11 year old baby sitter charged in 2 year old death

[littlewolf]

Source: AJC

11-year-old babysitter charged in 2-year-old's death

By Rhonda Cook
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

11:15 p.m. Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sandy Springs police have charged an 11-year-old girl with murder and child cruelty in the death of a toddler she was babysitting.

The babysitter, whose name has not been released, was taken to a juvenile Youth Detention Center in Fulton County, where she will be held while prosecutors decide how to proceed.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

Read more: http://www.ajc.com/news/north-fulton/11-year-old-babysitter-617778.html

---

Ok ...
1. why is an 11 year old supervising anything other then her doll collection.

2. I am ok with an 11 year old "helping" a babysitter but not being large and in charge...

3. why are the parents not being charged ...

[sharp_stick]

1. They're going to have a tough time

fitting her into the electric chair without some major modifications.

How a State can argue that an 11 year old can be charged as an adult is baffling no matter what she did.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. 11 is way too young to care for a toddler. I was 11 when I started babysitting but

it was for a 5 year old and my mom was around to supervise when I first started.

[Cal Carpenter]

3. Hey, fyi...

You'll want to edit your post to have the actual article headline in your subject line (instead of 'OMG why')...

It's a rule for the Late Breaking News Forum. Otherwise the mods may lock your thread. In all the other forums here it doesn't matter.

[littlewolf]

7. thank you - first post

[Cal Carpenter]

8. No problem

and welcome to DU!

[herbm]

11. BTW: WELCOME!!!!!!!

[ejpoeta]

4. i have an 11.5 year old, a 5 year old and a 1 year old.

while i will let emy play with abby and keep an eye on her while i am in the other room, i do not think an 11 year old should be responsible for a small child. i wouldn't let her be responsible for my 5 year old!! they just aren't mentally capable of doing that on their own. maybe the 5 year old for a few minutes, but never a small child. i believe there is a law about an age for babysitting and 11 isn't it. definitely NOT with a 2 year old.

[herbm]

10. You are so right.

[kestrel91316]

5. I started babysitting at 12, but my parents were home right across

the street in case I had any problems. And of course I had been TAUGHT growing up to NOT HIT, and to not ever be mean to anybody younger than myself.

This child's parents failed to teach her basic right from wrong.

[madmax]

6. Number 3 over and over again. nt

[herbm]

9. Charging 11 olds with any form of manslaughter/murder is just plain wrong. Who is dumb enough to use

an 11 year old as child care, anyway??

[Tunkamerica]

13. I saw the mother of the toddler on the news last night and

she said : "I hope is made to feel just like me." Meaning, I assume that she thinks the little girl should be put to death.

So, to answer your question, a person who thinks an eleven year old should be executed is the one who think she's ready to baby sit.

[ejpoeta]

14. i'm sorry but if the woman left her 2 year old with an 11 year old

she should have some culpability. i can tell you that especially with young kids i have always been very careful who i left them with. definitely when they were younger. my 1 year old has only ever been left with my sister. my older two are at the age i may consider an actual babysitter who comes over and sits at my house with them. but i wouldn't leave my little one with anyone!! sometimes i feel i am too protective and paranoid. and then i hear about these kinds of cases.

[herbm]

26. MORE culpable than an eleven year old child.

[Kceres]

12. Around here it is not legal to leave a 11-y-o by her/himself, let alone babysitting. n/t

[happyslug]

19. Check your welfare regs

In most states, if not all states, six is the cut off when it comes to the need for child care. Thus six years old have been ruled old enough by State Welfare Agencies to be on their own.

Colorado is a state that retains the Common Law Marriage concept. The courts have indicated that they will follow a Pennsylvania Supreme Court case as to what age can a person enter into a Common Law Marriage (The ruling is from the late 1990s and it held that age was 12). Since Colorado have NOT forbade people under 12 from entering into a Common Law Marriage, and 12 was the age of consent under the Common Law, it is still the age in Colorado. Please note, Pennsylvania like Colorado had made it illegal enter into a ceremonial marriage (one that requires a marriage license) who was NOT 18 years of age, but nothing is such statute affects Common Law Marriages.

Please also note, while Common Law Marriages require no state act (i.e, no need for a license) they are valid marriages and can only be ended by a Divorce or annulment.

You are lucky, Colorado Welfare regs actually uses age 13:

3.902 CHILD CARE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

"Eligible child" means a child under the age of thirteen (13) years who needs child care services during a portion of the day, but less than 24 hours, and is physically residing with the eligible adult caretaker(s) during the same period care is needed; or a child under age nineteen (19) who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself or herself or is under court supervision. Any child served through the Colorado Works Program or the Low-Income Child Care Program must be a citizen of the United States or a qualified alien as defined in Section 3.919, H, 1.

http://stateboard.cdhs.state.co.us:8008/CDHS/rule_display$.DisplayVolume?p_vol_num=3

You are lucky that your state actually uses age 13 as a cut off but notice only if that who needs child care services .... If the child can be left alone at a young age, no child care is provided. This is the MAXIMUM age some one can get child care for NOT the minimum age.

