Sandra Cantu Case: Does Melissa Huckaby Have a History of Predation?
Parents Are Always the First Line of Defense Against a Sexual Predator
And this is how it should be.
Why? First and foremost, the more information the public has about the mannerisms and behavioral patterns of people like Melissa Huckaby (Casey Anthony still maintains her innocence, so there is a question of guilt and the degree of culpability) and other child murderers and predators, the better the public can protect itself against the potential threat of like incidents happening within their social circles. Although it is a commonly held belief that sexual predators, especially child sexual predators, are masters at blending in and acting normal, this is not always the case. A diligent parent or guardian is the first line of defense against the someone who might potentially harm a child.
A careful parent imparts to their children why they should not talk to strangers, why they should never get into a stranger's vehicle, and other actions that make up the "Stranger Danger" package of preventive knowledge and techniques. This is not to say that one wants to make a child paranoid, just cautious enough to remain safe in a potentially threatening situation. And as the parent imparts knowledge, the parent also has the responsibility of policing the child's environment, including those that move in and out of the child's social environment. The diligent parent not only remains alert for noticeable patterns of people who could potentially pose a threat -- single men or women loitering around children's playgrounds, for instance -- but also to the things their children might say about others, such as an inappropriate touch or comment. Missing telltale signals such as these makes your child -- and other children -- vulnerable to the predatory devices of those bent on harm.
Melissa Huckaby is a case in point. A mother. A Sunday school teacher. The granddaughter of a pastor. Who would have suspected someone with these credentials? But, then again, why not?
Still, there were warning signs.
There is reason to believe, although it was never proven, that Melissa Huckaby, two months before she admittedly killed Sandra Cantu, allegedly drugged another child who lived inside the mobile home park where she and the Cantus lived. She escorted the child to the park and when the child returned home, she was lethargic. Alarmed, the parents took the child to the hospital, where tests found evidence of a strong muscle relaxant.
Melissa Huckaby was not charged in the incident.
It may be noted that most red flags are seen in 20/20 hindsight. The drugging of the child while in Melissa Huckaby's care becomes far more ominous after her confession of killing Sandra Cantu. Beforehand, the incident could have been explained away various ways -- the child may have gotten into some medicine somewhere, found it and thought it was candy, etc. Still, the parents of the drugged child more likely as not forbade their child to go near Melissa Huckaby afterward, but other parents should have been warned (and may have been). It might have been enough to cause better protective procedures. Given enough knowledge, it might have saved Sandra Cantu's life.
But if not Sandra Cantu, then might it have been another child? Probably. As more information surfaces about Melissa Huckaby and her family, and news filters down from the Blogger News Network that a church in Washington state has now been searched in connection to Huckaby (the Sandra Cantu case centers around Tracy, California), there is the disturbing possibility that the trail of predatory behavior may go back even further than January.
Which only means that Melissa Huckaby may have slipped several first lines of defense...
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Source:
Bloggernews.net
Published by Saul Relative
WVU graduate, with degrees in History, English, Secondary Education, Computer Programming, and Psychology (and nearly a degree in Political Science). Originally from West Virginia, with stints in Virginia,... View profile
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19 Comments
Post a CommentThe words of caution about single men or women loitering around children's playgrounds seems a bit ridiculous. Look at the case in New Mexico with the poor little boy who was killed and then buried on the playground by his own mother. Stranger danger is still there--but danger from those the child is familiar with is just as important. There is no way to tell a child "beware of Mommy".
Your assertion is ridiculous, Bah! Just because children are statistically more likely to be abused or attacked by a relative or close friend does not mean that "Stranger Danger" does not exist. There's plenty of evidence of it actually occurring. Dismissing it as an invalid argument of convenience is naive and foolish...
BAH! Statistics still show you're more likely to be raped by a direct relative. "Stranger Danger" is a convient cover for the real problems.
