Foster Child Care

[ncboman]

Infant Dies After Pacifier Is Taped To His Mouth

Authorities say the foster mother of a 9-month-old boy, who died when she taped a pacifier to his mouth, is facing charges.

Investigators say neonatal nurse Angela Dukes of Columbia, South Carolina, was in her first day caring for the boy on February 8. They say she tried to quiet him but the taped pacifier blocked his breathing and he died that day.

South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons says the 30-year-old Dukes was charged Wednesday with felony unlawful conduct toward a child.

Officials say Dukes is in the Richland County jail awaiting a bond hearing. It wasn't immediately clear if she had an attorney.

A woman identifying herself as Dukes' mother said she didn't want to talk about the arrest.

web page (http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/44516677.html#comments)

ncboman

[TXAnn38]

:mad: Man, that's terrible! I can't imagine anyone being that cruel to a baby! Here's hoping that so-called nurse gets the book thrown at her.

Ann

[Bayrat]

I would question if the title "nurse" could even be used by a person who'd do such a thing. If so, whereever she got her "neo" training...maybe they should go back to the old way !!!!

Bayrat

[ncboman]

In my traveling around I encounter foster situations from time to time.

Some of them are obviously in it for the money cause there sure ain no love. :(

... and some of these foster homes are knocking down some serious bucks. :rolleyes:

Then I see other groups where there seems to be genuine care for one another. :)

There's a lot of untold stories, both good and bad.

ncboman

[TXAnn38]

It takes a special type person to take in another person's child--and do right by that child. It takes unconditional love and a sturdy sense of duty, of trying to find the right solutions to the child's problems. For, sadly, most of the kids in foster care, do have problems--that's why they are IN foster care.

But an infant, on it's first day in the home? Taping a pacifier to that baby's mouth was just sadistic, to me, anyway. Only one of my babies kept a pacifier after 6 months, the others either didn't like it at all or spit it out after about 2 or 3 months. A baby in a strange place, with no familiar person to snuggle with IS going to cry. Strangling it with a pacifier taped to it's mouth is tantamount to murder.