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If you need proof that this country's economic woes are having a severe toll on families all across this country, look no further than South Carolina, where a Mother suffocated her two children and then lied to police and said they drowned when her car skidded in to a river.
Police say 29-year-old Shaquan Duley confessed to suffocating her two children after she had an argument with her mother. Duley allegedly placed her hand over their mouths. She then strapped the children into a car and drove it in to the river to fake the cause of their deaths.
And what would cause a young Mother to commit such a horrible act? Police say Duley was distraught over money troubles and unemployment.
"This was a young lady that was in trouble, in trouble in more ways than she realized," Sheriff Larry Williams told the AP. "She was in trouble and she didn't know where to turn."
Duley is expected to appear in court Wednesday afternoon to enter a plea of not guilty to the charges.
"We want everybody to keep an open mind and to understand that they don't know the whole story," said Duley's attorney Carl B. Grant.
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Dead are 2-year-old Devean C. Duley and 18-month-old Ja'van T. Duley.
Duley also had a five-year-old that will have to be raised by her mother, who is also currently unemployed, according to news reports.
It's incredibly sad that this woman could not find someone to turn to for support and instead resorted to taking the life of her children. There were surely psychological factors involved in Duley's morbid decision. Williams says that Duley claims her mother berated her about her failure as a parent and they argued frequently about her inability to provide financially for her children.
"She was a Mother that was unemployed. She had no way of taking care of her children," Williams told the New York Times.
It's clear that Duley is responsible for the decision to murder her children. And I, as some BV readers already have, question if the father of these children was fulfilling his financial responsibilities to his children. It is literally the least of his responsibilities. I'm sure another contributing parent would have removed some of the pressure Duley felt.
However, it's clear that help with money and jobs should be readily available to every citizen in this country. That's why its so discouraging to hear people like former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay say that unemployment benefits should not be extended because it makes people not want to work.
"You know," Delay said on CNN, "there is an argument to be made that these extensions, the unemployment benefits, keeps people from going and finding jobs. In fact, there are some studies that have been done that show people stay on unemployment compensation and they don't look for a job until two or three weeks before they know the benefits are going to run out."
Republican Senator Jon Kyl is also on the same unemployment benefits equal laziness argument.
[Unemployment] doesn't create new jobs. In fact, if anything, continuing to pay people unemployment compensation is a disincentive for them to seek new work," Kyl said
Others such as Ben Stein and Glenn Beck (surprise, surprise) have chimed in with similar sentiments.
Far from making people lazy, unemployment benefits keep families afloat until they can find work. No one is going to be partying it up with the small amount of money the benefits provide. Plus, it's called unemployment insurance because Americans pay in to the system while they are working just in case they need it at a later date.
In addition, the jobs just are not there. Even adults are lining up for low-wage fast food jobs that used to be filled by teenagers, and for African Americans like Duley, the national unemployment rate is higher than the general unemployment rate.
People need to be trained in jobs that are available. I worry for young people coming out of college with liberal arts degrees and tens of thousands of dollars of student loan debt.
No one should feel guilty about accessing the help that is available to them. Maybe if this Mother had more assistance, she would have made a different choice. It's too easy to just say Duley is a terrible person without examining the factors that preceded the unthinkable decision she made to murder her future.
I guess closing the deficit is more important than saving lives.
Comments: (160)
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By: Brittney on 8/17/2010 12:56PM
This is disgusting. As a mother of a 5 month old, I could never imagine doing anything to harm my baby. There are other answers out there other than killing or hurting your child. I am absolutely disgusted by this story and this mother. As a mother you are supposed to protect your children at all costs... My prayers are with the family
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By: Linda Shuman on 8/17/2010 7:45PM
God only knows what was going through this mother's mind. As a christian and a single woman over 50 with a masters degree if I did not have someone to turn to I quite frankly do not know what I would do if someone did not open their heart up to me and help me through this very difficult time I am experiencing without any income and not how I am going to take care of myself or pay my bills. This must have been avery overwhelming time for this young mother of two.
