Too stupid for words: Kansas City girl, 5, may face murder charges in drowning

[cali]

KANSAS CITY, Missouri | Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:14am EDT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - A 5-year-old girl could face murder charges in the recent drowning of a toddler in a bathtub, police said on Thursday.

Kansas City police are waiting for a medical examiner's report on how Jermane Johnson Jr., died, but have investigated the death as a homicide, spokesman Darin Snapp said Thursday.

"I've been in law enforcement for 20 years and it's the youngest suspect I can remember," Snapp said. "It's extremely rare."

Johnson, 18 months old, was in a Kansas City house on June 3rd with other children, but the 16-year-old girl who was supposed to be looking after them fell asleep, Snapp said.

Investigators learned through interviews that a 5-year-old girl in the house got irritated at the boy, Snapp said.

<snip>

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/10/us-kansas-drowning-charge-idUSTRE7590OP20110610

[kestrel91316]

1. I may live to see the day when a red state brings murder charges against

an infant for causing its mother's death in childbirth.

[valerief]

3. +1000

[kestrel91316]

6. Well we alll know they only care about fetuses. Once you are born, who

gives a shit? Then you're evil for taking a sacred uterus offline.

[HockeyMom]

14. Birth is all that matters

Do you really think they care what happens to the woman, or even the child, after birth occurs?

[dems_rightnow]

15. Missouri's not a red state

It's one of those pivotal not-quite-either-way states.

[valerief]

2. Someone ought to hold KC law enforcement under water, if they charge a baby with murder.

Yes, a five-year-old is a baby.

[1monster]

9. Yes. Children are considered infants up to six years old. I wish I could say

I am surprised by this action against a young child, but when they allow eleven year olds to be charged as adults, nothing surprises me.

Law enforcement in this country is a tragic black comedy.

[angstlessk]

13. I recall when I was 4 and thought I was some sort of wizard..and took a bus to nowhere

when I was let off the bus all I could do was cry...and when the police asked...all I knew was my name was "kitty boo, and my dad owned a cleaners" it got me home, but hardly the mind of a criminal!...I'm pretty sure one year latter I would not be able to conceive of 'murder;

[somone]

4. Truly idiotic

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. seems to me like the 16 y/o should be charged w/ neglect ..

idk.

[The Midway Rebel]

10. The 16 year old was described by the TV news as being "mentally disabled".

http://www.kctv5.com/news/28180552/detail.html

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. then, why was she left in charge?

fuck. idk. seems like there should be someone else charged of a majority age in this scenario.

and look i have to sign out so i can not reply back.

[Warpy]

16. This should be treated like a horrible accident

since the root cause was poverty.

Think about it. Those kids would have had adequate supervision by an adult if either the adults didn't have to work or they had the money to hire someone responsible.

Unfortunately, the police think someone has to be blamed. A five year old has no concept of long term consequences and even of many short term consequences. Even if she's telling the truth, chances are she has no concept of what drowning even means or that death is permanent.

I hate what this country has become sometimes.

[The Midway Rebel]

18. I agree and I was going to mention the same thing but,

the last time I blamed it on poverty and the subsequent ignorance, I was accused of attacking poor folks. I know the area and this is a poverty stricken neighborhgood. Very tragic story. The stupidiy mentioned by the OP is a symptom and not the cause IMHO.

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. ridiculous

[Peacetrain]

8. When I was 4 years old I pulled a loaded gun on my babysitter..

I was playing in my parents bedroom..found the gun..thought it was a toy .. was playing with it..when the babysitter walked into the bedroom looking for me and I pointed it at her.. why I did not pull the trigger I will never know..but I sat there in the floor going bang bang bang.. and just pointing the gun.

Talk about an almost tragedy.

Little kids can do crazy things and not know they are doing crazy things.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Local media is saying she can't be charged

This has been all over our news - understandably.

Last night on local news the police were saying that they would likely charge the adult who left a 16 year old disabled kid in charge - and NOT the 5 year old because state law doesn't allow for a child that young to be charged with murder.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

19. this makes sense. finally. thanks for the post.

[WinkyDink]

17. Wasn't this a movie?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxisjomvvSY