Deseret News | Mom charged with negligent homicide in tot's heat-related death in Layton

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Mom charged with negligent homicide in tot's heat-related death in Layton

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DS | 2:08 p.m. July 5, 2008

All I have read is empathy, compassion, and understanding for the mother. What about the 2 month old child that was left sitting in a 120 degree car? This poor defenseless child did'nt have a chance to live his life because of neglect from his mother. Sure, people make mistakes but this is not a mistake, it is neglect. Charges should be filed. She can mourn in jail.

to ds | 5:56 p.m. July 5, 2008

I think most of those who are vigorously defending this mother's neglect are the sort of parents who routinely fail to adequately supervise their own kids. They don't want her prosecuted because they know full well it could easily happen to them. Any bets the older kids in that family weren't properly supervised? Unfortunately I've had several neighbors through the years who mistakenly assumed the other neighbors would watch out for their kids. One neighbor would call me after dark, wondering if I'd seen her 3 and 5 year old. Another neighbor had her 3 year old returned home from being found wandering on the train tracks. One would lock her kids out so she could have some peace. Stinky toddler would be taken in by compassionate neighbors. CPS was called, but the kids remained in that home. Toddlers would routinely play in the middle of the street while mom was running errands and left an 8 year old in charge. Children set the house on fire while parents weren't home. The stories are true and disgusting.

the sad truth | 9:30 p.m. July 5, 2008

Not every mother cherishes her child to the same extent. Having been raised by an cruel and abusive mother I know first hand this is sadly true. She had a public persona and a private persona and most would be shocked to know what went on behind closed doors. Those who had loving parents and are loving parents themselves can't comprehend a parent deliberately injuring or neglecting their own child, but unfortunatly, it happens all too often. Some moms simply aren't as attached to their kids and view them as somehow ruining their life because they no longer have the freedom they once had. that does explain why you see so many unsupervised kids wandering the streets. Sadly, they simply are not cherished by the parents the way they should be. It's easier for the parents to let them wander than to tend to their needs themselves. Anything to keep them out of their hair. That is the real tragedy. this mother didn't make a mistake, she committed a crime and should be punished.

Comments continue below

why? | 9:42 p.m. July 5, 2008

Would someone plese tell me why Utah seems to have sooo many of these deaths? I know it can happen anywhere, but I read that this year already, 20% of these types of deaths have occurred in Utah. Pretty pathetic considering there are 50 states. Could someone also tell me why there are so many very young children wandering around outside unsupervised? I am always shocked when I visit there to see so many toddlers wandering around outside, unattended. Is it because Utah doesn't have any pedophiles or stray dogs or cars that can't hurt a child? Or is it because so many do it, it becomes acceptable in your culture ( and I do not mean LDS) just georgraphy. Many others have noticed the same thing when visiting Utah from other areas. I grew up in Utah and spent 30 years there raising my kids. It appalled me when I lived there and still appalls me when I see it still happening.

attentive, not perfect | 11:45 p.m. July 5, 2008

When my children were small my "mommy radar" was on all the time. That meant there were frequent headcounts and checking on the whereabouts and well being of my kids, whether we were at home or away. I never "forgot" a child at church or at the park or anywhere else because I wouldn't leave until all my kids were accounted for. I truly cannot fathom a mother forgetting a 5 month old for two long hours. the younger the child, the more frequent the checks were. Even as teens, they were expected to call if their plans changed or they were going to be home later than expected. As adults, they courteously call me to let me know they've arrived safely after a long road trip. they know I've always worried about their well being and safety and know I won't sleep well unless I know they're okay. I naively assumed all mothers felt this way. How sad and disappointed to realize that not all mothers cherish their kids. There was never anything that was more important to me, or a better use of my time, than to see my kids were well cared for.

Anonymous | 6:33 p.m. July 6, 2008

I am a mother of 5 children who range from 18 to 5 months. I have never left a child in a car. And although I'm not perfect, my kids would tell you I'm over attentive.

Maybe that's why I take serious offense to the idea that because I have compassion for a woman who made the most serious of mistakes I AM the kind of mother who doesn't value her children and wants to get away with neglecting them or hurting them intentionally.

AND yes, this year Utah has had two car deaths. But in most preceding years we have had none. Educate yourselves before you hit your keyboard and and show just how ignorant you are. Or how little you search for the truth.

