Haleigh Poutre: Such A Sad Affair

This case hasn't received extensive coverage, though it has had some .. perhaps that's because it is so sad.

Beaten into a coma by her stepfather, they've removed Haleigh's breathing tube and now she is breathing on her own. However, I don't believe that was the plan ... they are going to let her die.

And the bastard that beat her is fighting it because it means a murder charge for him. Or, would he have us believe he's a right to lifer?

God, so sad.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) -- A severely beaten and comatose 11-year-old girl is now breathing on her own, officials said Thursday, two days after Massachusetts' highest court ruled the state had the authority to remove her from life support.

Denise Monteiro, a spokeswoman for the Department of Social Services, said doctors have weaned Haleigh Poutre off a ventilator in the past week.

"She can intake air, but she can't swallow on her own," Monteiro said.

Haleigh has been in the agency's custody since she was hospitalized four months ago with a badly damaged brain stem that authorities say resulted from abuse. Thinking that she was in an irreversible vegetative condition, the state had gone to court to seek permission to remove her from life support. 

Haleigh's stepfather, Jason Strickland, is charged with beating the girl and could face a murder charge if she dies. He has fought to keep her on life support, but this week's high court ruling said he has no say in her medical care.

Comments

[George T.]

Is it true the girl was adopted and her adoptive mother and adoptive grandmother both committed suicide yesterday?

[ozzie819]

WHERE was this poor girl's mother? This is senseless!

[Cindi in PA]

The suspected suicide of the step mother and step grandmother happened shortly after the attack on Haleigh. Her mother is in the picture, although I belive she gave Haleigh up for adoption to her sister, who was at one time married to the slime that did this to her.

GEORGE T.........give me a shout at my new email address!

[jadensmokes]

I think that I read that she was beaten by her stepfather, the man that was married to her adoptive mother who also happened to be her aunt. And I think it was the adoptive mother found with the grandmother, and that is was suspected to be a murder/suicide.

Good Lord, this child didn't stand a chance. What a screwed up mess. Makes me think my family wasn't so dysfunctional after all.I wish they could go ahead and prosecute the man for murder, for all intent purposes, that's what he has done: he has taken this child's life from her.

[Cindi in PA]

For those interested, here is more on the story of Haleigh and how she wound up in the care of Strickland.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/11/06/accused_stepfather_fights_to_keep_girl_alive/

[abigail]

"Strickland says Haleigh was suffering from an emotional disorder, and that her injuries were self-inflicted."

Ummmm, wander what that disorder is called when you beat yourself into a coma... LOVERLY.

[jadensmokes]

More insight into this child's tragic life:

http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/other/articles/2005/12/06/custody_and_abuse_cases_swirl_around_a_troubled_girl_on_life_support/

This article mentions the "emotional disorder" as well as the fact that it was the adoptive mother/aunt that was the more abusive of the two. The story of her injuries is heart wrenching. No child should suffer abuse such as this.

The aunt had two children of her own (I wonder when we will read about their demise), and the birth mother has had two children since the courts took Haleigh from her (wonder when the courts will take the other two from her).

Once again, I have to say it...you have to have a license to drive, but any @sshole can reproduce.

[Sicktomystomach]

This is totally insane. The guy deserves to have a large library of books thrown at him. It makes me sick for that poor child. It also makes me very sad for the decent, loving stepdads out there, because they do exist, and this sort of horrific crime gives them all a bad rap.

[abigail]

Thanks for the article js, but now I'm even more depressed! Sure the kid had emotional issues! Geez, just 4 years ago she was taken from one abusive home and put into another. I did not know a form of dicipline was shoving a kid down the stairs! I've been doing it all wrong! Poor thing. Wish that babysitter had stepped in. Maybe she should be charged. If others won't report the abuse they see being done to a child then this is what we end up with. Haleigh, now a ward of the state, whose freaking step "dad" seeminly want's to keep her alive so he is not charged. Just wonderful, f---ing wonderful.

[Phoenix]

Kids are not born with emotional disorders. Emotional disorders are created by those who raise the child.

I'd like to know where the school was. Teachers, by law, have to report any suspected abuse of a child. I know I had to do it, and social services in my town was there within an hour. It happens every day all over the country. How does a little girl like this slip through the cracks? More than just the babysitter should be held accountable.

[truthbetold]

this is so sickening. I am torn - if this little girl dies at least she will be at peace away from these horrible people but then I really want her to pull through and make it and end up with a loving family who can heal what these monsters did to her. I just don't understand. didn't anyoen ever check on this girl? her natural mother had to know what was going on and there had to be abuse before this - a nice quiet lovng dad does nto one day snap and beat a child into near death. didn't anyone care?

[jadensmokes]

You are most welcome, Abigail. I think you have something there with the babysitter not reporting it. Pushed down the stairs three times in a row...Sheesh! Nope, never heard this is how children should be meted discipline.

Phoenix, good idea about the school as well. And she was at a Catholic school! You would think a private school would pay better attention to their students. (Sorry this is the smart @ss in me coming out: but maybe it's because she wasn't a raped young boy that they ignored it). Seriously, I went to Catholic schools most of my school years, and they didn't let us get away with anything. The teachers all knew the children and their families, and if something didn't seem right, they all would know it.

CPS was supposed to be monitoring the situation every month and they did notice injuries. This was all explained away by the adoptive-mother-aunt that the child suffered this emotional problem of hurting herself. People only hurt themselves when pain is the only emotion or feeling they know. The pain is the only thing that makes them feel alive.

Truth, I don't think anyone cared. It sounds like a generational abuse. The real mother was abusive and the aunt was abusive. I would imagine that the child's grandmother was abusive to her children and so the legacy continued. Sad, Sad, Sad.

Abi-I would adopt her and the older lady locked in the bathroom in a New York instant. I wasn't able to have children and I think because of that I get really ANGRY when I read about abuses that children suffer.

[beel]

Where is the congressionsl outrage at taking this child off life support ala Schiavo.
No midnight mass with St. Delay here.
Why not?
No masses of Christians calling this same activity murder.
This child shows real signs of life not the interpretation of movement by others.
Where is the outrage.
Two faced political gain is not in this childs best interest.

[jadensmokes]

No political interest may be due to lack of positive publicity. The step father has had more press than she for wanting to keep her alive only to save his own ass.

Her mother and maternal grandmother both want the feeding tube pulled. Docs took her off the respirator, but the kid is breathing on her own. IMO taking her off the feeding tube is inhumane. This child has shown physical responses to stimulii. She still has a chance of recovering to some degree according to doctors. Yes, it should be another case ala Schiavo, or stronger. This girl actually has a chance. The only problem is, if she is saved she will likely be a ward of the state the rest of her life. BTW, the state is footing the bill, and they are the ones pushing for the removal of the tube.

What a crying shame that this precious child had never been given a chance to experience love. Breaks my heart.

[Pat]

Since hearing of this tragedy last week on CNN, I wept and then I prayed. I believe the world prayed that night for Haleigh.

I do not think I have ever had any one thing tear at my heart so badly.

For anyone out there that is media, social services, state services, and you have contacts, I would like to discss the possibility of adopting this precious, innocent child.

You can tell by her photos that she is full of life, she is happy, and she deserves a wonderful life. She deserves to know that not all people are bad.

To all those that read this, pray for Haleigh's total recovery. It can happen.

Thank you.