she said. At the time, Brown didn’t know why.
When the family learned that Heather had been sexually abused, they were sickened, Brown said.
“I didn’t like him the day I met him,” Brown said. “I didn’t like how he looked. I didn’t like the fact that he didn’t have a car, he didn’t have a job.”
[Last modified August 19, 2006, 01:28:19]
dlkw30
Aug 24, 2007 at 2:20 pm
This is the March 23 comment left by Allison. I sure you meant well suggesting that the best thing for the child would be to allow an unknown family away from McKenzie to adopt her, but what u dont realize is that she has a grandma, two older “brothers” and older biological sister and two “parents” who love her and will NEVER allow that monster to get any where near her. And just for the record he is very likely headed back to jail to finish out his 9 yrs for a recent assault charge committed against someone else. So everybody do me a favor and please stop suggesting what is in the best interest of this child. Thanks.
rockdoll_71
Oct 16, 2007 at 10:20 pm
This guy should be shot and then hung and shot again. What a worthless piece of garbage.
Stay-C
Nov 26, 2007 at 2:45 pm
This is for Just Do It on your posting dated March 20, 2007 @ 8 PM I totally agree with you on this. However if you take that away the person will just find some other object in which to molest or rape again. They just need to shoot his sorry ass and the mothers for allowing this to happen. This would save the baby from any more hurt they can physically cause her and save us tax payers a hell of a lot of money. Hell I will gladly buy the gun and bullets….
i.love.me
Dec 12, 2007 at 8:43 pm
This is for all bloggers…..We are all forgetting a part of the story… The oldest daughter that nastey skanky scum bag had what ever happened to her ??? Does anyone care??? Well I have the answer…She is with her bio dad and step mother who love her very much and treat her like the princess she is…And as for as the ” victum” she is okay to my knowlde the physco aunt who is just as crazy as the mother still have custody.. And their are lots of other things that lead up to what happened when the baby was bord.. The dad and step mom of the other child was fighting for custody of the oldest child and the mother did not and doesnot give 2 flips about either child and yes I am close to the oldest childs dad and { lets not call her step} mom and their was many times D C S came in not only on kristina but Donna as well because she knew what was happening the entire time jonathan use to toucher the oldest child so what did they expect for him to do to the little one… the enitre family needs shot!!!!!!!!!!!
i.love.me
Dec 12, 2007 at 8:44 pm
This is for all bloggers…..We are all forgetting a part of the story… The oldest daughter that nastey skanky scum bag had what ever happened to her ??? Does anyone care??? Well I have the answer…She is with her bio dad and step mother who love her very much and treat her like the princess she is…And as for as the ” victum” she is okay to my knowlde the physco aunt who is just as crazy as the mother still have custody.. And their are lots of other things that lead up to what happened when the baby was bord.. The dad and step mom of the other child was fighting for custody of the oldest child and the mother did not and doesnot give 2 flips about either child and yes I am close to the oldest childs dad and { lets not call her step} mom and their was many times D C S came in not only on kristina but Donna as well because she knew what was happening the entire time jonathan use to toucher the oldest child so what did they expect for him to do to the little one… the enitre family needs shot!!!!!!!!!!! TWICCE JUST TO MAKE SURE
i.love.me
Dec 12, 2007 at 8:45 pm
DID NOT MEAN TO PUT IT TWICE KINDA NEW AT THE COMPUTER THING SORRY
i.love.me
Dec 12, 2007 at 8:54 pm
AND DONNA YES SHE HAS AN OLDER BIO SISTER BUT BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY IS PHYSCO THEY WILL NEVER REALLY KNOW EACH OTHER AND THAT IS A SAD SAD THING BECAUSE IT IS NOT FAIR TO THOSE GIRLS .. YOU HAVE GONE AGAINST MANY WISHES OF THE OLDESTS DAD AND MOM AND HAVE GONE AGAINST THE COURTS WISHES… BET YOU DIDNT THINK ANY ONE KNEW…
Hektor
Sep 6, 2008 at 7:27 pm
All right, I don’t want to start a fight here, or offend anyone. I just want to play devil’s advocate and offer up a little food for thought:
What if Mr. Goodrum is mentally ill? I don’t think I have enough information here to really decide if this man is sane enough to be held accountable for his actions. I’m just throwing that out there. Of course this is terrible, but we have to resist the knee-jerk reaction of (insert horrible torture) and behave like civilized people.
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