Mom identified, tot found; dad arrested

MONSEY — Investigators in three states are trying to piece together how a young woman's body ended up in flames in a Ramapo town park this week after her baby daughter was found locked in a gas station restroom about 160 miles away in Delaware.

New Jersey authorities charged the father — Dwayne Jackson, 25, of Edison, N.J. — with kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child Thursday . The girl, Hannah Jackson, is 20 months old.

Dwayne Jackson was being held on $750,000 bail, said Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan in New Jersey.

Jackson also is charged in Newark, Del., with first-degree reckless endangering in connection to the case.

The girl's mother is Patricia Belizaire, 24, of New Brunswick, N.J., according to a law enforcement source. Her burning corpse, with the name "Patricia" tattooed on her lower back, was found in the parking lot of Manny Weldler Town Park by two newspaper carriers at 5:38 a.m. Monday, a day after her daughter was found.

Ramapo police investigators believe the person who dumped her body and set it ablaze did so about 15 to 20 minutes before the body was found.

"It appears likely that the female murder victim located in Rockland County is the 24-year-old mother of the abandoned child found in Newark, Del.," Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said on Thursday.

Investigators declined to comment Thursday on whether Jackson is a suspect in any crime other than leaving his daughter in the gas station bathroom.

They would not describe the relationship between Jackson, who is married, and Belizaire, other than to say they had a child together.

The link between Hannah's kidnapping and the discovery of Belizaire's body is being investigated, said James O'Neill, a spokesman for the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

Hannah had been living with her mother in North Brunswick, N.J., until she was found crying, locked in the restroom of a Shell service station on South College Avenue in Newark, Del., at 2:42 p.m Sunday.

The gas station is off Interstate 95, about 2 hours from Rockland. Investigators have declined to discuss whether Belizaire was killed in the Monsey park or elsewhere. Ramapo is about 66 miles from New Brunswick, while Newark, Del., is about 100 miles from New Brunswick.

Jackson is married and has two young sons with his wife, Lizette Jackson, who has a 12-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, his neighbors in Edison said Thursday after his arrest.

Jackson worked a night shift as a security guard at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, according to his neighbors. A hospital spokesman did not immediately confirm whether Jackson worked for the facility.

"He's very nice, very polite," said Tulio Garcia, who lives next to Jackson and his family on Weldon Road in Edison. "He calls me Mr. Garcia, and I said, 'No, use my first name,' and he said, 'No sir, I don't do that.'[0x1d] "

Garcia and other neighbors said Jackson had been quick to help people in the neighborhood shovel snow from their driveways.

Jackson has no criminal record.

Hannah has been placed in foster care. Nick Krayer, deputy child advocate for New Castle County, Del., said she will remain in Delaware for now.

"Ultimately she may go back with a family member to New Jersey," Krayer said.
Hannah's photo is featured on a Facebook page under the name of Patricia Belizaire, whose last entry was Feb. 20, two days before she was found dead.

Investigators had been seeking to identify Belizaire through her colorful tattoo with the name "Patricia" and a red rose atop a green stem.

She also underwent gall bladder surgery within the past three weeks, according to the Rockland County Medical Examiner's Office, following an autopsy.

Mom identified, tot found; dad arrested LoHud.com The Journal News

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Suspect in killing of daughter lost father, brother to suicide

PURCHASE — The woman accused of strangling her 18-year-old daughter had a father who shot and killed himself when she was 4 years old, and a brother who committed suicide in 2002, according to documents obtained by The Journal News.

Stacey Pagli, 37, who tried to hang herself after allegedly killing Marissa Pagli at Manhattanville College, attempted suicide again Thursday at the Westchester County jail, county officials said. She has been on suicide watch since her arrest a day earlier.

Harrison police Capt. Anthony Marraccini said he wasn't aware of the mother having any mental health problems and didn't disclose anything about her past.

Stacey Pagli, charged with second-degree murder, was a small child when her father, Everett Perry, who worked at a stone plant, shot himself in the chest with a shotgun in February 1977, according to his death certificate.

An older brother, Patrick Perry, committed suicide in 2002 when he was in his late 30s, according to the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office.

And her mother, Nalene Perry, who worked in a bakery, died in April 2009 after a brief illness, according to an obituary published in the Patriot and Free Press in Cuba, N.Y.

Stacey Pagli, who grew up about 80 miles south of Buffalo, was living with her husband — a college maintenance supervisor — and two daughters in staff housing on the Manhattanville campus. She dropped her 3-year-old daughter, Gianna, off at day care Monday morning before returning to the apartment.
Police said she struggled with Marissa, using her hands and possibly a "device" to strangle her around 9 a.m.

She then slit her own wrist and attempted to hang herself, police said. John Pagli, her husband and Marissa's father, discovered the gruesome scene when he arrived home shortly after noon.

Marissa, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was a volleyball player at the college.

Meanwhile, Marissa's family, friends and fellow students packed the Craft Funeral Home in Port Chester on Thursday evening to pay their respects.

She was remembered as a happy person.

Louis Rodriguez, 20, who had a Tai Chi class with Marissa at Manhattanville, said she was very outgoing.

"She just came up to me one day and started speaking," he said. "She was always smiling and she was never upset."

After an hour of the viewing, a busload of students arrived. Even though some said they did not know Marissa well, they said they would see her around campus, watch her play volleyball and described her as very sweet.

Some also gave their condolences to her father, whom they described as a nice person.

She will be laid to rest today following a funeral at St. Anthony of Padua Church at 11 a.m. in West Harrison.

Stacey Pagli, a former office administrator in Rye Brook, had no family or friends present when she was arraigned in Harrison Town Court on Wednesday.

She was held without bail at the county jail, where she tried to hang herself Thursday morning, county officials said.

A correction officer spotted her with socks tied around her neck around 8 a.m.
"It appears to have been a suicide attempt, but she's OK," county spokeswoman Donna Greene said. "She's conscious and alert."

