Leighann: Case Study

Autumn S. is a twelve-year old girl who presented at a short-term residential facility after a violent assault on her adoptive mother. This was not her first violent episode. She has a long history of violence towards herself, most notably a history of hitting her head against the wall when she is upset. This behavior is serious and has led to her being treated in the Emergency Room for concussions. She has also assaulted a number of same-age peers and younger children. She and her older brother engaged in a group assault on one of their good friends, hitting him with backpacks full of books. She also attempted to drown her younger cousin after an altercation in a wading pool. It required two adults to pull her off of the younger child. This violence has resulted in various problems in Autumn's life. She has been in trouble in school because of violence towards classmates, and has been targeted by other children because of her violent behavior towards others. She has been in trouble in the home because of her violence. She has even been in trouble with the law, as her most recent violent attack against her adoptive mother was of sufficient severity that a neighbor intervened and called the police.

REPORTER: The reporter/ Counselor (Anna) called with concerns for the victim, Harmony. According to the reporter, on today (09/01/2015) Harmony was itching, and she was scratching (front and back) her bottom/butt and would not stop. The reporter said the teacher was very concerned and went and got the nurse (Shanna). The nurse noticed that the child had blood in her panties, and when they asked the child what was wrong, she appeared “nervous”. The child was asked “when did it happen”, the victim looked down and said “at the lake”. The reporter said the victim was “afraid to talk and she was very nervous”, while “shaking her hands” and “holding onto her shirt with her hands”. The child was very disturbed. The reporter said the nurse “comforted the victim and gave her son Vaseline to put on her womb”.

Sarah Davis is fourteen years old and she is in the 9th grade. She live with her mom Karen and two little sisters Alexis and Taylor in Montgomery, Alabama. Her father died when she was 8 years old so it was just her, her mom, and her sisters. One of her favorite thing to do with her family was bake. It was their family traditions to bake different sweets and watch movies on Friday nights. Sarah started to realize that her mother wasn’t around for their family tradition and she wanted to know what was going on.

PER REPORTER: Curlydria is learning grown folks stuff. She is popping, danching, and opening her legs. Her mother teachers her to dance inappropriately. There are concerns that the mother hits the children in the back with her fist and pops them onthe head. They have no marks or bruises. Per reporter, mom is addicted to marijuana and she constantly smokes around the children. Mom is currently pregnant. Mom purchases drugs on the street. Drugs are not accessible to the children and the children have not been harmed hurt. Reporter stated Glenntavious loves his games. Mom allows her boyfriend to play the games while Glenntavious watches. Per reporter, mom got back pay over $1,000 for food stamps. Mom couldnt have Glenntavious a birthday party.

On Friday February the 1st, 2002 in Sabre Springs Ca, 7 yr. old Danielle Van Dam went missing from her bedroom. A normal evening earlier on that day Danielle & her two older brothers were home with their father Damon down stairs, watching movies while her mom Brenda went out with a couple of friends for a few hours. The kids went to bed around 10 pm, Danielle in her own room, & her brothers in theirs. Later on that night downstairs approx. at 2 am. Brenda got home & noticed the garage door open. She went in with her two friends who she went out with & was visiting, & laughing with Damon’= & a couple other guy friends who left after an hour. At around 3:30 am. Mr. Van Dam went to check on the family dog, & noticed that the slide & glass door was open, but he assumed that one of the friends must have not closed it all of the way while leaving.

CW Holland made contact with Azucena. She is 8 years old. She is in the 2nd grade. She attends Arcadia Elementary. She likes school. Her favorite thing about school is reading. She commented she gets to school by car and her mother takes her. She commented that she does not know if Erick was sick or playing sick. She stated that she feels safe. She denied that she was afraid of anyone. She commented that she goes with her mommy to work sometimes. She stated that she is outside helping mom at work. She denied that her mom leaves her in the car. She stated that when she is in trouble, her mommy doesn’t anything. She denied that her mommy yells or whoops her. She commented that she always has food to eat and commented that her mommy cooks for

Susie Jones is a 9-year-old African American female who lives with her mother and two younger siblings, (John, age 3, Debbie, age 2) in Waterford MI. Susie is currently in the third grade and in special education. Ms. Jones stated that Susie is physically aggressive with her siblings. Susie stated she has self-harming behavior such as choking herself when experiencing feelings of frustration. Susie’s father is not present in her life. Susie’s father is not present because Ms. Jones found out that Susie was sexually abused by her aunt’s boyfriend while in her father’s care. Susie’s sexual abuse included “oral sex” however no penetration. Her aunt’s boyfriend was not prosecuted and CPS was not involved. Susie was a witness to domestic violence against her mother by her mother’s former fiancé. Due to domestic violence in the home, Susie was removed from her mother’s care for a year and returned to her mother in 2009.

