Nixzmary Brown

I watched the news the other evening on the death of little NixzMary Brown and was absolutely stunned that in a so-called civilized society this could have happened. It is a tragedy when a child is nabbed and abused/killed by some stranger but to think that a mother could allow this to happen to one of her own is beyond my belief. It is beyond belief because there were those who did everything within their power to save the child. BUT ACS dropped the ball!

My heart goes out to Nixzmary's grand-mother, her siblings, teachers, friends and neighbors. You will be in my prayers. My thanks also to the school staff that tried so hard to help Nixzmary.



So, who exactly is this little girl and what happened to her? Nixzmary was a beautiful little seven year old who weighed a mere 36 pounds. She had dark hair and eyes and in her pictures she has a wonderful smile although she apparently had little cause to smile.

She had brothers and sisters but she was the one who was the receiver of her step-father's violence - physical abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. She was fed cat food, beaten for eating "forbidden" yogurt, and forced to use a litter box. She had her hands bound by duct tape or cord and tied in a chair to be beaten even more. Some say that the family cat was fed and treated better than this little child. Her mother and step-father slept in a nice comfy bedroom while she often slept bound to a chair or locked in a room. Such treatment was endured by this child until she died on January 11, 2005.

Nixzmary was a beautiful little girl who deserved so much better!



It seems that NYC has made little progress in protecting its children since little Lisa Steinberg's death at the hands of Hedda Nussbaum and Joel Steinberg. Now, this death did not occur because nobody tried to help her. On May 16, a guidance counselor at her school filed a report through the state child abuse registry that Nixzmary had bruises and had been absent 46 times. As a result of the report, the Administration for Children's Services opened an investigation and sent a questionnaire to the school.

On June 28, the School counselor faxed the completed questionaire to ACS and reported that Nixzmary was underweight. ACS found the abuse charge unfounded and did nothing.

September - November - the child missed sixteen days of school.

On December 1, she showed up at school with a black eye and a social worker at the school reported concerns once more to the ACS. ACS met with Nixzmary and her siblings and took them to a hospital for exams. At this point, Nixzmary basically quits attending school.

On December 15, a school staff member goes to the home after being being unable to reach the family by phone.

On December 20, the school staff member makes another attempt to visit the home.

Later attempts by ACS to visit the home are blocked but they fail to get a warrant to inspect the child's home and to see her. BIG MISTAKE! At this point, the child might have been saved if the ACS had followed through with the warrant.

On January 11, 2005 Nixzmary is found dead at 4:30 a.m. She had been tortured for weeks and finally killed by a blow to her head at the hands of the step-father because he caught her eating some yogurt. Neither adult showed any emotion and the explaination was that she had drowned in the tub and beaten herself until she could hardly be recognized! She had on clothes which were bone dry!

NOW, ACS says they are going to review all active cases of child abuse - some 8000+. Do you believe they will do it? How can they when they seem to be so understaffed that they did not have the time to get a warrant that might have saved this child's life?



The article below is from Southern Sass on Criminal Activity Today and is used with permission and my thanks to the author. Please read the entire article before you get all bent out of shape as the article does not apply to all single parents.

I want to address the single Mother's of the world. Whatever your reason for being unattached, you made a decision to bring a helpless, innocent child into this zoo of a universe. That decision implies that you are ready, willing and able to perform the many, neverending duties of Motherhood. It means little sleep, crying babies with earaches, diapers every other minute (or so it seems at times) hurried trips to the ER because the little one discovered how to stick a pea up his nose, or recently discovered how to climb.

When you decide to be a Mom, you need to LOSE the notion that you have the right to go out, find a boyfriend, a new hubby, or partner...because by God, you're still young and deserve to have "someone" in your life. Well, you don't have that right. Too often, everyday it seems, another boyfriend, stepdad, or partner ends up being charged with horrific child abuse or murder. You are responsible in that you brought this demon into their precious lives. You probably didn't do it expecting it to happen but you did it. That's the bottom line. You need a break? Get a reputable sitter, go out for some fresh air..or a quick bite at a fast food joint. Go buy some extra diapers...or a book for the child. You need to "feel" loved? Look in the eyes of your child. Need a hug? Pick that baby up ! Want sex? You're on your own..you can take care of that problem by yourself. Need an extra income? Get your fanny back in school so you can get a decent job. If you can't do these things, then please, please consider putting your child up for adoption. Open adoption (where you can visit your child) is quite common today. You owe your child a chance to be raised in a loving, gentle, safe and secure home. There are many other ways to get help than grabbing some guy, and inadvertently costing you your child. Or that child's life. Think about it. Then for once, do the right thing. I'm not saying it won't hurt...but making sure your child is safe from harm will ease any pain you might feel. This is just one more story of another child lost, because "Mom" THOUGHT she needed a man. Oh...you single Dads...same applies to you.

I would like to add an apology for my above rant to those parents out there that have managed to have a successful and loving relationship with someone other than the one they started out with. I know many of today's families have blended beautifully. I have no quarrel with them at all. My rage is directed at the ME, ME, ALWAYS GOTTA BE ABOUT ME attitude of so many "Moms and Dads" today. Needy people are desperate people, desperate people are reckless and careless. You have to quit gravitating to a perceived easy fix for YOUR life.
Magnolia

A Child's Death