Although Pagli was not injured, she was taken to Westchester Medical Center before she was returned to the jail several hours later. Greene said she will continue to be under "constant observation."

She appeared frail and listless during Wednesday's arraignment, and walked into the courthouse shackled and wearing socks and hospital scrubs. She covered her face with her hair. She is due back in court on Tuesday.

Police released no new details on the homicide investigation Thursday. Marraccini, the acting chief, said police know of a motive in the slaying but will not disclose it. They also won't discuss the content of a note Stacey Pagli left at the scene.

Suspect in killing of daughter lost father, brother to suicide LoHud.com The Journal News

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Federal Judge Approves Class Action Settlement That Affects New Yorkers

FEDERAL JUDGE APPROVES CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT THAT AFFECTS EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS OF UP TO 25,000 NEW YORKERS
New York, N.Y. February 19, 2010

A class action legal settlement has been reached that could restore the employment rights of up to 25,000 New Yorkers. According to the settlement agreement-reached between Class Counsel Thomas Hoffman Esq. and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)-thousands of people listed on a statewide "Abuse and Maltreatment Register" could receive hearings to have their names cleared.

The Abuse and Maltreatment Register, which is maintained by the OCFS, a New York State Agency, contains the names of individuals accused of maltreating children. Most child-related employment and licensing agencies must check the Register before hiring. As a result, prospective hires generally cannot work with children until their names are cleared from the Register.
Since placement on the Register restricts employment rights, people listed have a constitutional right to a name-clearing hearing. The class action lawsuit alleges that this right was violated between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007 because a large percentage of 25,000 requested hearings were terminated, with no hearing held.

Citing statistics that show that 50% to 70% of those who receive hearings are exonerated, Mr. Hoffman says that the difference between a hearing and no hearing is often the difference between a steady job and unemployment.
Under the terms of the settlement, the State will send notices to the roughly 25,000 people on the Register whose Requests for Hearings were terminated between 2003 and 2007. The notice will inform people that they may have a right to request a new hearing.

Those who respond by expressing interest in a hearing will have their records reviewed by OCFS, which must produce documentation of a hearing decision. If the State agency is unable to produce a decision, a new hearing will be scheduled.

OCFS also agreed not to re-institute a project that terminated Hearing Requests when an employer or licensing agency lost interest in an applicant.
The right to a hearing, according to Mr. Hoffman, is independent of an employer's interest in an applicant. This is especially true since most employers cannot afford to maintain interest in job candidates unable to work while they await hearings.

Judge Shira A. Scheindlin of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York gave preliminary approval for the settlement on February 17, 2010.
A Fairness Hearing will be held on April 20, 2010 in which Judge Scheindlin will decide whether to grant final approval. If she does grant final approval, Class Counsel Thomas Hoffman will monitor the implementation of the terms of the settlement for up to three years.

Judge Scheindlin must still determine how swiftly the state must schedule and decide requested hearings. Currently, an average of 8 to 10 months or longer pass before hearing requests are decided. "This is much too long a time period while the individual is waiting to become employed," says Mr. Hoffman. During these difficult economic times, Mr. Hoffman said, it is particularly important that people receive a prompt hearing to decidewhether their name belongs on this list.

A website http://www.registryclassaction.com/ has been established to provide information for people who have not received a requested hearing.

The attorneys who negotiated the settlement on behalf of OCFS are Assistant Attorney General Robert L. Kraft and OCFS Senior Counsel Emily Reeb Bray.
For more information: Thomas Hoffman, 250 W. 57 St., New York, N.Y. 10107

Tel. 212 581 1180 or 917 589 6156

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Email: _thoff93452@aol.com_

DCF case worker charged with sexual assault

By John Pirro, Staff Writer
Published: 10:45 p.m., Sunday, February 14, 2010

NEW FAIRFIELD -- State police arrested a 48-year-old case worker for the state Department of Children and Families on Saturday after one of his clients accused him of sexually assaulting her at his home last week.

Mark Swan, of Deer Lane, is being held on $501,000 bond at the Troop A barracks in Southbury and is expected to appear in state Superior Court in Danbury on Tuesday.

Police began their investigation after the 19-year-old alleged victim went to the resident trooper's office in New Fairfield on Saturday and reported that Swan had assaulted her on Wednesday.

Swan had been the woman's case worker since she was 16, and an investigation "supported the victim's claim" that an assault occurred, police said.

Authorities took Swan into custody shortly before midnight Saturday, when a trooper stopped a vehicle that was observed being driven erratically on Route 39 near Bogus Hill Road and found him behind the wheel.

Swan was charged with second-degree sexual assault, unlawful restraint, sale of narcotics, reckless endangerment and harassment, in addition to reckless driving and drunken driving stemming from the traffic stop, police said.

Department of Children and Families spokesman Gary Kleeblatt said Sunday that Swan will be placed on administrative leave pending a departmental investigation and could face disciplinary action "up to and including termination."

Investigators gave no indication whether the sex between Swan and the victim was consensual or part of a continuing relationship, but under state law, a person can be charged with second-degree sexual assault when the victim is under the age of 18 and the accused is either a guardian or is responsible for their general supervision or welfare, or the victim is in custody of the law and the accused has supervisory or disciplinary authority over her.

Kleeblatt confirmed that the victim was "a current client" of Swan's, but said other information about Swan's employment history with the agency wasn't available on Sunday.

A state police spokesman said Sunday that since state offices are closed Monday for Presidents Day, no further information on the case would be released prior to Swan's scheduled appearance in court.

Police said the case remains under investigation by the resident state trooper, the State Police Western District Major Crime Squad and the Department of Children and Families.

Contact John Pirro at jpirro@newstimes.com or at 203 731-3342.

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Relationships for a Reason, Season or Lifetime

A special post today.. Valentines day.