Between 08/31/15-09/02/15, Deniyah has alleged repeatedly that her mother slaps her in the face, twist her foot around likes she’s trying to break it, and that she witnesses her grandmother beat her mother. On 09/02/15 Deniyah put her foot in her lap and turned it has if she tried to break it; the child also told the reporter her mother punches her and twist her leg. Deniyah began the conversation with school staff by stating someone was in her grandmother’s home, in her grandmother’s bed. Ms. Fields caught Justice’s friend and beat her. Whenever Justice got angry with her mother, she slapped Deniyah in her face until it bled; Deniyah did not have any visible marks or bruises. Deniyah stated her mother tells her hasn’t missed her after school

On June 27th, Amya Anderson, 8 years of age, was taken to the emergency room of Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital by her mother. Her mother had received a phone call from Amya’s school nurse that there was a problem with her and that she would need to come and pick her daughter up. Upon arrival the nurse informed the mother that Amya had been crying for most of the morning and would not go to the bathroom because she was afraid that it was going to hurt. Her mother immediately took her to the emergency room for an examination. Amya has always been very forthcoming when she is not feeling well and has no problem telling her mother about any problems or irritations that she is having. Today, however, Amya refused to let her mother see her without any clothing on, not wanting her mother to see her body. When asked what her main source of discomfort was she told her mother that she had pain “down there”, and that her Uncle Joe had touched her “private parts” while he was babysitting her the day prior. The mother agreed to have her doctor perform a pelvic exam where the mother’s worst fears were confirmed. Not only had her uncle molested her, he had raped her and had caused sufficient damage to Amya’s genital area. Upon further questioning Amya admitted that her uncle had been molesting her for the better part of the last year but it wasn’t until the previous day that it had taken a turn for the worse.

Mrs. Meuser is a 25 year old female who presented to the ED experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations. She also endorse suicidal ideation without a plan. Mrs. Meuser has a superficial laceration to her left arm after cutting herself tonight before arrival to the ED. Per documentation Mrs. Meuser presents with pressured speech and very guarded. She has been responding to internal stimuli while in the ED. She reports while in her room a unknown female is standing behind her and telling her to harm herself. Per documentation Mrs. Meuser began to point at a blank spot in the room yelling, "It's all her fault, Mary should burn in hell." Mary was later identified as her biological mother's name. Family at bedside. The family reports Mrs. Meuser

The reporter stated on 04/15/16, Lamarshea came to her office with two of her classmates and disclosed to the reporter that she’s being abused by her parents. According to the reporter, the child reports she’s hit frequently with household objects, (sticks, brown handles, and plunger handles. The reporter stated on 04/14/16, Mrs. Giddens accused the child of having a cell phone without her permission. Ms. Anderson stated the child was told to strip naked and whipped on her skin with an extension cord. The reporter stated there were two other adults and children present when the abuse occurred. Lamarshea told the reporter she had bruises on her back but did not show them to her. The child also told the reporter, later that afternoon her mother

On 04/05/16, the victim came to school wearing pants with holes in them. Cryterious told his teacher he was home alone when the bus driver dropped him off on 04/04/16; the bus driver stated someone was at the home and had to help him inside. Ms. Stewart goes on vacations often and leaves the victim in the care of his older sister and younger brother. Dejone locks herself inside her room with her significant other leaving Mickeal to care for the victim. On 04/04/16, Mickeal had to cook for the victim and dress him for school today. The victim's pants had holes in them because there are not any clean clothes. There is not a wheel chair ramp at the home and the victim is left outside alone often. Crysterious has been left in the rain in the past;

The child came to school on 8/24/17, with a red, darken bruise on the left side of her nose going across her face. The child was a blue compact that she had to put on her face. She said her mom (Erica) told her to tell someone to put it in the freezer. The child told the secretory (Ms. Gant) that a boy did not outside. Later, the child told the reporter that her mom whooped her last night, 8/23/17. She said the belt hit her in the face while she was moving. The child said mom whooped her because her sister kept coming in the room turning the light on and off. Reporter believes the story is not adding up. The child has not history of pass abuse. Unknown if there is any drug use in the home. Reporter stated the child’s dress did not look clean

CPI made a face to face with Leah Rodriguez, who was seen free of marks and bruises. Leah was very outgoing, and seems to be a happy child. She indicated that had cereal and milk for breakfast. Leah was able to count the numbers and say the alphabet. She could not distinguish the difference between the truth and a lie. She indicated she resides with her mommy, daddy, sister “Gabi”, and her fish “Sally”. Her favorite color is pink and blue. Leah denied witnessing fights or arguments at her home or at her father’s house. Leah expressed she was at Universal Studios yesterday with her daddy and sister. She liked Universal because it was fast and fun, and was not scare of the rides. Leah denied being afraid or scared at home.

Grandmother and therapist discussed the timing and questioning didn’t make sense. Mom and individual kept whispering to each other. Grandmother asked individual what therapist said to him at lunch for therapist to threaten him. Individual states therapist only asked the question at 2:40 after therapist and individual left the session. Grandmother said it did not make sense, but mom kept saying it did make sense. Mom states the teachers are always asking her kids about what’s going on in her home. Grandmother states teachers are not supposed to ask them questions about the home. Therapist explained to mom and grandmother that if a teacher thinks a child is in danger or being abused, they have the right to ask questions.