Imagine the shock of the Barrios family. They sit down to watch an episode of 'General Hospital Night Shift' on SoapNet, and there they see a picture of their beloved Christopher Barrios, Jr. who was just 6 years old when he was kidnapped, raped and murdered in 2007. Christopher's picture was used as a prop for a storyline involving Billy Dee Williams:Members of the Barrios family said they now know how a picture of their slain child ended up on a television show, but they still want to know why.
Family members of a murdered south Georgia child said they're considering legal action to learn the truth about a soap opera slip-up. ...
In March 2007, Christopher Barrios Jr. was kidnapped, raped and murdered. The tragic story received a lot of attention both locally and nationally.I certainly agree that this mess up was sloppy production and unacceptable. But I am hard pressed to attribute the slip up to anything more than an overworked production assistant who saw a beautiful child and grabbed the image without fully researching it. I don't see any evidence of ill intent.
Christopher's photograph was often on the news, however, the Barrios family never expected to see the 6-year-old's photo appear on a soap opera.
In an episode of "General Hospital: Night Shift," Billy Dee Williams' character received a letter and a photo from a son he supposedly abandoned -- the photo in the actor's hand was that of Christopher. [ ]
"They ain't got no right doing that -- not a bit of right," said Christopher's grandmother Sue Rodriquez after a clip of the show in October. Source
I don't understand why the family wants to sue. ABC fully apologized and produced a PSA on missing and exploited children dedicated to Christopher.
Gelman said the television company told him that in search of a photo a prop master did a Google search for "black children" hoping to find a kid who resembled Billy Dee Williams.I hope the Barrios family finds peace.
"Somehow, someway he chose Christopher's picture out of the other million or billion that are on the Internet," Gelman said.
ABC offered an apology to the child's family, saying: "We offer our deepest condolences to the Barrios family for their loss and our sincerest apologies for any pain caused by our mistake."
The network also produced a public service announcement on missing and exploited children in Christopher's honor. The PSA aired on SOAPnet.
However, Gelman said the Barrios family continues to struggle with the idea that Christopher's photo was used. He said they are still sickened by it.
"Once they find out the facts, how this happened, then they'll make up their mind as to what they want to do," Gelman said. Source
Comments: (12)
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By: Warren on 1/12/2009 12:44PM
1. The name of the show is "Night Shift".
2. This story is several months old.
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By: Alice on 1/12/2009 8:55PM
It is very difficult to understand how deeply it is to lose a child under any circumstance, so it must be extremely difficult to bare the lost that this family has suffered and my sympathy is with them.
What is also difficult is understanding the desire to sue the network for uses the childs photo on the show. It would seem to me that the family would welcome the opportunity to turn a this "mistake" into something positive. I think that was done with the apology and the with the public service announcement. Perhaps the network might consider using it's considerable influence in possibly helping to find the person who committed the crime. Or helping the family to file a civil suit against the person who did the crime.
I really don't understand the desire to sue the network.
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By: Roz.. on 1/13/2009 8:46PM
Well stated!" poster #2
Prior to reading your post; I wanted to respond the same way." God works in mysterious ways: I will continue to pray for the capture and imprisionment, of this child's (Christoper) murderer. Also; I wish the family my deepest sympathies and hope one day this case comes to closure. God give this family peace."
RIP Christopher!"
Love,
Roz..
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By: gogertyl on 1/13/2009 11:06AM
I cannot imagine how thoughtless ABC could be to look on the internet for such a picture. The studio must have alot of photos of children. Why didn't they get a childhood picture of Billy Dee Williams if they wanted a look a like. It is in really bad form for this to happen. Soap Operas or pure bubbles in the mouth, very hard to swallow. Pmg
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By: susan on 1/13/2009 11:52AM
You stated "I don't understand why the family wants to sue"? C'mon, the is AMERICA. Everyone is looking for their free payday. Why should these people be any different? Only in the USA can people sue because someone was insensitive or their feeling were hurt. Just another family looking to make money from their tragedy.
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By: Black Girl on 1/13/2009 11:57AM
Maybe the desire to sue came from the pain that the family is still suffering. It has only been 1 year since they lost their Christopher.
Also, the network did not even ask permission to use the photo. It seems they would have enough courtesy to contact family and ask if they can use a photo before they splash it on television for their story.
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By: missandreabolen on 1/13/2009 12:50PM
For those who posted such negative thoughts about this matter needs to do more research of the matter before commenting!! This would be painful to anyone for those who knew him as well as those who loved them to see their child used without permission, I think this was like opening an old wound and pour salt on it. I remember when this happen, how I personally weeped for this child, he was sweet and his life was taken away in a very brutal and horrific way, he whimper for them to stop hurting him as they raped him not one person but two adult men and the old woman who got her self off in the process and then threw him away as garbage.... I only thank the Lord for not letting him have to live with such shame and mental anguish that would have happen... I think the television show owes more than just an apology and a PSA as they stated!! They should ask before using the IMAGE of any child PERIOD.... as they say he was truly a very beautiful BOY!!! I hope they FRY!!
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By: dancinginthedark on 1/13/2009 1:36PM
Everybody's looking for a way to make a fast buck. Too bad our reasoning seems to have gone by the wayside.
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By: Black Girl on 1/13/2009 1:50PM
What if he were Your Child?
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By: reg8w on 1/13/2009 3:05PM
I remember this horrible event. Christopher and my son are the same age. I was in tears over this. How insensitive of the show. I wouldn't want them using my child's pic at all without my permission.
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