People come into our lives for a Reason a Season or a Lifetime.. I know first hand that we aren't always ready for "the end" of a relationship.... "is it really the end?" Did we learn something valuable?

People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. At first, it may be hard to determine the nature and purpose of a relationship. Many of our callers at California Psychics have questions regarding this topic. Perhaps these descriptions will help somewhat to clarify the mystery.

When someone is in our life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need that has been expressed. They have come to assist us through a difficulty -- to provide guidance and support no matter how short lived. Perhaps they've come along to bring us the healing power of kindness and hope. They have most definitely shown up to reactivate a virtue within us to aid us physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. They seem like a godsend and are here for the reason we need them to be. Then, without warning, usually at an inconvenient time to us, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they simply walk away. Sometimes they act out and force us to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled and therefore their work is done. The prayer you sent out has been answered and it is time now to let go. This may be a difficult time because often we think the lesson has not been learned or purpose fulfilled.

When people come into our lives for a season, it is because our turn has come to share, grow, or learn with this person. They may bring an experience of joy and truly make us laugh. They may teach us something we have never done before or even thought about doing. They are usually bringing us some form of creativity and wisdom that may unlock a beautiful gift inside that has been lying dormant. Often these mentors and instructors open our minds to new ideas and dimensions. They usually bring an enormous amount of grace with them. Take it in, believe it and enjoy -- it is very real, if only for a season.

Lifetime relationships present us with life long challenges and lessons for growth. Not only do love partners fall into this category but parents, siblings and long term friendships as well. They bring us love, patience, forgiveness, generosity, compassion, etc. -- those virtues we build a life upon in order to maintain emotional balance. Our job is to be open and receptive to the lesson and love the person that is bringing it. Some lifetime partners can be very gentle and some quite challenging. As a dear friend once exclaimed: "What if that person was put into your life to simply drive you crazy ... after all, you did say you wanted to learn about forgiveness!"

Many relationships appear to separate and end, yet as one metaphysical study A Course In Miracles reminds us, "No relationship occurs by accident, nor is what appears to be the end of the relationship a real end. Yet all who meet will someday meet again, for it is the destiny of all relationships to become holy (healed, forgiven)."

California Psychics® Official Blog: Relationships for a Reason, Season or Lifetime

Accused child killer was 'good mum': neighbours

Neighbours of a woman accused of murdering two of her children and attempting to kill her eldest child have told a Brisbane Supreme Court jury they thought she was a "good, loving mother".

The woman, who cannot be identified, gassed her eight-year-old son and her 10-year-old daughter with carbon monoxide fumes from the family's car, parked in the garage of their Sandstone Point home, near Bribie Island, in November 2002.

The woman has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and also not guilty to the attempted murder of her disabled 16-year-old son, who escaped the car and garage.

Yesterday defence barrister Craig Chowdhury said there was no dispute his client killed two of her children and tried to kill her eldest son, but said the case's critical issue would be her mental state at the time of the deaths.

The Crown alleges the woman killed her children as a "selfish and cowardly act" designed to hurt her ex-husband, the father of the children.

Yesterday, on the first day of the trial, an elderly woman who lived next door to the family gave tearful evidence that she had been close to the accused woman, who she believed was "a good mother".

"She looked after her children very well ... you could see she loved them very much," said the neighbour.

However days before the children's deaths, she saw the woman looking "shaky, very down".

The accused woman told the neighbour that her ex-husband was going to have custody of the children over Christmas 2002, though she had tried to fight against such an order in the Family Court.

"He was going to take them off her ... she was very upset about that," she said.

Another neighbour gave evidence he also believed the woman was "a very loving mother".

"She would always take (the children) to the school bus, there were cuddles all round," he said.

"I couldn't see any problems at all."

The neighbour told the court on the day the children died he saw the family's garage door was partly open and the neighbour's car parked inside.

"I could see the driver's door open and a pair of feet hanging out, they were a purple colour," he said.

"I looked in the rear window ... it was the two little ones."

He called an ambulance and when paramedics arrived, one officer examined the children and announced "there's nothing I can do for them", the neighbour said.

Yesterday afternoon, the children's father also gave evidence, telling the court relations between he and his ex-wife had been "hostile to tolerable" following their split in 1997.

The man, who also cannot be named, said there were times when he could not get access to the children, in particular when he began a new relationship in early 1999.

He said at that time his former wife told him: "While you're still seeing that bitch you're not seeing the kids".

The trial, before Justice Philip McMurdo, continues today.

Woman Who Gassed Children In Car Was A Good Mum: Neighbours

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'The ultimate act of hate'
A mother committed "the ultimate act of hate" against her ex-husband when she murdered their two children and tried to kill their eldest child, a jury has been told.

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My three cents:

This woman should be let loose in jail with all the inmates cells unlocked .. after they've been told what she did. She deserves what ever would happen to her.

Kelsey Smith-Briggs' mother gets no money from lawsuit settlement

Raye Dawn Smith is seen in a Creek County sheriff's patrol car in this 2007 photo by Jim Beckel.

A federal judge ruled today the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs will get nothing from the settlement of a lawsuit over her daughter's death.

Raye Dawn Smith wanted half of the $345,097 leftover from the settlement. She is in prison for enabling her daughter's abuse.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Timothy DeGiusti means that money will go to Kelsey's father.
Kelsey died from abuse Oct. 11, 2005, at her home near Meeker. The case was one of the most highly publicized murder cases in Oklahoma for the next two years.

Smith testified in January she wanted half to repay her family for her legal expenses. She said she would give anything left after that to an infant crisis center in Oklahoma City and a children's hospital.

She is appealing her conviction.

Lance Briggs filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the state Department of Human Services and others.

Last year, the state paid $525,000 to settle the lawsuit, and a private agency paid $100,000. Attorneys got 40 percent of the settlement plus expenses.

No one was convicted of murder in the child's death.

