Blue State Parenting - 3 Children Found Dead in Long Island Apartment; Mom Arrested

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332215,00.html

3 Children Found Dead in Long Island Apartment; Mom Arrested

Monday, February 25, 2008

NEW CASSEL, N.Y. - Police responding to a domestic emergency call on Sunday

found three small children dead in a bed and then tracked down their mother

and arrested her.

The mother, Leatrice Brewer, was charged with multiple counts of murder,

Nassau County police said.

"It was a disturbing scene," Detective Lt. Kevin Smith said.

Officers were met at the two-story home by a woman who directed them to a

top-floor apartment, where they found the children, Jewell Ward, 6, Michael

Demesyeux, 5, and Innocent Demesyeux, 1. The 27-year-old single mother

wasn't home but was found later, said police, who wouldn't reveal where they

arrested her.

The county medical examiner's office was trying to determine the causes of

the children's deaths. Police wouldn't discuss how they think the children

died.

Neighbors said Brewer, who cared for the children alone, had been

overwhelmed. One neighbor, Cornisha Robinson, said she saw her last week

pushing an empty stroller in the street and wondered where the children

were.

"She neglected them," Robinson said. "She used to leave them in the house

all the time by themselves."

But relatives and friends said Brewer loved the children, whom they called

"wonderful." They asked people to pray for her.

"If I had any idea that it was this bad for her, you know, I would have

reached out and tried to intervene," said Suzanne Blissett, Jewell's

godmother.

Blissett, crying, said Jewell was "amazing," and she called her "God's

gift."

Jewell's father, Ricky Ward, said he had tried to get custody of her but

child welfare officials had rebuffed him. The father of the two boys had a

similar tale.

Brewer's brother Robert McCord defended her.

"My sister's not crazy," he said. "She's not ballistic. This is a shock to

all of us."

Brewer was taken to a hospital for evaluation and observation. She was to be

arraigned Monday.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332215,00.html

3 Children Found Dead in Long Island Apartment; Mom Arrested

Monday, February 25, 2008

NEW CASSEL, N.Y. - Police responding to a domestic emergency call on Sunday

found three small children dead in a bed and then tracked down their mother

and arrested her.

The mother, Leatrice Brewer, was charged with multiple counts of murder,

Nassau County police said.

"It was a disturbing scene," Detective Lt. Kevin Smith said.

Officers were met at the two-story home by a woman who directed them to a

top-floor apartment, where they found the children, Jewell Ward, 6, Michael

Demesyeux, 5, and Innocent Demesyeux, 1. The 27-year-old single mother

wasn't home but was found later, said police, who wouldn't reveal where they

arrested her.

The county medical examiner's office was trying to determine the causes of

the children's deaths. Police wouldn't discuss how they think the children

died.

Neighbors said Brewer, who cared for the children alone, had been

overwhelmed. One neighbor, Cornisha Robinson, said she saw her last week

pushing an empty stroller in the street and wondered where the children

were.

"She neglected them," Robinson said. "She used to leave them in the house

all the time by themselves."

But relatives and friends said Brewer loved the children, whom they called

"wonderful." They asked people to pray for her.

"If I had any idea that it was this bad for her, you know, I would have

reached out and tried to intervene," said Suzanne Blissett, Jewell's

godmother.

Blissett, crying, said Jewell was "amazing," and she called her "God's

gift."

Jewell's father, Ricky Ward, said he had tried to get custody of her but

child welfare officials had rebuffed him. The father of the two boys had a

similar tale.

Brewer's brother Robert McCord defended her.

"My sister's not crazy," he said. "She's not ballistic. This is a shock to

all of us."

Brewer was taken to a hospital for evaluation and observation. She was to be

arraigned Monday.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332215,00.html

3 Children Found Dead in Long Island Apartment; Mom Arrested

Monday, February 25, 2008

NEW CASSEL, N.Y. - Police responding to a domestic emergency call on Sunday

found three small children dead in a bed and then tracked down their mother

and arrested her.

The mother, Leatrice Brewer, was charged with multiple counts of murder,

Nassau County police said.

"It was a disturbing scene," Detective Lt. Kevin Smith said.

Officers were met at the two-story home by a woman who directed them to a

top-floor apartment, where they found the children, Jewell Ward, 6, Michael

Demesyeux, 5, and Innocent Demesyeux, 1. The 27-year-old single mother

wasn't home but was found later, said police, who wouldn't reveal where they

arrested her.

The county medical examiner's office was trying to determine the causes of

the children's deaths. Police wouldn't discuss how they think the children

died.

Neighbors said Brewer, who cared for the children alone, had been

overwhelmed. One neighbor, Cornisha Robinson, said she saw her last week

pushing an empty stroller in the street and wondered where the children

were.

"She neglected them," Robinson said. "She used to leave them in the house

all the time by themselves."

But relatives and friends said Brewer loved the children, whom they called

"wonderful." They asked people to pray for her.

"If I had any idea that it was this bad for her, you know, I would have

reached out and tried to intervene," said Suzanne Blissett, Jewell's

godmother.

Blissett, crying, said Jewell was "amazing," and she called her "God's

gift."

Jewell's father, Ricky Ward, said he had tried to get custody of her but

child welfare officials had rebuffed him. The father of the two boys had a

similar tale.

Brewer's brother Robert McCord defended her.

"My sister's not crazy," he said. "She's not ballistic. This is a shock to

all of us."

Brewer was taken to a hospital for evaluation and observation. She was to be

arraigned Monday.