People make mistakes. I know this mother. She is the kind of woman any woman would aspire to be - save this ONE two hour stretch of time. I'm not making excuses for her. She isn't making them for herself. She's asking herself how she could have done this. And she certainly isn't asking to be let off the hook. Or forgetting her son's pain. No one is. I just believe in grace.

he cried himself to DEATH | 7:04 p.m. July 6, 2008

Is there anything more heartwrenching than to realize this helpless little baby cried himself to death while his mom played on the computer? She deserves to be punished beyond her own emotions. society must demand justice for our most helpless citizens. Every tiny child deserves to be the most important priority in their mother's life and he deserved the most basic care and protection. She failed to provide that and must be punished. Actions speak louder than word, so I don't care what she is saying now. Just because I want to see justice done, doesn't mean I don't feel compassion for her. I feel compassion when my kids make mistakes, but they still need to accept the conseqences of their actions. Notice the above poster who is vigorously defending this negligence has admitted she doesn't value her own kids. Interesting. ps I well remember FIVE little girls dying in a hot car because their mom and caretaker was too lazy to supervise them. She should never expect a six year old to be in charge of a two year old. Foolish, foolish people.

i don't think so | 7:37 p.m. July 6, 2008

sorry to burst your bubble, but she is the type of woman I NEVER WILL ASPIRE TO BE!!!! I lived in a ward where the RS president and Bishop's wife were lousy mothers. They may have attended church faithfully, but they also faithfully neglected to supervise their very small kids. The Bishops 3 year old was returned home from playing on the train tracks unattended. The RS pres. would call me after my own kids were in bed and ask if I knew where her 3 and 5 year old were. When they moved, active and less active, member and non member alike cheered. They also began to share horror stories about finding these small kids blocks away from home well after dark or the vandalism these tots inflicted. I am not impressed just because a mom attends church regularly. It also doesn't mean I don't feel bad for what they're going through when their poor parenting finally catches up with them.

not funny | 7:40 p.m. July 6, 2008

I remember hearing a family hilariously recount how they left their 1 year old at Temple square. They truly thought it was so funny they didn't realize where he was for several hours. Sadly, their oldest daughter is just as much of an airhead as her parents were. Fortunately for the little boy he was being lovingly cared for by Temple square missionaries who said it isn't all that unusual to have small kids left behind.

why | 8:40 p.m. July 6, 2008

please tell me why those who are demanding justice for an innocent baby are being branded as cold and heartless. I really don't care how awesome Kamilyn was or how nice she is or how spiritual she is. Her baby is dead because she neglected him. That is cold and heartless, not those who think parents ought to be responsible and care for their kids.

One More New Ghost | 9:54 p.m. July 6, 2008

If God wants to forgive this woman, He or She can do it. Our task is to create a society in which justice prevails. There must be justice for this poor child who was tortured to death by roasting alive!

If this woman was so darned spiritual, why didn't the Spirit tell her to go get her son from that oven of a car??! You people need to seriously re-think your beliefs about "the Spirit"!!

Because I can tell you this much: I can hear the voice of the ghost of that little boy calling out in mourning for the rich and happy life he WOULD have been able to live IF his mother had listened to common sense instead of being caught up in religious fairy tales and the social club friendships the LDS Church creates.

Erik | 2:25 a.m. July 7, 2008

Here is a possible solution to the problem of these unattended deaths. First, I'll have to reserve judgment on this mother because I just don't know the circumstances. I recently saw a car commercial where the car had what they called a 'heartbeat' monitor that would alert the driver if anyone had broken into their car and was still inside waiting for them. I don't know what technology was used so the idea may not apply, but if the car maker used that device to set off the car's alarm system every five minutes if someone was in the car, it'd be difficult to ignore. Pets would be safe, kids would be safe, and if a situation came up where a death did occur, it would answer any questions as to intent right on the spot. You can't ignore honking horns and flashing lights, and if you do, your neighbors probably won't. We'd see these tragic death-rates plummet.

Sarah | 9:23 a.m. July 7, 2008

Re: New Ghost

Don't blame the religion for the fact that the mother wasn't paying attention. I've been the recipient of that "religious fairy tale" more times than I can count. It's very true that the Spirit can warn you of danger if you're paying attention to it. If you're not, or if you don't realize what it's trying to tell you, then you aren't prepared.

Re: Erik

They already do have technology that will warn a parent when a child is left inside a car. Do a google search for Baby Alert Child Minder System or NASA Child Presence Sensor, they're amazing things. They fit right under your child's carseat, and a matching device that hangs on your keychain, and every time you step a certain distance from your vehicle without removing your child, your keychain alarm beeps at you until you remove the baby. If more parents were aware of things like this, even if they're sure they would never forget their child, it could save hundreds of lives a year.

Dale | 9:29 a.m. July 7, 2008

Sarah,

Good for you. But you gotta' wonder: How to NON-Mormons find their contact lenses? or their keys? or get warned of danger so they can avoid it?

Hmmmm...

Anonymous | 9:32 a.m. July 7, 2008

Unbelievable how many people try to trivialize what this mother did by claiming that so many parents are leaving their children in cars, behind, etc.

OK, so your argument is this: neglect and abuse of children is common, so we should not punish this mother for the death of her child???

Does that make sense to you if you really stop and think about it? A behavior can be very common but still be WRONG!

Sarah | 9:52 a.m. July 7, 2008

Dale,

Plenty of people all over the world do. They may not call it the same thing, but it works the same way for everybody and it IS very real. They may call it intution, or coincedence, or luck, or whatever. Why mock something we believe in just because we give it a different name, and give the credit for it to our Heavenly Father, rather than ourselves or some unknown source? What good does that do?

Anonymous | 11:10 a.m. July 7, 2008

Sounds like a hung jury to me.

Anonymous Mom of 5 | 2:07 p.m. July 7, 2008

You might want to read more carefully. I most certainly value my kids. They're my best friends and my life. Every day I wake to the sound of their laughter and share in their lives.

I understand why you're so upset - right there with you. That baby should never have been left alone, even for a moment. I have a baby the same age. Every time I take her in or out of the car I think of that little boy. If I didn't have extra insight maybe I'd be right there ranting with you.

This isn't about spirituality. It isn't about non-Mormons or Mormons. And I'm not defending what happened. I'm just saying that this hate gets nothing done. Babyseat alarms would. Thanks for the heads up.

Every parent should be held accountable. When we have kids - their lives and their futures become bigger and more important than our own. It's just that despite our very best intentions we all make mistakes. And this wonderful woman made a doozy. You can roast me for calling her 'wonderful', but she is. None of us are all saint or sinner.

...Also | 2:23 p.m. July 7, 2008

The 5 little girls who died in the trunk of a car were playing 'hide and seek'. (Hiding while someone doesn't look is kind of the point of that game.)

No one thought to look in the trunk! Imagine the horror.

Maybe the parents of those little girls just let them wander around horribly unattended. On the other hand, maybe they didn't. Most parents don't, so, since I don't know them, I think I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

Anonymous | 2:56 p.m. July 7, 2008

I'm not taking a position on the charges, but can anyone honestly say that knowing someone was charged for this will make them think "You know, I probably shouldn't leave my child in the car during the heat of the day." I don't think the charges are meant as a deterrent to others. People should know that you just shouldn't leave a child in a car. You may intend to leave them there for a few moments, but how often do we get distracted while doing something like running some books into the library and those few moments can turn into 30 minutes?... long enough by the way. It only takes about fifteen minutes for the car to reach dangerous heat levels.

to also | 9:27 p.m. July 7, 2008

Those very young girls who died in the trunk were horribly unattended. What mother in her right mind lets a two year old outside without adult supervision? Doesn't she know cars in the street are probably a greater danger? Those girls should have been inside within earshot or she should have been outside watching them. She left a 6 year old in charge of a two year old. Would you have a 6 year old babysitter? I don't think so. I know many parents carefully watch their kids, but sadly I see many in my neighborhood who do not. It is far more prevalent in Utah. Just ask those who are new to Utah and you'll find I'm not alone in my observation. Read message boards such as KSL and the Trib and even here and you'll find comments backing up what I see. I see many children who are most likely under 5 wandering all the time with no adult in sight. Utah may be Zion, but it isn't exempt from pedophiles or toddlers running into the street or being backed over in a neighbors driveway.

to: to also, from: also | 7:53 a.m. July 8, 2008

I absolutely agree with you. I lived in Ohio before moving here. I never saw two-year-olds playing outside unattended there. I do here...all the time. A couple families in my neighborhood let their kids wander all the time. And one has her seven-year-old babysit two younger children while she's out shopping. It's insane. I don't get it. And I kind of think that incidences like this open people's eyes, for about 2 seconds. And then they go back to thinking "this is the place", or whatever.

It's just that I just cringe when I see people demonizing this woman. This event is awful and she should be legally held responsible, in my opinion. I just know that she isn't a bad person...and actually a very good one. And a normally terrific mother. I think of her family being pointed at forever, a public psychic hanging of their mother. I worry for them. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do for the dead baby. We can for his family. Hate and judgment just take more lives.

BUT I am not saying let's all go "la la la." Perfect little ol' Utah isn't so perfect. You're unfortunately dead on.

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