Kelsey's stepfather, Michael Lee Porter, was charged with first-degree murder and child sexual abuse but pleaded guilty instead to enabling child abuse. He is serving a 30-year prison sentence. He blamed the girl's mother for her death.

The mother was never charged with murder. She was convicted at a 2007 trial of enabling of child abuse and is serving a 27-year prison sentence. She blames Porter for Kelsey's death.
Kelsey died even though DHS workers, a private child-welfare worker and a judge were overseeing her care because of the child's injuries. Her death came four months after the judge returned Kelsey to her mother, despite accusations the mother was the abuser.

Kelsey's father was returning to Oklahoma from military duty when she died. Relatives said Friday he has never recovered from the death. He and Kelsey's mother divorced before she was born.

Kelsey Smith-Briggs' mother gets no money from lawsuit settlement NewsOK.com

EARLIER COVERAGE BELOW

Kelsey Smith-Briggs' mother gets no money from lawsuit settlement 5 hr ago A federal judge ruled today the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs will get nothing from the settlement of a lawsuit over her daughter's death. Raye Dawn Smith wanted half of the $345,097 leftover...

Kelsey's mom sentenced to 27 years in prison Tue, Jan 19, 2010 Comments 24 BRISTOW — A judge today sentenced Raye Dawn Smith to 27 years in prison for enabling the abuse of her daughter, Kelsey Smith-Briggs. Kelsey, 2, died Oct. 11, 2005, at her home near Meeker after...

Last defense witness testifies in abuse trial Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs sobbed, "I don't understand. Help me,” in court Wednesday after jurors found her guilty of allowing the girl to be abused.

Mom found guilty; jury hands down 27-year prison term Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs sobbed, "I don't understand. Help me,” in court Wednesday after jurors found her guilty of allowing the girl to be abused.

Pastor testifies for defense in Smith's trial Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — A pastor testified today that Raye Dawn Smith cried out to him at the hospital after her daughter died Oct. 11, 2005, asking, "Why did God take my baby?”

Kelsey lost her spirit weeks before death, grandmother testifies Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — The outspoken grandmother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs told jurors today that the 2-year-old had changed for the worse when they were last together weeks before her death.

Smith weeps during testimony about Kelsey's injuries Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — Raye Dawn Smith wept again today as jurors saw autopsy photos and diagrams of the bruises, scrapes and other injuries to her dead daughter’s body.

Defense opens in abuse trial Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — The first defense witness at the child-abuse trial for Raye Dawn Smith said Monday the mother wanted an autopsy to find out why her 2-year-old daughter died in 2005, but her new husband...

Kelsey Smith-Briggs' death lawsuit brings $625K deal Tue, Jun 30, 2009 The state of Oklahoma paid $525,000 Monday to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit over the murder of Kelsey Smith-Briggs, and a private agency paid $100,000. A federal judge Monday approved the...

Lawsuit accusing DHS in toddler's death to move forward Thu, Apr 24, 2008 Comments 26 TULSA -- A lawsuit claiming three Oklahoma Department of Human Services workers contributed to the conditions that led to a 2-year-old girl's death has been allowed to move forward by an appeals...

Judge denies request for shorter sentence in Kelsey case Thu, Feb 7, 2008 CHANDLER--A judge today refused to give a more lenient prison sentence to the stepfather of Kelsey Smith-Briggs. Michael Lee Porter is serving 30 years in prison for enabling child abuse....


Kelsey's mom won't be retried Thu, Dec 6, 2007 Comments 18 BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs has lost her first bid for a new trial. Raye Dawn Smith is serving 27 years in prison for enabling child abuse. Jurors in July found Smith, 28, guilty...

Kelsey's mom loses bid for new trial Wed, Dec 5, 2007 BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs has lost her first bid for a new trial. Raye Dawn Smith is serving 27 years in prison for enabling child abuse. Jurors in July found Smith, 28,...

Kelsey's mom seeks new abuse trial Mon, Oct 22, 2007 Comments 50 Changes made on rim.
Kelsey's dad plans appeal Fri, Oct 12, 2007 Comments 58 Text edit

Kelsey's run aims to prevent child abuse Wed, Oct 3, 2007 Comments 9 Kelsey Smith-Briggs' paternal grandmother and step-grandmother can't do anything to help her now, but they're trying to prevent other children from suffering the same fate. Kathie Briggs, her...

How Kelsey's mother spent her time in courtConvict tells dead girl's grandmother, ‘I forgive you,' which afterward spurs the comment, ‘She's demented' Tue, Sep 11, 2007 Comments 30 BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs passed up her chance Monday to ask a judge for mercy or to again claim she is innocent. Instead, Raye Dawn Smith looked toward her former mother-in-law...

Kelsey's mother gets 27 years in prison Mon, Sep 10, 2007 Comments 39 Send back to write basket when finished, style changes on slot

Your thoughts: Kelsey's mom sentenced to 27 years in prison Mon, Sep 10, 2007 Comments 53 0

‘Conspiracy against me' Fri, Aug 24, 2007 Comments 50 BRISTOW — In her first public
comments since being found guilty, the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs denied again that she allowed the girl to be hurt and stated she "would love ... one day (to)...

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Read more: http://newsok.com/news/kelseysmithsearch_what=newsok&page=1#ixzz0f6bCk65Q

Attorney may seek new trial Thu, Aug 16, 2007 Comments 20 Send back to write basket when finished

Well-known attorney will represent Kelsey's mom Wed, Aug 8, 2007 Comments 14 BRISTOW — Well-known attorney Stephen Jones said today he has been hired to represent the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs. Jones met with Raye Dawn Smith for an hour Monday in jail in Sapulpa. He...

Court briefs Tue, Aug 7, 2007 Add a comment DENVER Family of dead inmate will keep waiting on $1.1M Family members of Kenneth Trentadue, who died in controversial circumstances at a federal holding cell in Oklahoma City, must wait longer...

