Prosecutor: No Charges Against Mom of Boy in Gorilla Exhibit

[pnwmom]

Source: ABC News

A prosecutor said Monday that he isn't seeking charges against the mother of a 3-year-old boy who got into the Cincinnati Zoo's gorilla exhibit, resulting in the shooting of an endangered gorilla to protect him.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said the child's mother had three other children with her, and she was attending to them when the 3-year-old "just scampered off" on May 28. He said children's services made a visit to the boy and mother, and social workers were impressed by the child's environment.

Deters said the mother's actions were "not even close" to meriting reckless endangerment charges.

Legal experts had said that prosecution on child endangerment or similar charges seems unlikely. The family has declined to comment.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/ohio-prosecutor-decide-charges-cincinnati-zoo-case-39632035

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Here is another story about the decision:

http://www.people.com/article/prosecutors-wont-press-charges-in-cincinnati-zoo-fall

"By all accounts, this mother did not act in any way that she presented this child into some harm," the prosecutor told reporters. "She had three other kids with her, and she turned her back. I've gotten dozens if not hundreds of emails about this case. If anyone can’t believe a 3-year-old can scamper off very quickly, then they've never had kids."

His decision followed an extensive review of evidence collected by detectives as well as witness statements and interviews with the boy's family.

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. Trying to get prosecutors in on the internet shaming machine

People are fucking morons.

[ieoeja]

2. Good! n/t

[jberryhill]

3. A rare moment of common sense

"If anyone can’t believe a 3-year-old can scamper off very quickly, then they've never had kids."

[brer cat]

16. +1000 nt

[IronLionZion]

4. The internet mob mentality is always ready with torches and pitchforks

always need to throw someone under the bus. People have a lust for seeing others brought down for some reason. Let's save it for rapists, murderers, and Republican politicians.

[yellowcanine]

5. I agree that the loudest critics of the mom have no clue.

Personally I think the zoo has the most culpability here. Enclosures should be designed in such a way that a child cannot just dash into one.

At the same time, I do not let the mom off completely. There has to be a plan for keeping toddlers safe when out in public. Ideally there should be one adult per toddler in that situation. Or at most one adult has to watch the toddler and one other non-toddler child.

[pnwmom]

6. When I was growing up many if not most mothers had 3 or 4 kids

to contend with. If they didn't want to be trapped inside with them all day long, they went out -- and they did their best.

If there was an accident, they had their own consciences and regrets to deal with; not the internet police.

The zoo needs to design a more secure enclosure, and check the enclosures of all their dangerous animals and wherever there is a risk of falling.

[EllieBC]

7. Yes!

I guess some people think we are supposed to never leave the house. Until you've tried to manage toddlers and pre-schoolers, you don't know how easy it is for one to slip away and quickly.

I got lucky with my oldest because she's a clinger. With the other 2 I'm not sure I'll be that lucky.

[pnwmom]

10. My first was the biggest explorer.

I had her enrolled in a parks department program where the mothers were supposed to take turns coming and helping to watch the group. I couldn't trust that my little one might not take off unnoticed -- so I just went to every meeting. But at least I was getting out of the house!

[yellowcanine]

9. We are not talking about a trip to the park or the grocery store.

We are talking a zoo. Where kids can easily get lost, for one thing. It is not about the internet police. It is about child safety and recognizing the limitations of "doing your best." If there are three or four kids, then the adult needs to recruit another adult for the zoo trip or not go. That's what aunts, uncles, grandparents, and good friends are for. One adult focuses on the non toddlers, the other adult takes the toddler in tow - preferably in a stroller as much as possible.

[pnwmom]

11. I didn't ever have a relative to call on if I wanted to go out with my kids.

The relatives were across the country.

Anyway, the zoo that should have had an enclosure designed well enough to keep out a curious three year old whose mother had momentarily turned her back.

At least the zoo knows better than to blame the mother; and the safety of its enclosures is being evaluated.

[yellowcanine]

13. I faulted the zoo for the enclosure design. But the mom is not blameless.

Sorry but you do not turn your back on an unrestrained toddler when there is a gorilla nearby. You just can't. Is it a crime? No. But you just can't do that.

Yeah not having extended family is a problem. That was our experience also. We joined a babysitting club. We teamed up with friends (whom we had met in the babysitting club) when both parents were not available for an outing. It was a hassle - particularly when it was our turn to "keep the books" for the babysitting club. But it can be done. And it was worth it. We have at least 5 extended families we are friends with for life. We got invited to weddings for kids we babysat for and now interact with everyone's grandchildren on a near daily basis.

[closeupready]

14. "internet police" - double 'Yes!' Fucking sick of mobs of armchair Ph.D's/

biomechanical genetic engineers/busybodies here and on FB lecturing/sniping about life. (Obviously, I'm not talking about having an opinion or expressing it. You and I know the difference between one kind of person and the other.)

[uppityperson]

8. Good

[bluestateguy]

12. Ok fine. Now can she please just apologize?

I think the prosecutor made the correct call.

She is out of legal jeopardy, so I really only ask that she apologize to the zoo, the gorilla community and the local community for her stupidity.

[pnwmom]

15. Just as soon as the hordes of witch-hunters apologize. n/t

[Odin2005]

17. The fault is on the zoo for not having adaquate seperation between the gorillas and the visitors.

Why the fuck was there not a glass partition? And it should be that sort of glass where you can only see through from one side because eye contact is seen by male gorillas as a dominance display and will piss them off.

[AtheistCrusader]

18. How long has that enclosure existed in that state, and how many incidents of kids getting in?

Because the odds are high, more than one mom of four passes by that exhibit every hour.