Can't believe this happened?!

[luvmy3]

Obviously, this girl's parents were absent/unavailable/incapable. Fine. What about these boys/men/animals? Did they have parents? How were they raised that a gang rape of a child even crosses their minds? OK, maybe there are one or two sickos in a community that find little girls attractive, but this?????

I believe that even if this girl was dressed in a burqua, as long as she was alone and vulnerable, these animals would have raped her.

ITA, I don't believe it had anything to do with how she was dressed, they did it because she was a child and wouldn't fight back. They did it because they knew they could scare her into "letting" them. They did because they knew they could over power her physicaly and mentally. I am so bothered by the fact that someone (not here) brought up the way this girl dresses, this rape was not about them being attracted to her because of how she was dressed, it was about violence and power. I don't care what message a child is sending with her clothing, men should no better and be able to control themselves. The ones that can't aren't men, they are monsters, this was a child, its just so sickening.

 

[The_Alice]

I also wonder if it was because her parents were unavailable/incapable. They both had/have some pretty serious disabilities. I believe her father couldn't walk and her mother had growths in her brain and was the only one in the family working at the time. So maybe knowing that, they picked up on there would be no one coming to look for her and she was an "easy mark"?

We live in a pretty small town (about the same size as Cleveland, TX), and everybody knows what is going on with everyone else's families here. It's a pretty big eye opener since we moved from a larger city to here. That anonymity is gone. It's not too big of a stretch for me to think these guys knew she was left unwatched for long periods of time.

Something just doesn't sit well where all of these people in this town are heaping the blame on the family and the girl.

 

[luvsJack]

ITA, I don't believe it had anything to do with how she was dressed, they did it because she was a child and wouldn't fight back. They did it because they knew they could scare her into "letting" them. They did because they knew they could over power her physicaly and mentally. I am so bothered by the fact that someone (not here) brought up the way this girl dresses, this rape was not about them being attracted to her because of how she was dressed, it was about violence and power. I don't care what message a child is sending with her clothing, men should no better and be able to control themselves. The ones that can't aren't men, they are monsters, this was a child, its just so sickening.

Please, don't misunderstand me. I totally agree. The blame is 100% with these animals.

My point about the girl is that all of the things that were going on with her and what she was doing were all a part of what made her seem to be an easy target to these guys. They knew that there was no one to protect her.

What makes 19 men want to have that power over someone? One or even two, maybe lose control but 19?? I mean you would think along about the lets say 5th guy he would think "maybe we shouldn't be doing this?" I take it this is a small town? And this many males in this one town thought this was ok?

How long after it happened was it reported?

 

[Planogirl]

I was wondering why some of the locals would blame the girl too. Maybe it's too overwhelming for them to accept that so many young men that they knew would do such a thing? I don't know, just conjecturing.

 

[skater]

I was wondering why some of the locals would blame the girl too. Maybe it's too overwhelming for them to accept that so many young men that they knew would do such a thing? I don't know, just conjecturing.

I think sometimes its because if you blame the victim, you can rest assured that it won't happen to your child. Your child would never "act like that" and therefore, nothing bad will happen to her. Very false assumption, but it can be comforting.

 

[Planogirl]

I think sometimes its because if you blame the victim, you can rest assured that it won't happen to your child. Your child would never "act like that" and therefore, nothing bad will happen to her. Very false assumption, but it can be comforting.

If that's the case then I hope that they snap out of it once the shock passes. Frankly this is stupid thinking.

I get the impression that some of these guys are minors still in high school. What a horrible situation.

 

[skater]

If that's the case then I hope that they snap out of it once the shock passes. Frankly this is stupid thinking.

.

It is stupid thinking.

 

[luvmy3]

Please, don't misunderstand me. I totally agree. The blame is 100% with these animals.

My point about the girl is that all of the things that were going on with her and what she was doing were all a part of what made her seem to be an easy target to these guys. They knew that there was no one to protect her.

What makes 19 men want to have that power over someone? One or even two, maybe lose control but 19?? I mean you would think along about the lets say 5th guy he would think "maybe we shouldn't be doing this?" I take it this is a small town? And this many males in this one town thought this was ok?

How long after it happened was it reported?

Oh, I wasn't referring to you, I hope you didn't take it that way. I was talking about those who were interviewed that talked about how she dressed. It was like they were the ones are saying she's somewhat at fault for hanging around that area dressing the way she was. Why would they even bring that up? I know you weren't saying that at all


I wonder in a group that size, where you have older men, some who already have criminal records, if it isn't a matter of intimidation. Nobody wants to speak up and say this is so wrong for fear of retaliation. I've seen (heard of) horrible things happen when the gang mentality sets in, this is one of the worst.

 

[JVelasquez]

This story makes me sick to my stomach! How can people to such things?!

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

I don't blame the child I don't blame the parents, healthy or not though I wonder why they had no idea their child was missing at night. My question though is where was the community. Does she not have other family that could have taken her in while her parents got better? Teachers, guidance counselors, the nosy old lady that is in every neighborhood.

 

[luvsJack]

I think sometimes its because if you blame the victim, you can rest assured that it won't happen to your child. Your child would never "act like that" and therefore, nothing bad will happen to her. Very false assumption, but it can be comforting.

And its sad that they don't see the best way to make sure it doesn't happen to their child is to make sure scum like this gets put away for a good long time.