Your take: Verdict in the trial of Raye Dawn Smith Wed, Jul 18, 2007 Comments 92 Raye Dawn Smith was found guilty of enabling the abuse of her 2-year-old daughter and was given a 27-year prison sentence, a jury decided Wednesday.

Smith found guilty in abuse trial Wed, Jul 18, 2007 BRISTOW (AP) - A Creek County jury convicted a Meeker woman on Wednesday of enabling child abuse in the death of her 2-year-old daughter. The jury recommended a prison sentence of 27 years for...

Jurors could begin deliberating fate of Kelsey's mother Wed, Jul 18, 2007 BRISTOW — Jurors at the child-abuse trial for Raye Dawn Smith will begin deliberating today or Friday after closing arguments are completed. Smith, 27, wept again this morning as a prosecutor...

Pastor tells about day Kelsey died Tue, Jul 17, 2007 BRISTOW — A pastor testified Tuesday Raye Dawn Smith cried out to him at a hospital after her daughter died, saying, "Why did God take my baby?” The defense witness, Charles Pearcy, told jurors...

Prosecution rests in child-abuse trial of Kelsey's mother Mon, Jul 16, 2007 BRISTOW — Prosecutors at noon today completed putting on their evidence at the child–abuse trial for the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs. Raye Dawn Smith is charged with child abuse or enabling...

Witness testifies mom tossed Kelsey into car Sat, Jul 14, 2007 BRISTOW — Jurors were told Friday that Kelsey Smith-Briggs once blurted out that her new stepfather, "Daddy Mike,” hurt her head but her mother laughed off the toddler's statement. Jurors also...

Smith seemed aggravated before Kelsey's death, welfare worker testifies Fri, Jul 13, 2007 BRISTOW — Raye Dawn Smith was aggravated a few hours before her daughter's death after learning the child's father would be returning soon from military duty, a private child-welfare worker...

Co-workers testify about Kelsey's mother Thu, Jul 12, 2007 BRISTOW — Raye Dawn Smith admitted using a brush to spank her daughter on the diaper after police began investigating suspicious red prickly marks on the child's rear and other injuries, two...

Juror weeps during testimony Wed, Jul 11, 2007 BRISTOW — Jurors heard Wednesday from three relatives of Kelsey Smith-Briggs who said the 2-year-old child was injured over and over in 2005 while she was with her mother. "It was the consistent...

Stepdad testifies against ex-wife Wed, Jul 11, 2007 BRISTOW — The stepfather of Kelsey Smith-Briggs came from prison Tuesday to testify against his ex-wife, telling jurors in a choked voice that he saw the child abused three times and covered it...

Smith weeps during testimony about Kelsey's injuries Tue, Jul 10, 2007 BRISTOW — Raye Dawn Smith wept silently Monday during opening statements in her child-abuse trial as the district attorney told jurors her 2-year-old daughter was murdered. Jurors will begin...

Child-abuse trial begins Mon, Jul 9, 2007 BRISTOW — The child-abuse trial for the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs is set to begin today, almost two years after the child died at her home near Meeker. Jury selection in the largely...

Witness to describe Kelsey's treatment Mon, Jul 2, 2007 CHANDLER — Prosecutors in the Kelsey Smith-Briggs case have a new witness — a man who claims he saw her mother yell at and spank the screaming 2-year-old girl, then throw her over a car's front...

Secret report rips DHS Sun, Jul 1, 2007 A secret report on the Kelsey Smith-Briggs tragedy reveals the Oklahoma Department of Human Services made a series of mistakes in the abused child's case, such as failing to contact police when she...

Former judge defends choice to return girl Fri, Jun 22, 2007 CHANDLER — The former judge in the Kelsey Smith-Briggs case has written a book and on Thursday again defended his decision to return the abused child to her mother four months before the...

Ex-judge's book defends actions in Kelsey's death Thu, Jun 21, 2007 CHANDLER — Former Lincoln County Associate District Judge Craig Key wrote a book blaming the death of Kelsey Smith-Briggs on her feuding family and defending authorities who handled her child...

Kelsey's mother ordered to trialCrime: Child safetyFive witnesses spoke at preliminary hearing. Sat, Apr 28, 2007 CHANDLER — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs was bound over for trial today in connection with the 2-year-old Meeker girl's death. Raye Dawn Smith, 27, faces charges in Lincoln County District...

Read more: http://newsok.com/news/kelseysmithsearch_what=newsok&page=2#ixzz0f6aX7CZb

DA adds charge against Kelsey's mom Sat, Mar 17, 2007 CHANDLER — Lincoln County prosecutors Friday amended felony charges against the mother of a toddler who died from child abuse in 2005. Raye Dawn Smith was charged in February 2006 with enabling...

Stepfather gets 30 years in toddler's death Fri, Feb 2, 2007 CHANDLER (AP) - A Meeker man charged with first-degree murder in the killing of his 2-year-old stepdaughter pleaded guilty Friday to a lesser charge in Lincoln County District Court and was...

Plea deal in Kelsey caseStepfather reportedly will get 30-year term Mon, Jan 29, 2007 Comments 17 CHANDLER — Prosecutors have agreed to drop the murder and child sexual abuse case against the stepfather of Kelsey Smith-Briggs, and he has agreed to a 30-year prison sentence for enabling child...

1-year deferred sentence givenKelsey Smith-Briggs case: Father pleads no contest in incident involving ex-girlfriend Thu, Jan 11, 2007 SHAWNEE — The father of Kelsey Smith-Briggs pleaded no contest Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge filed after a reported incident with a former girlfriend. Lance Briggs, 29, of Meeker was given a...

Trial set in slaying of girl, 2 Wed, Nov 29, 2006 CHANDLER Trial set in slaying of girl, 2 Michael Lee Porter's murder trial is set to begin Feb. 12 in Chandler. Porter, 26, is accused of sexually abusing and killing his stepdaughter, Kelsey...

