Should criminal charges be issued?

Question

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09182006/news/regionalnews/no_charge_for_dead_babys_ma_regionalnews_brian_hamacher.htm

according to the story, no charges were put on the woman for the death of her 3 month old. What I was thinking is, How did a 3 month old end up in the barf bucket?

Answer 1

Actually, buckets are very dangerous to have around children. More children are killed by drowning in buckets than are the victims of shootings (despite what the media coverage would have you believe).

That being said, I do think there is negligence on the part of the mother. Was the baby in bed with her and it fell out? Why wasn't the baby in a crib? How drunk was the mother? If she had killed her kid while driving a car while drunk, she'd be hung up by her...toes. But, because she was blotto and in a bed at a shelter, she's not responsible?

Answer 2

Probably, but I'm guessing the reason they're not filing charges is they don't have enough evidence to convict. If this woman had any enemies at the shelter, any defense attorney worth his/her salt would introduce reasonable doubt by saying the person she had a beef with dumped the baby in the bucket to frame her.

Answer 3

Its a sad world we live in when someone not just a baby is neglected to the point of death and no one is held responsible.

Answer 4

I think she neglected her child and should be brought up on charges for that until they can prove she was responsible for the death itself. What a horrible situation!

Answer 5

Charges of child endangerment and neglect should have been filed in my opinion. Negligent homicide even. That is terrible!!!

Answer 6

She was probably a prostitute and "serviced" the cops so they wouldn't press charges.

Answer 7

yes