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By: mae on 8/18/2010 2:53PM
@ Linda Shuman Bull and shame on you for implying that the circumstances the mother was going through could have possibly justified her actions. Right now, TODAY, I am a mother of three with NO foodstamps, NO CCMS, NO childsupport, no air in my car and (let me look in my purse) yes 6 dollars to my name... On the menu for the rest of the week (hamburger helper, green beans, corn, tunafish sandwiches, tuna helper, and I will be baking a 99 cent betty crocker cake for their dessert)...for their entertainment we will be going to bible study tonight and praising God allowing us to LIVE another day and for the opportunity to spread His word. Yes times are hard but I am Never alone for my God is a protector and a provider even through the low and I am thankful. You must not have received that information while obtaining your master's degree and may want to pick up a bible.
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By: bob on 8/18/2010 5:36PM
mae your words are very inspiring. We need more people like you.
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By: GFaison on 8/18/2010 6:53PM
@Mae
I do not believe that Lindashuman was trying to justify this mother's action. As christian's we should be praying for an not attempting to do God's job of sitting in judgment. When I read about this my heart was heavy for both the mom and especially for her children. Unfortunately they will never have the opportunity to know life as we do and more than likely she won't either.
Although I hold a masters degree (LAW) I too am unemployed for the second time in less than three years (from Nov 2007 I was unemployed for 18 months and again as of June . I am a single parent of three, one of my sons is now 21, however since I suffer with depression I can only imagine her possible fealing of despair, lack of self worth from not having a job and not knowing what will happen one day to the next. It is sometimes hard to deal with.
Other than what has been reported by the media we really don't know what she was going through. I am sure she was trying to do her best, however in her defense with troubling times such as this the last thing she needed was to be berated about her mothering skills (0r lack of), perhaps her mother should have been just a little bit more supportive.
There are many what ifs...we just don't know.
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By: Donna on 8/18/2010 7:13PM
My heart goes out to the mother, who felt distressed enough to take the lives of her kids, the son who is now without mother or siblings, and the family for their loss.
On another note:
Linda Shuman, I don't want to sound mean, but you may want to think about polishing up the writing skills, and break up those run-on sentences if you're going to find work. The Master's degree is great, but if you craft your cover letter like this response, your resume is not going to be taken seriously.
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By: kando on 8/18/2010 11:47PM
Mae, I agree with you, This other woman linda shuman boasting about her degrees and having the nerve to utter god's name in her commentary is about as daft as the killer! They both has no feeling and just don't get it. No matter how poor or how hard times is there are always other options you can take other than killing your most precious assets in this life, your babies! The options was to give these children up to the state or relatives until you get yourself together and on your feet Maybe if that is what it took! if her big azz didn't eat so much she could had saved some pennies to get by with and yes i know i'm being a azz for saying this last childish statement, my only excuse is that I so hated her killing these innocent babies!
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By: RH on 8/19/2010 12:38AM
Blacks who are poor no skills, depending on the
government for income are different from poor blacks who knew how to make a living by farming. To many unwed young mothers with children not planned for. Expect to see this for a way out of money problems.
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By: GIDGET on 8/19/2010 4:39AM
You aren't very bright. Not everyone reacts the same under the same sort of pressures. Some moms aren't as strong as some of the rest of us & need counseling when going thru hard times. Apparently she had no support system. Her mom, also unemployed berated her for not being able to take care of her children. MOM coming down on you + unemployed + no emotional support + no job/no cash = DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN.
You don't have to be a "Christian" to see that.
By the way I am not a Christian. I'm a Messianic Yehudim and smart enough to know that one's religios faith or lack there of can't remedy everyone's problems. Remember some people lose faith when the burdens seem to much to bear. I know because I've been there before. I was just too stubborn & then too angry to throw in the towel. I didn't look up & pray until things started to seem a bit better - enough to give me a reason to believe again. Pray for the strength, emotional support, financial help (jobs) as well as the ability to be aware of the need for counseling for parents in this country. Don't try to brow beat everyone with your views concerning what your beliefs are. 1) Put your beliefs in action by praying instead of passing completely negative judgement. I'm not for or against this young woman. 2) Place the matter on the alter and 3) pray for the protection & well being of children with parents who feel under pressure with nowhere to go & no one to rely on.
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By: Mike on 8/26/2010 1:49AM
Brittney you are not in this woman shoes. Please throw your pryers out to her. You have got to be a better person, sho some compassion.
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