Trial set in Kelsey's death Wed, Nov 29, 2006 CHANDLER — Michael Lee Porter's murder trial is set to begin Feb. 12. Porter, 26, is accused of sexually abusing and murdering his stepdaughter, Kelsey Smith-Briggs, last year at their home east...

Counselor to testify on child’s abuse Tue, Nov 14, 2006 Testimony to relate comments made by defendant’s daughter. CHANDLER — A school counselor will testify that murder defendant Michael Lee Porter’s daughter said he spanked Kelsey...

2-year-old's death becomes part of judicial campaign Fri, Nov 3, 2006 Sheila Kirk Craig Key CHANDLER - On a rural highway approaching Meeker is a billboard of cherub-faced Kelsey Smith-Briggs, the 2-year-old who has become the state's poster child for child-abuse...

Judge wants trial for girl's mom Thu, Oct 5, 2006 CHANDLER -- A judge said Wednesday he intends to have a trial for Kelsey Smith-Briggs' mother after the trial for the child's stepfather. Kelsey, 2, died Oct. 11 at her home east of Meeker.... Read more: http://newsok.com/news/kelseysmith?search_what=newsok&page=3#ixzz0f6a6CbjV

Read more: http://newsok.com/news/kelseysmithsearch_what=newsok&page=3#ixzz0f6a6FssU

Kelsey's mother waives hearing Fri, Sep 22, 2006 CHANDLER -- The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs waived her preliminary hearing Friday and is set to be back in court next on Oct. 4. Raye Dawn Smith, 26, is charged with enabling child...

Read more: http://newsok.com/news/kelseysmithsearch_what=newsok&page=3#ixzz0f6ZxFPzY

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Attention NY parents

FYI/ ACTION

The New York State Senate is about to vote on legislation that will give aschool nurse or doctor the power to vaccinate children under- age 18 yearsof age with controversial vaccines such as GARDASIL and Hep B-- WITHOUT parental "consent or knowledge." Sexually transmitted diseases are NOT communicable through casual contact. The Gardasil vaccine is engulfed in much controversy because it is not at all proven that its risk / benefit ratio favors children's welfare.

Indeed, the vaccine's period of effectiveness is unknown while mountingevidence shows that it poses serious risks for some children and young womenexposed to it.

See: The Risks and Benefits of HPV Vaccination by Charlotte Haug, MD, PhD,MSc JAMA. EDITORIAL. 2009; 302(7):795-796.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/302/7/795?home

Not be ignored is Merck's record of aggressive, illegal marketing of drugs including the Gardasil vaccine: Merck is on record of having bribed state legislators to mandate Gardasil.

Let the NYS legislators below know that S4779B violates parental rights and responsibility to make health care decisions on behalf of their children. S4779B is BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF SCHOOL AUTHORITY.

Who will bear moral, medical, and financial responsibility should a child be harmed by a vaccine that was administered to a child WITHOUT parental knowledge or consent?

Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav veracare@ahrp.org 212-595-8974

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Date: February 8, 2010 10:38:49 AM EST

To: cfic@nyct.net

Subject: URGENT: info for religious or vaccine-aware parents

Reply-To: cfic@nyct.net

Friends: The following info is of critical importance to religious conservatives and/or parents who wish to have consent rights for vaccinations.

The NYS Senate Code Committee will vote on S4779B Tuesday (tomorrow) at 10:30 AM in the capitol blding. L

WHY is this bill bad?

It gives a school nurse or MD the power to vaccinate or treat (if infected) your under-18 year old child with STD vaccinations (Hep-B and GARDASIL) WITHOUT your "consent or knowledge."

It also seems flawed.

Are there provisions in state law that defines one who has a "capacity" to consent to a vaccination?

If not, then how can this law be implemented? And what would prevent a school nurse from vaxxing a 6 yr old student?

And how could a 6 yr old "consent" toobtaining a vaccine?

This is the applicable excerpt:

QUOTE This section also provides that a health care practitioner may provide health care related to the prevention of a sexually transmissible disease, including administering vaccines, to a person under age eighteen without the consent or knowledge of his or her parents or guardians, provided such person has capacity to, consent to the care, without regard to the person's age, and the-person consents. UNQUOTE

There are other problems with this bill. But here's the wording for you to judge:

BILL NUMBER: S4779B

TITLE OF BILL : An act to amend the public health law, in relation to providing medical care to minors for sexually transmitted diseases without a parent's or guardian's consent

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL : To ensure that the immunization against HPV is administered to people at a time when it is most effective.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS : Section one amends section 2305 of the public health law to provide that no person other than a health care practitioner shall diagnose, treat or prescribe for a person who is infected with a sexually transmissible disease, or who has been exposed to infection with a sexually transmissible disease, or dispense or sell a drug, medicine or remedy for the treatment of such person except on prescription of ahealth care practitioner.
Section two amends subdivision 2 of section 2305 of the public health law to provide that a health care practitioner may diagnose, treat or prescribe treatment for a sexually transmissible disease for a person under age eighteen without the consent or knowledge of his or her parents or guardians where such person is infected with a sexually transmissible disease or has been exposed to infection with a sexually transmissible disease.

This section also provides that a health care practitioner may provide health care related to the prevention of a sexually transmissible disease, including administering vaccines, to a person under age eighteen without the consent or knowledge of his or her parents or guardians, provided such person has capacity to, consent to the care, without regard to the person's age, and the-person consents. The section provides further that any release of patient information regarding vaccines provided under this section shall be consistent with sections 17 and 18 of the public health law and other applicable laws and regulations.

ACTION TO TAKE:

From Lisa Rudley:

Please ACT NOW as there is an important vote going through this Tuesday (2/9/10) that would further this very DESTRUCTIVE bill! One phone call, one fax will make all the difference. We have defeated these types of bills before, but we need every concerned New Yorker contacting their legislators immediately.

