Abusive Moms in the News

More and more mothers are being seen in the headlines for committing horrendous acts on their children and putting them in harm's way. Below you will see just a handful of these horrific events outlined.

Mom Punches Baby 4 Times Causing Its Death
Joanna Vasquez, a Houston mother, has been charged with the death of her 2 month old son.

She initially told police that she had shaken her son and then accidentally dropped him. After autopsy reports confirmed that the death was caused by blunt force trauma and the manner as homicide, Vasquez changed her story. She admitted to punching the infant 4 times, which ultimately resulted in his death.

Joanna Vasquez is being charged with capital murder and is currently being held without bond.

Source:
http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou070502_ac_babydeath.2c9a1c4e.html KHOU 11 News Staff Reports

South Carolina Mom Smothers Infant Twins

A mother from South Carolina who smothered her infant twins has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Apparently, 20 year old Lakeia White smothered her twins with a pillow to keep them from crying. She then went back to sleep.

She pleaded guilty but mentally ill to homicide by child abuse. She admitted to putting the pillowcase over her sons Davion and Trevon Wilson on Oct. 11 of 2006. She wanted to settle them down while staying with relatives.

Once the boys were discovered dead, Lakeia White left the home. She told the judge she was sorry for what she did.

Psychiatrists say that White suffered from depression with psychotic effects. Although White faced all the way up to life as a sentence in prison, because of her mental illness, she received 20 years, which can be served as an actual term of ten years. However if White has good behavior, she may only serve up to 8 years. Upon release, White is required to receive mental health counseling.

Source:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/19/ap/national/main2704235.shtml?source=search_story

Mom Kills Her Baby In High-Speed Chase

A mother on the run from the police killed her 9 month old daughter in a high-speed chase that ended in a collision.

Aimee Andrea Riza, a 36 year old mother from Keene, Texas was reported to the Somervell County Sheriff's Department by another motorist who called her a reckless driver. Once police began to pursue her, Riza led them on a 25-mile chase, evading spikes and even a blocked intersection. Riza continued to drive the SUV on the rims after the tires were worn down.

Efforts by the police to stop her failed. Her 9 month old daughter, Alexxus Riza was in her SUV with her during the chase, but this did not stop Riza. The SUV only came to a stop when it rolled over several times under an overpass, struck a traffic light, and slammed into the concrete barrier.

The infant was thrown from the SUV.

When police attempted to arrest Riza, she resisted arrest and officers had to wrestle her out of the vehicle.

Riza was charged with manslaughter, evading arrest, resisting arrest, and reckless driving.

Source:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/07/national/main2660517.shtml?source=search_story CBS News/AP

2 Year Old and 4 Year Old Smoke Marijuana

In this case, two teens videotape themselves lighting a marijuana cigarette, or "blunt" for a 2 year old boy. A 4 year old boy also smokes the marijuana. On the disturbing videotape, the two teen boys can be seen laughing and encouraging the toddlers to smoke.

The mother is apparently sleeping in the other room.

While the mother tells police she was sleeping and tells CPS she doesn't allow the teens the teens to watch her son, it still doesn't clear up why the teens were alone with the child and why she was sleeping instead of supervising the children.

All of the children were put in foster care and eventually the teens were arrested.

The 2 year old and 4 year old remain in foster care, as there were no adequate family members for him to be released to.

http://www.khou.com/news/state/stories/khou070305_mh_potvideo.1fe197db.html KHOU 11 News
http://www.khou.com/news/state/stories/khou070427_ac_potsmokingkids.13039693.html KHOU 11 News/Associated Press