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.
silvermoon
My son is 15
tobehappy
Oh ok. I’m sure you will both be fine! I”m glad he is away from the Socio!
silvermoon
His dad is an N. He is having to go back to finish school this year. I hope soon he will return.
I turned him on to echardt tolle and he really go into it!
erin1972
Silver-your Civil War comments remind me of Gone With the Wind when Scarlett was upset about mourning for her husband who died in the war. She only married him to try to make Ashley jealous. She was doing the all black from head to toe and upset her Mammy by trying to wear a red hat.
silvermoon
We consider that any man who can fiddle all through one of those Virginia Reels without losing his grip, may be depended upon in any kind of musical emergency.”
Mark Twain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtOVmAtZ9tU
Here is the dance scene. Yes, Scarlett’s costome was exactly about that veil and all.
And of course Mammy said NO to the red hat!
But that tradition that was cool is that everybody knew what to do about a woman in mourning. Scarlett of course, in the story broke all the rules…
one/joy_step_at_a_time
i look good in black – but i don’t think i am gonna go THAT far. LOL.
silvermoon
I drew the line on the hoopskirt- way too much…. but a fanny pack instead of a purse under a sweatshirt is the 21rst century bustle- No doubt….
one/joy_step_at_a_time
‘but a fanny pack instead of a purse under a sweatshirt is the 21rst century bustle’ – Oh, THERE’S a fookin visual i don’t need!
geminigirl
Silvermoon, what the heck is a fanny pack? Do you mean a pant liner or towel?
By the way, I LOVE your writings. You come across a s a very smart, cultured, poetic, sensitive, literary person. I laways enjoy your musings. I also love poetry, Im a fine Arts graduate, with 28 years teaching exp. My subjects were Art, English, and ESL, {special Education, for which I had to get extra qualifications.}I went to Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland, then teaching college.{1956- 62 },Six years of study, -I loved all of it.Taught in scotland, Singapore, Malaysia, and here in Sydney, Australia. Retired since 1989 from teaching, but took other jobs till 1996.Im 71 this may. Of to scotland for 3 weeks, to catch up with old “girl” friends!.
Love, mamaGem.XX
kim frederick
Gem, A fanny pack is a purse that is shaped sort of like a half moon that is straped around your lower waste, so that your hands are free to ride a bike or rollar-blade or what-ever.
How are you, Gem? Did you get my apology for mouthing off?