I will be going to Albany early Tuesday morning, please let me know if anyone wants to join me. Let's protect our kids together!!! Please forward the below alert to all your lists immediately.

Help Stop the Destruction of Parental Rights in New York Regarding Vaccines

Help DEFEAT Proposed Bills that Would:

1. Permit ALL Present and Future Vaccines and Drugs for Sexually Transmitted Diseases to be Given to New York Children WITHOUT Parental Consent

(S4779

and A6702 )

2. Legally Force Controversial HPV Vaccine on 6th Grade New York School children

(A0778 )

Spending Just a Few Minutes Can Make a Difference:

1. IMMEDIATELY Forward this note to everyone you know in New York state

2. Ask your elected Senator and Assembly Member to OPPOSE S4779,A6702 and A0778!

Use the "Find My Senator" section on http://www.nysenate.gov/ and the "Member Search by Zip Code" on http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

Use the contact information to CALL, EMAIL, and FAX to send the strongest message

3. Request members of the Senate Codes Committee vote AGAINST S4779 before the committee hearing on Tuesday 2/9/10

Chair: Sen. Eric T. Schneiderman, (518) 455-2041, schneide@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6847

Sen. John J. Bonacic, (518) 455-3181, bonacic@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6948

Sen. Neil D. Breslin, (518) 455-2225, breslin@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6807

Sen. John A. DeFrancisco , (518) 455-3511, jdefranc@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6952

Sen. Thomas K. Duane, (518) 455-2451, duane@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6846

Sen. John J. Flanagan, (518) 455-2071, flanagan@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6904

Sen. Martin J. Golden, (518) 455-2730, golden@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6910

Sen. Shirley L. Huntley, (518) 455-3531, shuntley@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6859

Sen. Jeffrey D. Klein, (518) 455-3595, jdklein@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6847

Sen. Andrew J Lanza, (518) 455-3215, lanza@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6852

Sen. Kevin S. Parker, (518) 455-2580, parker@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6843

Sen. Bill Perkins, ( 518) 455-2441, perkins@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax(518) 426-6809

Sen. Stephen M. Saland, (518) 455-2411, saland@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6920

Sen. John L. Sampson, (518) 455-2788, sampson@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6806

Sen. Daniel L. Squadron, (518) 455-2625,squadron@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6956

Sen. Dale M. Volker, (518) 455-3471, volker@senate.state.ny.us,
Fax (518) 426-6949

4. Please send a copy of your letter and any responses you receive to nyvaccinechoice@gmail.com

Key Talking Points: Oppose S4779 and A6702 which permit ALL present and future vaccines and drugs for sexually transmitted diseases to be given to New York children WITHOUT parental consent

These bills remove parental rights for all New York parents

If a child has a drug or vaccine reaction, the parents won't know what is happening or how to help

These bills apply to ALL children - there is NO age limit

A child's has a limited capacity to understand pharmaceutical drug and vaccine risks and identify side effects they may experience

Unknown vaccine administrators don't know the child's medical history, vaccine contraindications, allergies, and past vaccinere actions

Children unknowingly are giving up their legal rights when asking for a vaccine because Federal QUESTIONS?

contact Lisa Rudley, Heather Walker, and John Gilmore for additional instructions on what can be done:

Lisa Rudley ,

Heather Walker,

John Gilmore

Gary Krasner, Director Coalition For Informed Choice 188-34 87th Drive, Suite 4B Holliswood, NY 11423 718-479-2939 CFIC@nyct.net www.CFIC.us

NOTE -- Please use only if your message carries file attachments totaling over 2 MB.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled" . . . Richard P.Feynman

DISCLAIMER: I'm neither a lawyer nor medical physician. It should not be construed from any materials I distribute that I'm dispensing legal ormedical advice.

List members noted in Green text.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted (© ) material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law.
This material is distributed without profit. The information herein shall not be considered an endorsement of anyone discontinuing psychiatric drugs. If you are stopping taking medication IT IS ADVISABLE TO REDUCE DOSES GRADUALLY WITH EXTREME CAUTION, as it is difficult to predict who will have problems withdrawing. It is worth getting as much information and support as you can, and involving your doctor wherever possible. You will find withdrawal information here: http://theicarusproject.net/

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WITHDRAWAL:: Get Peter Lehmann's book, Coming off Psychiatric Drugs: Successful Withdrawal from Neuroleptics, Antidepressants, Lithium, Carbamazepine and Tranquilizers. This valuable resource comes in US, UK, Greek. and German editions.

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Rich ma 'kills' kid in slay-suicide bid

Son, 8, in hotel 'pill' tragedy

By JAMIE SCHRAM, LARRY CELONA and LUKAS I. ALPERT
Last Updated: 3:01 PM, February 6, 2010
Posted: 2:13 AM, February 6, 2010

A wealthy pharmaceutical exec -- distraught about an imaginary upcoming divorce and custody battle -- murdered her 8-year-old son and tried to kill herself yesterday in a deluxe suite at the Peninsula Hotel on Fifth Avenue, officials said.

Investigators found the body of Gigi Jordan's son, Jude Michael Mirra, lying face-up on the bed in his pajamas in Room 1603 at the swank hotel. Jordan was barely conscious, slumped on the floor, "babbling incoherently," police sources said.

The $1,175-a-night room was littered with pill bottles and "thousands" of loose pills and scattered documents -- including a suicide note penned by Jordan, who is believed to have a net worth of about $100 million, a source said.

Jude, who police sources said is autistic, had been dead for some time. Investigators believe Jordan had force-fed him a lethal dose of the pills, including ground-up Xanax and Ambien.

Cops were led to the nightmarish scene when Jordan's aunt called the 20th Precinct from Belgium to say she had received an alarming e-mail from her niece, in which the 49-year-old mother said she planned to kill herself and Jude, police said.

