Tag Archives: suicide

08.28.13
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Former Teacher Gets 30 Days for Raping Student, who Later Committed Suicide.

8-29-13 – RIP Cherice Morales, 17, who took her own life in February 2010 while the following case was pending.

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READ THE ARTICLE – Video also included.

Directly from National Voices for Equality Education & Enlightenment
“This is one of those cases where we should sit back and question the letter of the law. A Senior High School teacher who pleaded guilty to raping a 14-year-old student, who later killed herself, has been sentenced to 30 days in jail by a judge who said the victim was “older than her chronological age” and “as much in control of the situation” as the teacher. Really? Really? Are you kidding?!?!?!” ~~~ Jowharah Sanders, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO!

She was a MINOR! This EXPERIENCE led her to KILL HERSELF and the judge is putting partial blame on HER?

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH, District Judge G. Todd Baugh, for putting a child abuser back into our community.

Here is a chronology of events from dailymail.co.uk:

  • Cherice Morales was a troubled 14-year-old high school freshman when teacher Stacey Dean Rambold, then 49, groomed her for sex
  • Cherice killed herself at 17 while the case was pending and her mother says the sex abuse by the teacher was ‘a major factor’ in her suicide
  • Rambold entered a sex offender treatment program, but was kicked out after having unsupervised visits with minors
  • Judge Todd Baugh disagreed with the prosecution of Rambold and handed out a 30 day sentence
  • Prosecutors had asked for 10 years
  • Judge, 66, announced he is running for re-election and is so far unopposed.

HERE IS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.

What was Baugh’s reasoning that a 14-year-old girl below the state’s age of consent had an equal share of control of the relationship? 

“The judge’s reasons are his reasons and his reasons alone. He has broad authority under state law, given the proper criteria,” as Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito said.

THIS IS NOT ENOUGH!

While the judge said he listened to statements given by Morales before her death and believed that while she was a troubled youth, she was “as much in control of the situation” as Rambold and was “older than her chronological age.” SERIOUSLY? Since WHEN may a 14-year-old “groomed” by the teacher for sex, able to CONSENT??

Baugh further stated that “he was not convinced that the reasons for Rambold’s termination from treatment were serious enough to warrant the 10-year prison term prosecutors recommended”.

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Here is the RAPIST – Stacey Dean Rambold – Billings, Montana.

The school district had warned Rambold four years earlier to avoid touching or being alone with female students, it was later revealed. AND THIS WAS NOT A WARNING SIGN?

Montana District Court Judge G. Todd Baugh sentenced Stacey Dean Rambold to 15 years in prison for sexual intercourse without consent, with all but 31 days suspended. He gave Rambold credit for one day already served.

Judge Baugh announced on Monday that Cherice Morales seemed just as responsible for a sexual relationship with her teacher Stacey Dean Rambold as the teacher was – even though Cherice was troubled and only 14 at the time. He also pronounced that the girl, who killed herself two years later, appeared to be ‘older than her chronological age.’

AGAIN – WHAT was this judge THINKING! 15 years reduced to 30 days?  AND a credit for 1 day served??  

SERIOUSLY – A 14–YEAR-OLD WAS DEEMED “”older than her chronological age” and “as much in control of the situation” AS THE TEACHER?!

This is why our juvenile justice system is so ineffective and the laughing stock of the country.

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P.S. County Attorney Twito told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he would not appeal the judge’s sentence.

P.P.S. The school district paid Cherice’s mother $96,000 as part of a wrongful death settlement. NICE TO KNOW THAT IS THE GOING RATE FOR THIS CRIME.

SMH – there HAD to be something more to this; however, a VICTIM should not be further penalized by the system – she obviously was traumatized and I believe the judge and the perpetrator are responsible for this verdict and her suicide. Personal Opinion.

PLEASE WEIGH IN.

10.24.12
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Bullying May Be Linked to Mental Disorders, with children MORE LIKELY than other kids to BE BULLIES

Bullying May Be Linked to Mental Disorders, with children MORE LIKELY than other kids to BE BULLIES.

“Much research probing the link between bullying and mental health has focused on how being bullied contributes to the development of issues like anxiety and depression. But a new study suggests the relationship goes both ways, finding that boys and girls with mental health disorders are three times more likely to be the bully.” SOURCE.

But what type of mental disorders were identified?

Depression,  and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, apparently.

Here’s the Scoop:

Children with mental health disorders are more likely than other kids to be bullies, a new study finds.

The study, “Association Between Mental Health Disorders and Bullying in the United States Among Children Aged 6 to 17 Years,” was conducted by Dr. Frances Turcotte-Benedict, a Brown University masters of public health student and a fellow at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence. She and her colleagues used data provided by the parents and guardians of children ages 6 to 17 as part of the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, which included nearly 64,000 children.

In 2007, approximately 15 percent of the children were identified as bullies, and that children with mental health disorders were three times more likely than their peers to bully other children.

“There is a larger story behind why children bully,” said Dr. Turcotte-Benedict, a Brown University masters of public health student and a fellow at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence. “And part of that story may include the diagnosis of a mental health disorder.”

It is well-established that victims of bullying are at increased risk for mental health illness and suicide, but few studies have examined the mental health status of bullies.

Depression was associated with a three-fold increased risk of being a bully, while a diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder increased the risk six times.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder. That disorder, which affects between 1 percent and 16 percent of school-age children, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, is characterized by many of the traits that are associated with bullying, such as aggression.

Turcotte-Benedict said the new study emphasizes the need for continued research into the complicated link between mental health disorders and bullying in order to improve prevention efforts.  “We need to assess bullying prevention programs for their effect on children with mental health disorders,” she said, “and whether psychological support for these children has any impact on bullying behavior.”

Sources:

www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/22/bullying-mental-health-problems_n_2001583.html

Bullying May Be Linked to Mental Disorders – MedicineNet.

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-children-mental-health-disorders-bullies.html

10.12.12
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Another teen lost . . . Another star has faded…

Please take a moment to read the
Extraordinarily in-depth Full Article Here

Five weeks after posting heartbreaking YouTube plea begging bullies to stop tormenting her, Amanda Todd, 15, was found dead Wednesday night in Coquitlam, Canada. Authorities believe she committed suicide.

Her mother wants her daughter’s anti-cyber-bullying video to be used to help other young people.

“I think the video should be shared and used as an anti-bullying tool. That is what my daughter would have wanted,” Carol Todd, Amanda’s mother, told The Vancouver Sun in a message on Twitter.

View Amanda’s message to the world via YouTube:

 

Direct from NVEEE:
“Amanda, we are saddened by your death. Such talent. Such beauty. Such a bright soul. Thank you for leaving behind videos to give us a glimpse into your life. Please watch and share this video of Amanda singing. We will pray for your family and friends and ask for strength and guidance in the upcoming days as these will be the toughest moments in their lives.

To all the kids who are bulling others, who are being bullied, and who are watching it happen without saying anything… Just know there is another way. When you think its never going to get better, just know there are organizations and regular people out there who are standing strong for you. We just need to find each other. COME FIND US. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE LOVED AND ACCEPTED!!”

http://www.nveee.org

 

Rest In Peace Amanda.