mfwahl Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Here is a special feature article from my local newspaper the St Petersburg Times. Thought I would share this since I have never heard of anything like this. Basically, authorities found this young girl a few years ago in a disgusting house, seriously neglected. She was 7 years old and couldn't speak, wasn't fed. The details are haunting. And this girl's mother isn't in jail yet. Warning: I had to take breaks from reading this. It is graphically heart-breaking. The Girl in the Window Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PigSooie Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Oh my. That makes my heart ache. I don't know what to say. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. (hristine Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 The mother of this child has an IQ of 77. That's borderline mental retardation. I'm not sure jail would be the right place for her. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Preferred B Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Somehow I can't imagine that an IQ of 77 was the sole problem with the mother in this case. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilco Worshipper Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Whoa Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. (hristine Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Somehow I can't imagine that an IQ of 77 was the sole problem with the mother in this case.Sole problem? No. Big contributing factor in not understanding how to care for another human being, yeah. Add to that the almost superstitious fear of the law, this is what happens. People live in this kind of darkness everywhere. There are so many reproductive people like this who fall through the cracks, no chasms, in our social welfare systems. That poor baby is far from an anomaly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Jeez. I teared up at the part about her new brother. What the hell is wrong with some people? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
So Long Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 You almost feel like it's fiction when you're reading that...it's so cold. wow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 I read it in the Times yesterday. Tragic. A feral child in 2005! What was equally disturbing was that DCF was at the house twice before. How could they not have interviewed the child? that is incompetence. If they did and didn't remove her, it's criminal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Isn't this the organization which lost track of something like 200 kids it was supposed to be supervising? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Hell of a story. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 you know what ? i'm not gunna read this Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Audio and pics of many of the people involved here (including the mother). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 i'm hoping for a happy ending Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 I read it in the Times yesterday. Tragic. A feral child in 2005! What was equally disturbing was that DCF was at the house twice before. How could they not have interviewed the child? that is incompetence. If they did and didn't remove her, it's criminal. how can people live with themselves. Leaving this child Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Jeez. I teared up at the part about her new brother. Me too. Unbelievable story. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
austrya Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Oh that poor girl. How can people do that? I just hope her new parents stick with her and don't give up on her too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Sole problem? No. Big contributing factor in not understanding how to care for another human being, yeah. Add to that the almost superstitious fear of the law, this is what happens. People live in this kind of darkness everywhere. There are so many reproductive people like this who fall through the cracks, no chasms, in our social welfare systems. That poor baby is far from an anomaly.Point taken with regards to the weaknesses in social welfare systems, but a feral child today is an anomaly for sure. Very few documented cases worldwide. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigshoulders Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 That was a difficult read, but I'm encouraged that Dani is making progress. And while she will very likely never be a "normal" child, she is with a family that clearly cares for her and shrouds her in love. I hope that in, say, 10 years, the reporter revisits this family for an update on Dani. Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mfwahl Posted October 21, 2008 Author Share Posted October 21, 2008 If anyone is interested in this story and would like to see how Dani is doing, this story will be featured on an upcoming episode of Oprah. Not sure on the exact date but should be within the next week or two (it's already been taped). I'll update when I hear more details. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
markosis Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 If anyone is interested in this story and would like to see how Dani is doing, this story will be featured on an upcoming episode of Oprah. Not sure on the exact date but should be within the next week or two (it's already been taped). I'll update when I hear more details. Wow, I might actually watch Oprah. What a story. I'm touched, really. I hope that little girl can one day comprehend all of it, or even comprehend normal things like an adult. I cannot be mad at the mother. Her IQ is 77, so I do not expect her to understand what she had or had not done. The thing that seems strange is that she was able to raise 2 boys to adulthood. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mfwahl Posted March 2, 2009 Author Share Posted March 2, 2009 This story will be featured on tomorrow's (Tuesday 3/3) episode of Oprah. Check your local listings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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