My heart and prayers go out to the family of Cameron Smith.
Police Say Iraq GI's Son Beaten to Death
AP
CALUMET CITY, Ill. (May 26) - A man beat his girlfriend's 4-year-old son to death after she left the boy in his care while she was deployed to Iraq , police said.
Donell Parker, 23, was charged Friday with first-degree murder in the death of Cameron Smith. The boy was found dead in his bed Thursday in a suburb south of Chicago.
Parker told police he beat the boy, but would not say why, said Calumet City police Chief Patrick O'Meara.
Cameron was punched in the head, stomach and chest, and whipped with a belt from Tuesday to Wednesday evening, O'Meara said. An autopsy found he died of blunt-force trauma to the abdomen and head, O'Meara said.
The boy's 7-year-old sister and 8-year-old brother had also been in Parker's care, O'Meara said. They were put in the custody of their maternal grandparents after Cameron was found dead.
Cameron's mother, Sgt. Lavanda Smith, 28, was headed back to Illinois Friday after spending only ten hours at her new duty station in Iraq.
She was called to active duty in April with her Army National Guard unit and was sent to Fort Benning, Ga., on May 12 in preparation for deployment, said Lt. Col. Alicia Tate-Nadeau, an Illinois National Guard spokeswoman.
Family members said Cameron's father, Gary Smith Jr., 27, had been deployed to Iraq last August and last saw his three children on a brief leave in January. O'Meara said the children's parents were separated.
Family members said the Smiths had been married for eight years, and had both been in the military most of that time. O'Meara said Lavanda Smith had apparently been living with Parker for about a year.
Parker was scheduled to appear Saturday in bond court in suburban Markham, Ill. An official at the Cook County Circuit Court on Saturday could not immediately identify Parker's lawyer.
Donell Parker, 23, was charged Friday with first-degree murder in the death of Cameron Smith. The boy was found dead in his bed Thursday in a suburb south of Chicago.
Parker told police he beat the boy, but would not say why, said Calumet City police Chief Patrick O'Meara.
Cameron was punched in the head, stomach and chest, and whipped with a belt from Tuesday to Wednesday evening, O'Meara said. An autopsy found he died of blunt-force trauma to the abdomen and head, O'Meara said.
The boy's 7-year-old sister and 8-year-old brother had also been in Parker's care, O'Meara said. They were put in the custody of their maternal grandparents after Cameron was found dead.
Cameron's mother, Sgt. Lavanda Smith, 28, was headed back to Illinois Friday after spending only ten hours at her new duty station in Iraq.
She was called to active duty in April with her Army National Guard unit and was sent to Fort Benning, Ga., on May 12 in preparation for deployment, said Lt. Col. Alicia Tate-Nadeau, an Illinois National Guard spokeswoman.
Family members said Cameron's father, Gary Smith Jr., 27, had been deployed to Iraq last August and last saw his three children on a brief leave in January. O'Meara said the children's parents were separated.
Family members said the Smiths had been married for eight years, and had both been in the military most of that time. O'Meara said Lavanda Smith had apparently been living with Parker for about a year.
Parker was scheduled to appear Saturday in bond court in suburban Markham, Ill. An official at the Cook County Circuit Court on Saturday could not immediately identify Parker's lawyer.
5 comments:
Estela, I read this and literally felt sick to my stomach. What the hell is going with people doing this kind of thing to children?? Jail time is too good for him, he should be made to suffer every day of the rest of his life just like Cameron. I cannot imagine the heatbreak Cameron's family is going through. Reading this brings me to tears. I don't understand how anyone could do this to a child. Ya know, maybe I'm on the right track with my kids...neither one has ever stayed with a baby sitter or anyone but my mother or brother...reading this lets me know that no one can be trusted with a mother and father's most precious gift. The Smith family will be in my prayers.
Hugs, Angie
OMG...I have NO idea how someone could do something like that...there are just NO words :( That family is definitely in my thoughts...that poor baby and that poor family!!
Jen
Of course, this is one of those things that I have trouble understanding...even to the point of why God allows such. I just wonder, that's all.
~Meg
War breeds misery all over the world in unexpected and sickening ways. Sad.
Russ
I volunteer to be judge jury and executioner for people like this. Keep us posted if you hear more about what happens to him and the baby's mother. How sad.
Stacy
Post a Comment