Evil exists. If you need proof, just look at the horrific case of little Charleeni Ferreira.
Charleeni, age 10, of Philadelphia, Pa., died on October 21, 2009. Her father, Domingo Ferreira, 53, and stepmother Margarita Garabito, 43, were charged with murder and endangering the welfare of a child.
So how bad was the abuse? The police called it “torture.”
Charleeni actually died from an infection that resulted from broken ribs that were not treated. She had a host of new and old injuries, including a fractured pelvis and a 7-inch gash on her head that had been stuffed with gauze and covered with a hair weave.
For more details, read Signs of Charleeni’s “torture” were hidden, in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
What makes this case so appalling is that a school nurse reported suspected child abuse. In the three years before her death, Charleeni was seen by numerous doctors, a psychiatrist and a therapist. The Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) provided services to the family for five months.
Now, the DHS commissioner is trying to figure out what went wrong.
Bamboozled
Here’s what I think happened: One or both of the parents were sociopaths, and they bamboozled the child welfare workers.
The parents denied any abuse—workers described them as “hurt” by the allegations—but agreed to intervention anyway. After a period of supervision, child welfare workers closed the case. They also recommended that Charleeni’s parents contact a legal aid agency if the school nurse continued to complain about child abuse.
Charleeni herself was also terrorized and manipulated. She told a doctor at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children that her family treated her “like a princess.” Welts on her hand occurred when she accidentally stabbed herself with a pencil in the dark. She and her parents always had explanations for her injuries, although they didn’t always match.
Perpetrators
Police apparently believe that the stepmother, Margarita Garabito, was the main perpetrator. But the father, Domingo Ferreira, didn’t stop her. In fact, he showed no remorse and fell asleep in the police interview room. Then, Ferreira hung himself in his jail cell.
This, of course, is convenient for the stepmother. Her court-appointed attorney terms the suicide “an admission of guilt.”
See Charleeni’s death blamed on her dead father, in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
I don’t know who initiated the child abuse. Women can be abusive sociopaths. They can also be accomplices, under the control of male sociopaths.
Evil exists
So what’s the lesson here?
Evil exists, but it can be concealed by seemingly plausible explanations.
Evil exists, but it can be disguised by expressions of concern.
Evil exists, but victims can be too terrorized to speak of it.
People who are in a position to see signs of child abuse—doctors, teachers, social workers—need to understand that evil does not want to be discovered, so they must pay close attention to any small clues.
geminigirl
Feel me in here? Dont talk dirty, henry!LOL!! Gem.XX
geminigirl
Henry, that wasa real freudian slip!! LOL! I love it!!
Love, GemXx
hens
ok girls get your mind out of the gutter – i was asking for someone to splain bill and cigars – wasnt asking to be feeled but inlightened sas in what did bill do with is cigar I dont know somebody tell me – sheesh
hens
and dont tell me he blew smoke up monicas dress
Ox Drover
Gosh, you bad kids stayed up waaaay past your bed times! Glad you had a good time though, I will admit you sounded like some 10 year olds having a bunking party! (((hug))))
Henry, my granny used to tell me the only stupid question is the one you already KNOW THE ANSWER TO—cigar!!!! ROTFLMAO You guys gave me a good laugh this mornign. Now I got to get to work! Made 20 quarts of apple sauce yesterday and went to bed with the kitchen a wreck…apple sauce everywhere! FRIED PIES HERE I COME!!!!
amber
Oh man!! I wake up to beating up a bear with a vibrating cyber skillet and cigar talk?!?! LOL…I feel asleep laughing to this story and wake up laughing just as hard.
And gem..a do-rag is like a hair cap, or bandanda type thing that you wear on your head to keep your hair tight to your head. People use them to sleep in sometimes to keep their hair smooth. I’m assuming EB’s wearing one to keep the hair outta her eyes so she can see the bear sneaking up on her if need be!
I wonder if she found her pot of gold out there last night?!?!
skylar
My sleep cycle is all messed up and now I can’t stay up late and I’m missing out on all the fun. I guess it’s better that way since it gave everyone a chance to whack at me with their vibratiing, golden, massaging, silicone skillets. LOL.
amber
Opps..I said bandanda..lol..I made up a word..I meant bandana.
witsend
Well guys,
the police man that came to the house a few weeks ago gave me the name of a counselor that he is hoping that my son will go and talk to.
I just spoke with her and this will not be something covered by medicade but the sliding scale fee is something that I would be able to cover for awile. It is really reasonable.
I don’t see that my son will agree to go see her but the cop is supposed to make the proposal to him. I know if I ask him he will NOT go.
Personally I don’t know that he would do anything more than what he did with the last counselor that he saw. (manipulate)HOWEVER if he chooses not to see her, I am going to go and start sessions with her. Finally, something I can afford.
I hope she has some background in personality disorders. This would be really great.
persephone7
witsend:
That’s good news – doesn’t it make you feel better, more optimistic when
some kind of help like this appears, like God’s throwing you some kind of
lifeline?
Just home on lunchbreak, peeked this morning but Erin, let us know you’re
ok? Hope you just slept in and no ugly bear stories to share…and really
wishing you hit paydirt!!