Comments about ‘Girl convicted in toddler's driveway death’

Family values at their finest.

I was against her getting time in lock-up, after reading her "rap sheet", she deserves to go away for a while. Hopefully she will re-evaluate her life because she appears to be 4 years away from prison regardless.

There was a comment made by someone who said they knew the situation and the family very well and the reason the aunt left the scene was because she had drugs in the car and ran home to hide them. Were there any reports made on that... or was that commenter not correct?

What in the world would drive this young girl to do such dastardly deeds? What is she really thinking? Really. And no I'm not being sarcastic- I really want to know.

This has got to be one of the worst miscarriages of justice I've seen in a long while--juvenile or not. 30 DAYS for a child's life? And with a rap sheet that includes a felony already! What is the judge thinking?

Wow, 30 days. That'll teach her.

What has greater charges? Second hand manslaughter, or hiding drugs in a car?

and what happens to her after her 30 days in Iowa?

In my opinion, the way that courts sentence kids because they are "kids" only sets them up for more charges in the future. They just learn that a crime is worth committing since they will just walk away with a rediculous consequence, like 30 days and community service.

Sure this little girl has been a bad kid, but did she mean to run over a small child? I doubt it. If anyone is responsible for this, it's the person who allowed her to have the keys and get behind the wheel. It's not like she forgot about the most important thing in her life and left it to die in a hot car. Oh wait, that is just a misdemeanor here in Utah.

This is hardly punishment enough. I agree that treating them like kids is getting them into more trouble. She did an adult thing, that clearly wasn't an isolated incedent. Treat her like an adult with the same charges. That might get through to her. 30 days in detention won't even come close. She needs to learn what her actions do to others, and what will happen to her if she continues the path she's chosen. So sad the aunt is obviously not a good example. Gross.

After reading this article I wonder what her parents have done to help her. She is only 14 years old and been in more trouble than I have in my 30 some odd years. Our job as parents is to guide and teach our children, so what is truly going on here? She has to live with what she has done, but does she truly understand what that means?

I also notice that her parents have been ordered to pay child support, to whom and why? There must be more going on here then we are being told.

The article said in February the juv was put into detention and spent 154 days there. Obviously she didn't learn anything during that time. She's a repeat offender. Isn't any of that taken into consideration? Whether she meant to run over the 2 year old or not, she was once again breaking the law.

How many chances is she going to get? All she'll do is get harder and harder each time she goes in for 30 days. She'll end up shooting someone just like the 4 did Sunday.

I dont suppose any one ever learns to drive early
It was a terrible thing and that 14 year old has to live with it forever!!!!!

This 14 year old girl will have to live with the death of the child, whom she cared about, for the rest of her life. This wasn't a hard core crime or gang related. She is paying for what she did and will live with it. So when you that want such hard punishments get in trouble which would you like - full justice or a modicum of mercy?
Frankly at 14 I'd have hated to be shipped accross the contry to an unknown facility. That on top of the a trile would have me freaked.

This may be the best thing for her to both deal with the death and to get a new start.

Oh and AMEN to Utah Justice's comment!

I feel for this 14 year old child i'm sure she didn't mean to do this, after losing a child of my own this girl will have to live with this the rest of her life I have forgiven the person who ran over our daughter and killed her, he was drunk but not forgiving will only eat you up inside i can't even imagine what this child is feeling inside maybe on the devils drug I don't know I agree it was the adults responsiblity she should have never given this child the keys to drive

The girl is a minor, that does not relinquish any parental rights and responsibilities; they now must pay more for having this child in a facility. Addressing other issues; most states today restrict parental rights because of child abuse allegations. Its true, however that at least in Utah, the courts usually encourage the offending minor to take responsibility for their actions: i.e. breaking and entering, underage smoking, and so forth. Some teens, no matter how great family values, continue in the path to destruction. The resources, become extremely limited or nil. About fifteen years ago, my third son, hung around with another boy from our neighborhood, my son, took his summer and stayed with my brother, the other boy...went with his eighteen year old cousin for what should have been a typical B&E. The home was occupied; the cousin of this 13 year old boy, took a bat and beat the woman to death. Because the 13 year old stood there doing nothing, hes serving life in prison.

When hearing the news on the radio, I thought: "What kind of parents could this child belong too?" He is the son of a very old and dear friend of mine.

all you defenders of the "poor child": look at her RECORD!!!!
She is NOT remorseful or apologetic; she is a career criminal. Out of control!

I wanted to continue this thread by adding, sometimes no matter what we give our children, it is never enough-- We can only teach, guide, instill good values, and pray like crazy that our babies turn out to be good strong citizens...Life is what happens on the way to doing something else. It is very difficult teaching them what is right, when celeberties murder, rape and whatever and get away with it all.

I hasve an opportunity to work with some wayward children. I would have to say that the parenting that has gone on with this child has been not so good. The only way this child can be turned around is to put her in a place like Iowa, away from everyone. I truly hope she will get the therapy that she needs to turn her life around. I truly hope she won't be a child that ends up at the point of the mountain in her adulthood. Hopefully she can be in foster care and have some good structure to her life. This isa terrible shame.