As to the age to be left alone the Colorado Department of Human Services says the following:

The laws of Colorado do not set a specific age after which a child legally can stay home alone. Unfortunately, age is not a very good indicator of a child's maturity level. Some 15- year-olds may still not be ready. For example, it is inappropriate to leave a 15-year-old alone if the teen is chemically dependent, has emotional problems, or is prone to vandalism or other destructive or illegal acts.

Colorado in general has accepted the age of 12 years as a guideline for when it might be appropriate for a child to be left alone for short periods of time. This standard is based upon the Colorado Child Labor Law, which deems 12 years as the minimum age for employment, for example a babysitter. (See Colorado Revised Statutes. § 8-12-105 (3) ).

http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/childwelfare/LeaveKidsAlone.htm

Colorado generally uses 14 as the age cutoff but under 8-12-106, nine years old and twelve years old can do the following jobs:

8-12-106. Permissible occupations at age nine or older.

(1) Subject to the limitations of sections 8-12-105 and 8-12-110, any minor at age nine or older shall be permitted employment in any of the following nonhazardous occupations:

(a) Delivery of handbills, advertising, and advertising samples;
(b) Shoeshining;
(c) Gardening and care of lawns involving no power-driven lawn equipment;
(d) Cleaning of walks involving no power-driven snow-removal equipment;
(e) Casual work usual to the home of the employer and not specifically prohibited in this article;
(f) Caddying on golf courses;
(g) Any other occupation which is similar to those enumerated in this subsection (1) and is not specifically prohibited by this article.


8-12-107. Permissible occupations at age twelve or older.
(1) Subject to the limitations of sections 8-12-105 and 8-12-110, any minor at age twelve or older shall be permitted employment in any of the following nonhazardous occupations:
(a) Sale and delivery of periodicals and door-to-door selling of merchandise and the delivery thereof;
(b) Baby-sitting;
(c) Gardening and care of lawns, including the operation of power-driven lawn equipment if such type of equipment is approved by the division or if the minor has received training conducted or approved by the division in the operation of the equipment;
(d) Cleaning of walks, including the operation of power-driven snow-removal equipment;
(e) Agricultural work, except for that declared to be hazardous under the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938", as amended. However, it is the intent of the general assembly that migrant children eligible for attendance at migrant schools be encouraged to attend such schools.
(f) Any other occupation which is similar to those enumerated in this subsection (1) and is not specifically prohibited by this article.

[happyslug]

21. Some additions to this comment

Colorado generally uses 14 as the age cutoff but under 8-12-106, nine years old and twelve years old can do the following jobs:

8-12-106. Permissible occupations at age nine or older.

(1) Subject to the limitations of sections 8-12-105 and 8-12-110, any minor at age nine or older shall be permitted employment in any of the following nonhazardous occupations:

(a) Delivery of handbills, advertising, and advertising samples;
(b) Shoeshining;
(c) Gardening and care of lawns involving no power-driven lawn equipment;
(d) Cleaning of walks involving no power-driven snow-removal equipment;
(e) Casual work usual to the home of the employer and not specifically prohibited in this article;
(f) Caddying on golf courses;
(g) Any other occupation which is similar to those enumerated in this subsection (1) and is not specifically prohibited by this article.


8-12-107. Permissible occupations at age twelve or older.
(1) Subject to the limitations of sections 8-12-105 and 8-12-110, any minor at age twelve or older shall be permitted employment in any of the following nonhazardous occupations:
(a) Sale and delivery of periodicals and door-to-door selling of merchandise and the delivery thereof;
(b) Baby-sitting;
(c) Gardening and care of lawns, including the operation of power-driven lawn equipment if such type of equipment is approved by the division or if the minor has received training conducted or approved by the division in the operation of the equipment;
(d) Cleaning of walks, including the operation of power-driven snow-removal equipment;
(e) Agricultural work, except for that declared to be hazardous under the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938", as amended. However, it is the intent of the general assembly that migrant children eligible for attendance at migrant schools be encouraged to attend such schools.
(f) Any other occupation which is similar to those enumerated in this subsection (1) and is not specifically prohibited by this article.

http://www.michie.com/colorado/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=

8-12-105 deals with hours on school days. 8-12-110 defines what is hazardous and this forbidden to any below age 18 unless tied in with the exceptions in 8-12-110, which are tied in with vocational education.

[maxsolomon]

23. in WA state, too. 12 till you can be home alone without an adult.

i hope the mother of the dead child gets some perspective once her grief fades somewhat.

[HuckleB]

24. According to this, Washington's age is 10.

http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm

[maxsolomon]

29. goddammit. i spent 2 extra years hanging out with my kids?

NEVER AGAIN! ;)

[happyslug]

32. I ran across a Pennsylvania Welfare rule that said no child care after age SIX

Yes, Pennsylvania Department of Welfare had a rule that no child care would be provided for any parent who had custody of the children if the child was over age six. The presumption would be that such children would be in school and could survive a few hours with some one else till the custodial parent (or one of the parents) could return home.

