Disabled Girl left to Starve to death in Metro-Atlanta

[olena]

august 7, 2002 -- Cherokee County investigators have made one arrest in the suspicious death of a 13-year-old girl with cerebral palsy.

Investigators remain at the Canton home at this hour where the girl had apparently been dead for several days.

We just spoke with Sheriff Roger Garrison moments ago. We're told the autopsy is complete, but investigators are waiting to release the results.

Neighbors tell us they called the Department of Family and Children's Services to the same home last summer out of concern for the 13-year-old disabled girl and her 11-year-old sister.

Police tape surrounds the home on Wheeler Martin Drive where investigators made a gruesome discovery. GBI agents and Cherokee County deputies removed evidence from the home where the dead girl was found.

Neighbors say she was confined to a wheelchair. Her eleven-year-old sister apparently found her last night, then went to a neighbor's home and called police.

A DFACS investigator arrived on the scene this afternoon. Neighbors tell us DFACS visited the home last summer after they complained that the girls were being neglected.

At this point, investigators are calling the teen's death suspicious and have already arrested the mother's boyfriend on charges of neglect, concealing a death, tampering with evidence and animal cruelty.

The sheriff tells me the cruelty to animals charge comes after investigators found a dead dog in the back yard. It appears the animal starved to death.

We're told the child's mother has been cooperative with investigators. She was questioned this morning, but so far no charges have been filed against her. There were no details on the arrest.








She was found dead in her bed, either from dehydration or starvation. Apparently towels were stuffed under the door to keep the smell from wafting through the house. The girl's two siblings were forbidden to enter. The sister finally did. I think this story is so horrible and sad. I guess there will be more details released today. I think the Mom should be arrested, too. The other two siblings have been placed with other relatives.

 

[Tony-NJ]

Now I'm crying. I would really like to get my hands on either the boyfriend or the Mother. She had to know what was going on!!!! How could someone do this? This is horrible!

 

[DixieDreamer]

 

[browneyes]

 

[chelsea&austinsmom]

Very sad.

 

[cotye]

Terrible!!!

 

[gemmie214]

What is wrong with people. I am so mad right now i could spit nails

 

[Robinrs]

I heard this on the news this morning, Heather. It made me sick. Those poor other children, this will affect them for the rest of their lives. There is no punishment on earth good enough for the ones who did this to that child AND the dog!

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

That mother has to be penalized, 13 yrs old, she had a life ahead of here. That get's me mad

 

[ChiTownZee]

The poor girl And how her sister must be affected is tragic I would like to know why they haven't arrested the mother yet. but have arrested the boyfriend.

 

[aahmom1]

Where in the hell was the mother??

 

[goofygirl]

And people dont believe me when I say that there's people out there who are sorry that they had children. This pair obviously was not GLAD to have her around.

And there's thousands of stories that are similar.

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by goofygirl
And people dont believe me when I say that there's people out there who are sorry that they had children. This pair obviously was not GLAD to have her around.

And there's thousands of stories that are similar.

Make that MILLIONS, goofygirl.

I would never doubt what you say is true, in fact I have to SEARCH for people who see their children the way I do, and I like being on these boards because the people here, unlike the cross section of FOOLS I've had the pleasure of meeting in my 46 years, do appreciate and love their children. If you've found them to be uncomfortable with that statement, can you blame them? They cannot relate, thank God!

This story is WAY too familiar for me, and imagine how it made me feel after I had to bury my own child that there were people who had healthy children and murdered them.... This story is more than sad, it is a sorry state of affairs that has happened for years and a sad statement on the sorry govt companies (DFACS) that are supposed to protect children. Don't let me go there!

 

[Beauty]

This makes me sick! I would give my life for John-Cole!! He is my life...I can not imagine..that poor child and those poor siblings. It really makes me mad about the dog too. As most of you know I'm a HUGE animal lover. That poor baby!

UUGGHH no punishment is enough for this!!

 

[SilverLily]

I don't think anyone didn't believe you at all, GG. We just don't believe the numbers are as high as 70%.

Robinrs said it perfectly....most of us love our children so much that we just can't relate to the ones who don't.

I hope both of these monsters are locked away forever.

 

[pokiemomo181]

Having worked on an ambulance for 12 years, I have been called to multiple scenes of child abuse. Some made it some didn't. I was required to treat the parents respectively while on scene, when all I really wanted to do is put them through what they put those beautiful children through. These people that do this are not worth living, or should not be allowed to live. I would like just 5 minutes alone with them, it may not help the child, but it would sure make me feel better!




Pokie

 

[olena]

August 8, 2002 Canton, Ga. -- A Cherokee County mother was charged with child cruelty Wednesday after police discovered the body of her 13-year-old daughter at home.


Authorities said the girl, who suffered from cerebral palsy, was bed-ridden. Police believe she was dead for several days. "Her sister finally discovered her and ran to a neighbor's to call 911," Sheriff Roger Garrison said. The 11-year-old sister has been placed in state custody, he said.

Stephanie Gilmore, 33, was charged with cruelty to children and cruelty to animals. Police also found skeletal remains of a dog that apparently starved to death in the yard.

Officials said Gilmore's boyfriend, 30-year-old Trent Day, was charged with concealing death, cruelty to animals and tampering with evidence. Gilmore was being held on a $28,000 bond. Day was being held on a $11,000 bond.

Neighbor Tina Taylor blames the Department of Family and Children's Services for the tragedy, saying her calls to investigate the situation were ignored.

"If they had done what they should have done, I don't think this would have happened," said Taylor. She said she could never reach Gilmore at the home when she called there, suggesting that the children were home alone.

She said she told DFACS that the children were not eating inside the home.