Oh, I wasn't referring to you, I hope you didn't take it that way. I was talking about those who were interviewed that talked about how she dressed. It was like they were the ones are saying she's somewhat at fault for hanging around that area dressing the way she was. Why would they even bring that up? I know you weren't saying that at all


I wonder in a group that size, where you have older men, some who already have criminal records, if it isn't a matter of intimidation. Nobody wants to speak up and say this is so wrong for fear of retaliation. I've seen (heard of) horrible things happen when the gang mentality sets in, this is one of the worst.

I didn't think you were, but wanted to make sure!

And you have a point about the group of males. There was such a range in ages and with the criminal records, some may have been afraid of the others. Its the worst I have ever heard of too. Its just so, so sad.

I don't blame the child I don't blame the parents, healthy or not though I wonder why they had no idea their child was missing at night. My question though is where was the community. Does she not have other family that could have taken her in while her parents got better? Teachers, guidance counselors, the nosy old lady that is in every neighborhood.

I wondered that too. The high school I went to is in a little tiny town. Everybody knows everybody's business. Sometimes it was a pain but most of the time it was comforting to know that someone would know if something was wrong. Someone would have seen what was going on with that child and someone would have protected her.

 

[punkin]

I don't blame the child I don't blame the parents, healthy or not though I wonder why they had no idea their child was missing at night. My question though is where was the community. Does she not have other family that could have taken her in while her parents got better? Teachers, guidance counselors, the nosy old lady that is in every neighborhood.

Good question. I grew up in NYC (Queens) and believe me, everyone knew everyone else's business. We had a contingent of nosy old ladies (my Grandmother was one of them) telling everyone what to do and how to do it. I would think it would be the same or better in a small town.

 

[LuvMickey36]

Residents in the neighborhood where the abandoned trailer stands — known as the Quarters — said the victim had been visiting various friends there for months. They said she dressed older than her age, wearing makeup and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s. She would hang out with teenage boys at a playground, some said.

This is the paragraph that stuck out to me. Like, it's ok to gang rape someone that is over 18??? It doesn't matter how she dressed or wore make up she is a child. It is really not her fault if she has an "absent" parent so to speak. Where are peoples sense of right and wrong? It is NEVER ok to rape someone.

 

[Wishing on a star]

OMG... complete, evil, monster, animals.

First, I don't see this as a 'gang' mentality thing, etiher. It sounds like this child went off with just a very few of these 'animals', and one by one, all the others made their own personal decision to come to the house/trailer to rape this poor child.

And, why anybody would even begin to make any comment that may put this child to blame.... Easy.... 100% it is the black african/american community trying to deflect the horrible, evil, reality in their midst.

How awful and painful and almost impossible it must be for them to actually see this and accept this. NO, I am not offering any excuses... But, some things are just too despicable and scary to even begin to accept and come to terms with. Anything but the truth.

 

[Magic Mom]

Residents in the neighborhood where the abandoned trailer stands — known as the Quarters — said the victim had been visiting various friends there for months. They said she dressed older than her age, wearing makeup and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s. She would hang out with teenage boys at a playground, some said.

This is the paragraph that stuck out to me. Like, it's ok to gang rape someone that is over 18??? It doesn't matter how she dressed or wore make up she is a child. It is really not her fault if she has an "absent" parent so to speak. Where are peoples sense of right and wrong? It is NEVER ok to rape someone.

I don't believe there were people saying it was OK to rape her. I think it was just a bunch of people reporting everything they know about the victim. And even though I don't believe anything justifies their crimes, I still think there is room to question some of the decisions of the parents. it's a seperate issue but still important. Why was she allowed to hang out with older boys and ride in their cars? Who was watching out for her?

 

[Robindianne]

I just think the way the article sounded, that she dressed inappropriately, not "her mother allowed her to dress inappropriately" is what puts the emphasis more on the 11 year old and not her parent. Also the quote from the hospital worker. It's just odd to hear it like people feel more empathy for the defendants and not the child in this case.

And where is her father in all this? And the boys' parents?

 

[Magic Mom]

And where is her father in all this? And the boys' parents?

Both good questions.

 

[luvmy3]

I don't believe there were people saying it was OK to rape her. I think it was just a bunch of people reporting everything they know about the victim. And even though I don't believe anything justifies their crimes, I still think there is room to question some of the decisions of the parents. it's a seperate issue but still important. Why was she allowed to hang out with older boys and ride in their cars? Who was watching out for her?

Was she allowed to do that, or did she just do it? I know when I was younger, not 11 but young teen, I did alot of things I wasn't allowed to do, and my father had no idea I was doing it.

 

[Magic Mom]

Was she allowed to do that, or did she just do it? I know when I was younger, not 11 but young teen, I did alot of things I wasn't allowed to do, and my father had no idea I was doing it.

Maybe, maybe not. But by the sounds of it, but by the sounds of it, it doesn't seem like anyone was paying much attention to what she was doing.

Again, that doesn't mean I think she is to blame. (It's ridiculous that I have to keep saying that, but the dis being the dis, you can't be to careful)

 

[The_Alice]

I was reading a subsequent article that stated she has been taken away from her parents. They are a hispanic family, and her father doesn't speak English and she doesn't speak Spanish. He was also on disability at the time and could not walk. Not making excuses, just sharing what I saw in a video interview with her mother.

They also said aside from these incidents (there was more than one rape, one at the end of September and the other on December 1.) she was a straight A student and they don't know why she snuck out that one particular evening. There was also a lot more vilifying going on of the girl in subsequent articles by other members of the community and heaping the blame on her for getting in the car with them, etc.