At the same time Children and Youth was telling people that to leave such a child home alone was neglect. I quit doing Children and Youth work once I brought that conflict to their attention (I quit doing such work for unrelated reasons) so I never did find out how the two agencies worked out that conflict. I suspect Welfare won, for the CYS position would have cost the State money. I also suspect both agencies hope the problem would never come up, i.e. CYS would have other reasons to intervene OR Welfare would have other reason to provide child care (and the most likely resolution, the parents found someone to watch the kids till they came home from work).

[BlueJazz]

15. I took care of..(baby-sat) 2 little twin girls who were 18 months old when I was 11.

I changed their diapers and the whole trip BUT, I was an exceptional child and thinking back, it probably was not the thing to do.

I did it after school for about 3 months....3 hours a day.

I guess my Parents and neighbor really trusted me. ????

[ejpoeta]

28. some kids are more responsible than others. i've seen kids who probably

could take care of a kid. it's a lot to expect from an 11 year old. even if they are great with kids they usually don't have the coping skills if a child starts crying and such. heck, i am an adult and it gets tough when they won't stop crying.

[Blue_Tires]

16. The AOL News story says the mother left the toddler with the

11 year old's mother? Did that mom then just dump her friend's kid duties onto her daughter??


http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/baby-sitter-11-charged-with-murdering-2-year-old-zyda-white/19644139

[RaleighNCDUer]

17. Or was the mother actually responsible, but figured the child wouldn't

be charged?

[Jennicut]

27. The 11 year old was left unsupervised with the child it seems. I babysat at that age

but was fully supervised by the mother I was helping. I was never left alone. It seems the mother of the 11 year old is partly responsible. I do feel for the mother of the 2 year old but life in prison for the 11 year old will do nothing to bring the other child back. The 11 year old could maybe be held until they were an adult but at 11 it is pretty hard to see them fully understanding the consequences like an teenager would.

[BigD_95]

18. no way I wuld ever let my kids with a 11 year old!

What are wrong with people. The parents should be charged!

[chrisa]

20. Murder for an 11 year old? What!?

Charge the person who put her in charge of baby-sitting with manslaughter. I can't believe people think that an 11 year old can actually calculate a murder out, when she is probably still playing with dolls.

[wordpix]

22. I allowed a 12 y.o. to babysit a couple of times ---with her mother present

geesh---the parent of the 2 y.o is negligent

[mother earth]

25. Says the charges stem from the brute force endured, this one

will be decided by a court no matter what laws are in place. Obviously, there's a little more to the story.
I babysat my own brothers and sisters when I was 11, and happily they and I all survived.

Whatever parental culpability there is, I'm thinking will be decided by those who are deciding what charges that 11 year old will be facing. Lots here are judging the mom, but you don't know all about this case, and until you know more details, what's the point? There's a reason so much is up in the air when a child commits a crime of this nature, multiply that 10-fold due to today's 11 year old. 11 year olds are not what they used to be, due to several factors. It's a terrible tragedy on both sides.

[Dash87]

30. What a horrible, sad story.

:(

♥

[Danger Mouse]

31. They're considering charging an 11 year-old as an adult? That's seriously fucked up...

no matter what the kid did, it's fucked up.

[happyslug]

33. Pennsylvania is trying a 12 year for Murder

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4324363

More recent reports (June 26, 2010):
http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/jun/26/family-questions-privileges/

July 28, 2010 report saying the decision by the trial judge to try him as an adult will be reviewed before trial by Superior Court:
http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/jul/28/pa-appeals-court-hear-jordan-brown-homicide-case/

[Danger Mouse]

34. God bless America!

[appleannie1]

35. I was nine when I started babysitting. I watched a baby and a 3 year old. I watched them full time

by the age of 12 while their mother worked. I never hit either of them.

[laundry_queen]

37. Yep, started watching my brother when I was 10

Only for short periods of time, though. By the time I was 12 I took a babysitting course and babysat ALL the time, for all ages of kids. Lots of babies, too. 6 kids at a time once, all babies and toddlers. I was an exceptionally mature 12 though. Now I have a 13 year old and I let her babysit her sisters starting at age 12, but it was never for long periods of time when she first started. I never would have trusted her before 12. My 10 year old, on the other hand, is a lot like I was, very mature (more so than the 13 year old at times) and the other day I was stuck for someone to watch my younger 2 while I was in school and my oldest had volleyball practice, so I let my 10 year old watch the younger 2 for about 15 minutes until I was able to get home. It was nervewracking. Thank goodness for cellphones, at least I know if there's a problem they will call. Cellphones are wonderful inventions for parents who need a night out.

[Dulcinea]

36. WTF was the mother thinking?

11 is much too young to watching a toddler. An 11-year-old is still a kid herself!

I started babysitting at 12, but that was watching my younger sisters (8 & 3 at the time) while my mom went grocery shopping! I have 2 kids, & would never consider a sitter that young!

[JerseygirlCT]

38. Those were my questions, too

And although you can only glean from the article what actually happened, if the 11 yo was physically rough with the child, I'd add a question about how *she* was treated at home. Kids learn that - if she was beating the smaller child, then she likely was beaten herself. Just my guess, of course.