I have kept up with this story since day one and I sincerely believe that this woman could not of done all of this on her own. I believe someone helped her thru all this and I wouldn't doubt it if it was the grandfather. I believe she is taking the blame for something maybe she was involved but not by herself there had to have been a second person. This is so horrifying and unbelievable and also so so sad!!!!
(cont.) I am not "empathizing" nor was I even talking about Huckaby's state of mind as far as psychoses was concerned. I'm merely talking about that which has occurred or may have occurred in her life which could cause cyclical behavioral issues. Provable facts, such as previous abuses. If nothing, then proceed with what there is. If something, prosecute them ALL to the fullest extent of the law, as long as the statute of limitations hasn't expired. And if you're in pre-law, you should already know that insanity is a nearly unwinnable defense. I don't know where you got the idea that I "empathize" with her... As for being 'hurt,' attempting to psychoanalyze my writings when you misinterpreted my intent will do you no good, either.
You misconstrued something somewhere, brea. I do not "empathize" with Melissa Huckaby in the least; I'm stating what is real. If you ignore the extraneous details of her case, other predators that have been doing this for decades could go on doing it for decades more. I merely present the case that her background environment may be a part of a bigger circle of predation. It is derelict of the prosecution and the defense both to simply center this case on what Melissa Huckaby did. Convict her on that evidence, yes. But I am calling for an investigation into the woman's past and present, not asking for people to sympathize, empathize, or come up with some pseudo-psychological environment-trumps-free will b.s. story to justify what Melissa Huckaby did. I want them ALL found and prosecuted, including anyone who may have abused Huckaby as a child. Nowhere in anything I've stated do you see that I am absolving Melissa Huckaby of any wrongdoing or culpability. I am not "empathizing" n
continued: victim mentality.. no way, but I will say saul, that you are entitled to your opinion.
The bottom line here is a child is dead, a woman's life is over and regardless of who else may have been involved in this, there is no turning back on the choices Melissa, being of sound mind, made. If it were determined that Melissa was psychotic and had no control over her actions, I might feel different
To saul relative. I respect your opinion and choose to disagree. Unless a person is literally "insane" according to the law they are responsible for their actions entirely. If you start looking at every sad little child that was abused and grew up into either a burglar, an abuser, a drug dealer, an addict,etc you could never hold all of those people that harmed them thus leading to their dysfunctional behavior, accountable. Please think about it saul. I respect your empathy for Melissa, I feel that too; however I am a pre-law student and I have come to understand that our law leaves very little room for excuses. Justifiable homicide may be if she killed her perpatrator while defending herself, it doesnt cover what she did to the little girl. I am gathering that you were hurt in your life saul.. let go of thinking justice should be served, sometimes it never comes. I will pray for the soul of Melissa and hope that she finds peace in prison before she dies, I will never jump back into th
You are right and wrong, brea. Although it is true that Melissa Huckaby had choices to make, it is imperative that if there is any indication she was abused as a child, that those abuses need be investigated as well. And we do not know all the circumstances of Melissa Huckaby. She may be a simple psychopath with abusive tendencies. But if this goes deeper and if she herself was abused or witnessed abuse as a girl, regardless of the choices she's made, those others deserve to be prosecuted as well. All of it is connected and to just say that this is just a case of Melissa Huckaby making a choice and that her crime against Sandra Cantu has nothing to do with extraneous circumstances is an extremely limiting view. You are to be commended for your strength, your resolve, and rising above the pain of your childhood, but in the end, everything matters and must be considered, especially when others are involved...
Some of these comments are absurd! I was abused as a young girl and I have never been an offender in my adult life, at all. PEOPLE ARE GIVEN CHOICES.. Even if Melissa was raped by 16 men as a little girl, she still knew right from wrong.. It is absurd to excuse or feel pity for someone that committed this crime. It is a victim's job to get help for any abuse they suffered and to move forward from victim to survivor and thriver not from victim to abuser and user.. Give me break and yes she does deserve a fair trial;but once again this is not about who abused her!