Officers first went to Jordan's home at the Trump International Hotel and Towers on Central Park West, but were told she was staying at the Peninsula.

When they got to the hotel, security tried to let the officers into the room. But Jordan had jammed a chair under the doorknob, forcing cops to break in, sources said.

Confronted with the chilling sight, one of the officers was spotted running out into the hall frantically radioing: "I've got two dead bodies! I've got two dead bodies!"

Jordan, however, still had a faint pulse and was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where she was in stable condition late yesterday.

While on her way to the hospital, she "made comments implicating her in her son's death," and asked to speak to her lawyer, a source said. Charges were pending as police waited for her to undergo a psychological evaluation.

Hotel staff said she had checked in Wednesday, immediately hung a "do not disturb" tag on her door and apparently never came out.

In her note, Jordan said she feared losing custody of her son in a divorce, police said. But sources said she is not currently married, has been divorced for two years and was "delusional" about a custody battle.

The boy's biological father, Emil Valention Tzekov, 42, said he had no idea Jordan was so desperate.

"I really knew nothing about this," he said when reached by The Post.

Jordan's previous husband, Raymond Mirra, a Pennsylvania entrepreneur who has since remarried, said through a lawyer that he hadn't spoken with Jordan in some time, and although the boy had Raymond's last name, he was not the biological father.

"They are deeply saddened by what has happened," said the attorney, Patrick Egan.

Jordan, who hails from Belgium but has an American passport and has lived in the United States for years, amassed a significant fortune with Mirra, running pharmaceutical companies that dealt in cancer-curing drugs.

Later, she enlarged her fortune by branching out into real estate. Jordan's aunt told police her niece owned several multimillion-dollar apartments in the Trump building and a townhouse on the Upper West Side that she rents out.

In a Web posting on the site of a New Age fertility guru, Jordan had said having her child has "helped awaken a spiritual connection to God."

"In learning how to release my fear of losing something I really wanted and to allow myself to believe I would have it," she wrote, "I gave birth to a beautiful boy, and experienced a greater depth of love and connectedness with my child."

Jordan's suicide note made reference to documents on her laptop computer that would explain further her actions, but investigators had to get a search warrant before they could view them, sources said.

Additional reporting by Kevin Fasick and Joe Santoliquito in Malvern, Pa.
jamie.schram@nypost.com

Wealthy pharmaceutical exec Gigi Jordan 'kills' 8-year-old son at Peninsula Hotel - NYPOST.com

West Brighton mom insists she doesn't know whereabouts of her missing 7-year-old

Jennifer Rodriguez insists she doesn't know where her missing son is.

"I am doing everything in my power to help find my son," Ms. Rodriguez told the Advance in her first interview since being released from jail Tuesday to assist police and child welfare authorities in finding 7-year-old Patrick Alford.

"I made a lot of mistakes in my life. I messed up, but I was never a bad mom to my son."

The West Brighton boy was last seen on Jan. 22 in the lobby of East New York's Spring Creek Development, where he had been placed with a foster mother after Ms. Rodriguez lost custody of Patrick and her two other children on Dec. 26.

She was arrested on theft charges and the city Administration for Children's Services determined she neglected her son.

On Jan. 29, Ms. Rodriguez was jailed on contempt charges by Staten Island Family Court Judge Terrance J. McElrath after she allegedly made comments to court officers and ACS caseworkers regarding the boy's whereabouts.

Judge McElrath said he believed she knew where the boy was and released her to help in the search effort. She could face a return to jail at her next court appearance on Tuesday if she doesn't cooperate.

The 23-year-old mom -- who is staying with friends in Midland Beach -- said she is devastated.

"This is a nightmare to me," she said.

Ms. Rodriguez contends she called ACS herself a few days before her arrest.

"I told them I needed help, I needed a program so I could stay clean for my kids," she said. "I reached out to them and then they took my kids. They said I neglected my son, but now he's missing."

She described Patrick as a bright, intelligent boy who likes to play football and has a lot of friends.

"He was a role model," she said. "He's my little man."

Police continue to search for Patrick, who is black, stands 4 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 65 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red T-shirt, blue jeans and a black sweatshirt.

Ms. Rodriguez saw him during a supervised visit on Jan. 9.

"He looked OK, he seemed happy," she recalled. "He told me that he loves me and he knew he would be able to come home soon."

West Brighton mom insists she doesn't know whereabouts of her missing 7-year-old Staten Island Featured Entries - Breaking ...

UPDATE

The mother of a missing 7-year-old Brooklyn boy was released from jail Tuesday, Feb. 2 after passing a polygraph test that revealed she has no knowledge of her son's whereabouts, according to media reports.

Jennifer Rodriguez, 23, is the biological mother of Patrick Arnold, but the boy was living in foster care when he went missing on Jan. 22.

Rodriguez was jailed for a week due to contempt of court charges and the judge threatened to have her put back in jail if she doesn't cooperate fully with investigators and her son isn't found soon, reports WABC-TV.

Arnold, who is 4-feet-8 and weighs 65 pounds, was last seen in the foyer of his foster home in Starrett City, according to the New York Daily News.

Despite the results of the polygraph test Rodriguez received while she was in police custody, the Administration for Children's Services believes she had a role in Arnold's disappearance, according to the Daily News.

The boy's foster family claims Rodriguez called their home incessantly up until the time Arnold disappeared, reports News 12 Brooklyn.

Rodriguez insists she has no idea how her son disappeared and no knowledge of his whereabouts and called claims insisting otherwise ridiculous.

Anyone with information about Arnold's case is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or visit CrimeStoppers.com or to text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

According to Help Find My Child, Arnold was last seen wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans with blue and black Jordan sneakers. He's described as being in good health. He has a scar on his left eyelid.

Mother of missing Brooklyn boy released from jail, maintains innocence