Mothers Killing Their Children

Earlier this year, we reported the disappearance and subsequent untimely death of the developmentally disabled Alexis Glover, who went missing from her mother's "care" for a few days. The Virginia tween's lifeless body was later found in a creek, eight miles from the library -- the last place she was seen alive, according to her mother.

A medical examiner reported 13-year-old Alexis' death to be a homicide. Despite accounts from neighbors who said they witnessed the aftereffects of physical abuse, most likely rendered by Alexis' adoptive mother, Alfreedia Leona Gregg-Glover, she denied any wrong doing. Last week, she finally confessed to killing this defenseless little girl who became another casualty on the list of helpless black children abused and murdered every day.

Could authorities have done something to save this blameless child?

Lexie was first placed in Gregg-Glover's home in January 2003 and was officially adopted in December of that year, Prince William Detective Carole Tyrrell testified yesterday.

Tyrrell cited more than a dozen incidents dating back to 2004 -- more than had previously been known -- in which people reported Lexie showing bruises and cuts, being driven off in the trunk of a car, running away from home and showing up at a bus stop wearing only a diaper. Lexie also was hospitalized several times, Tyrrell said. -- According to the Washington Post.

Another disturbing case is that of Banita Jacks. In January 2008, this mother of four was found in her Washington, D.C., home with the decomposing bodies of her four daughters. Based on the insects found in the home, their motionless bodies laid in closed-up rooms for months. The 33-year-old woman was charged with murder after telling investigators that the children were possessed by demons and died in their sleep. Charging documents identify the children as Brittany Jacks, 17; Tatianna Jacks, 11; N'Kiah Fogle, 6; and Aja Fogle, 5. Apparently the younger ones had been starved, strangled and at least one of them was beaten, while the eldest was stabbed. Jacks' case is being reviewed before a superior court judge. No jury.

Some who knew the family said that troubles spiraled in February, when Nathaniel Fogle Jr., the father of two of the girls, died of cancer. Soon after his death, Jacks cleared the first floor of furniture, and she grew increasingly distant, they said. At one point, she put an Xbox game system in the front yard of the home... and invited neighbors to take it.

Several relatives stopped by the house to visit or to deliver child support checks, but Jacks didn't answer the door. Jacks sometimes telephoned after the visits and reported that everything was under control, they said. -- According to the Washington Post

Although it was discovered that Jacks sought help from a worker at D.C. Chartered Health Plan, a community health center serving Medicaid patients, the worker never followed up to ensure that Jacks received attention and that her daughters were safe.

The common thread between these two horrific accounts is that "the system" failed these five little girls.

Jacks' family was supposed to receive monthly visits based on its housing placement; they never did. The school system didn't follow through when the girls dropped out of school. Police didn't fully investigate when they were called to the house. And health care providers did not follow up on things that should have been red flags, according to reports.

The only reason attention was brought to this crime is because U.S. marshals went to the apartment to evict the family.

In the case of the Glovers, there are records showing that various members of the community made calls to the police reporting neglect and abuse. One school bus driver claimed that young Lexie, as she was affectionately called, arrived at the bus stop last fall in nothing more than a diaper.

After the hearing, the county commonwealth attorney, Paul Ebert, said there were many missteps, primarily authorities and social service workers failing to take immediate action and putting too much trust in the mother's statements.

Prosecutors said [Alexis] Agyepong-Glover had special needs and health problems. The girl began wearing a locator bracelet in March of 2008 because she was known to run away from home. Ebert said "the question was why" she was running away. Agyepong-Glover was also hospitalized for long periods between 2005 and 2007.

Brenda Taylor, a school bus aide who attended the court hearing, said she reported seeing Gregg-Glover put her daughter in the trunk of a car. WTOP.com

Much of the problem lies in the obvious lack of communication between agencies like DYFUS/Child Services and local authorities. In both of these cases, disciplinary action has been taken against police officers and county officials for failing to follow departmental policy.

What can YOU do to help? If you personally know or even know of a child whom you suspect is being abused, or perhaps they're no longer as visible as in the past, do not hesitate to report it to the local authorities and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. You never know. You may be the one to save that child from a wretched life of pain and misery or worse, death.