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Police Link Suspect's DNA To Library Rape, Prior Rape
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Published: April 28, 2008
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TAMPA - Preliminary DNA test results link Bloomingdale High School student Kendrick Morris not only to the rape of an 18-year-old girl outside the Valrico library last week but also to a rape in Clair-Mel City about a year ago, a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office official said Monday.
The sheriff's office arrested 16-year-old Morris on Saturday in connection with the attack two days earlier outside Bloomingdale Regional Public Library. He is being held at the Juvenile Assessment Center on two counts of sexual battery with great bodily harm and one count each of kidnapping and aggravated battery.
Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said Monday that Morris will be prosecuted as an adult.
Additional DNA tests at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are being conducted to establish more solid results, but it appears that Morris is responsible both for the library attack and the rape of a worker at Children's Lighthouse Day Care Center on June 28, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Jose Docobo said.
"They're confident. … It's a match," Docobo said of FDLE. "He will be charged in that case."
Detectives now are reviewing other unsolved rape cases to see whether Morris might be linked to those as well, Docobo said.
Meanwhile, county officials are discussing installing security cameras outside public libraries as a result of Thursday's attack at Bloomingdale Regional Public Library, which occurred while the 18-year-old returned books after hours.
County libraries have surveillance cameras indoors, said Marcia Mejia, a county spokeswoman. Officials are evaluating whether installing outdoor cameras is feasible within the budget, which will be finalized in June, she said.
The victim in the library attack, who is not identified because of the nature of the crime, suffered trauma to her head and face. She is in critical but stable condition at Tampa General Hospital, the sheriff's office said.
Docobo said he and Sheriff David Gee visited her on Monday. The teenager slips in and out of consciousness and has not been able to be interviewed, Docobo said.
Her family told them "she has very little recollection of what occurred," Docobo said.
The victim is a local high school senior but does not attend Bloomingdale High.
Nevertheless, Bloomingdale High School Principal Mark West sent a letter home with students on Monday expressing prayers for both her family and sympathy for "the family of the young man charged."
West's letter advised that the school's counseling team was available to any students who needed to talk. The letter also said that for Morris's own safety and that of others, Morris would not return to any county school "until a determination has been made by the proper School Board officials."
Earlier Monday, Morris' mother, Lisa Stevens, said the accusations against her son were "purely speculation."
Apprised Monday evening of the preliminary DNA test results, Stevens said she had no comment.
Before Docobo announced the preliminary test results, students outside the library at 1906 Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico expressed disbelief that Morris was involved in the attack.
"He played football, but he didn't really seem like a violent person," said 16-year-old sophomore Charles Mentzer. "I don't believe he did it."
Seventeen-year-old Venessa Lee, a senior, said she and Morris often hung out together at the library after school.
"He is such a nice guy," she said. "I don't think he would do something like that."
Docobo said investigators first identified Morris as a suspect in the rape at the library because of fingerprints that remained "on various items at the scene."
Morris has a juvenile arrest record. The sheriff's office in October 2004 charged him with felony animal cruelty; the legal disposition of that case was not available.
According to an arrest report, witnesses at Hawthorne Retirement Center in Brandon saw the boy, then 13, beat a bird — identified as either a duck or an egret — several times with a tree branch, then pick it up by the neck. The beating injured the bird's wing.
Morris told deputies in the report that he was chasing the bird with a stick and the bird "tripped and fell."
One of the witnesses told deputies the boy, upon being asked where his parents were, said they were in meetings and he had to pick up his 3-year-old sister at day care.
DNA tests can take weeks, but Docobo said the FDLE "pulled out all the stops" in expediting evidence from the library rape. Over the weekend, the agency informed the sheriff's office of the preliminary match between DNA from the attack and a swab taken from Morris, Docobo said.
Detectives realized the June 28 rape in Clair-Mel City occurred roughly three blocks from Morris' home and asked FDLE to compare Morris' DNA with forensic evidence from that attack as well, Docobo said.
Preliminary test results on Monday linked Morris to that rape, Docobo said.
The sheriff's office said a man with a knife confronted an employee unlocking the day care center at 7415 Destin Drive at 5:50 a.m. on June 28 and forced her inside. The man demanded money, then raped her, the sheriff's office said.
Another employee's arrival startled the attacker, who escaped through a side door. The day care center had surveillance video, but it "didn't prove fruitful" in identifying anyone, Docobo said.
Reporter Keith Morelli and editor Howard Altman contributed to this report. Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.
Reader Comments
Posted by ( luvco ) on April 28, 2008 at 7:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Good thing none of us jumped to conclusions about his guilt in an earlier post.
Snark
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Posted by ( flaborn ) on April 28, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Where's the mother now saying her "baby" couldn't do this. I hope there isn't more victims out there but that they nail him if there are.
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Posted by ( ohsnap ) on April 28, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
What does this creep's mother have to say now??? DNA FTW!
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Posted by ( RingMyBell ) on April 28, 2008 at 7:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Where does a pos like him learn to be this way? Is it possible that there are unsolved rapes that could be linked to him, through DNA? He is so young, to do so much damage, with so much malice, seemingly with aforethought.
He must have rabies.
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Posted by ( Jen1897 ) on April 28, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Lol at luvco. It's really ignorant for people to come on here and preach about innocent until proven guilty when the posters are expressing their opinions which are based on the assumptions that the perp is guilty. Obviously if someone turns out innocent we wouldn't want the same thing done to him. ..."uhh yeah we realize he's innocent but lets just kill him anyways". ...BUT now that we KNOW he's guilty we SHOULD kill him. He's a waste of skin.
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Posted by ( petepuked ) on April 28, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Nice job Mom. Let me guess, no father is around.
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Posted by ( MrShrek ) on April 28, 2008 at 7:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
As I stated in my post yesterday , that we should wait until DNA tests come back before we demand his head be removed from his shoulders and shoved up his ....Well, seems they're back , and it doesn't look too good for this POS. Prime candidate for a genetelia amputation by Rotwieler. How people like this can live with themselves is beyond me. I wish this little bast@&d nothing but the worst life has to offer him.
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Posted by ( supernanny80 ) on April 28, 2008 at 7:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wow at 16 years old this is not the first time he rapes someone WTF?? Great job to his parents!Your son should get the death penalty and you two should get at least 20 years in jail for making this monster!
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Posted by ( misticleansfla ) on April 28, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
he needs to rock on to eletric avenue and then we get to fry him
but that aint gonna happen :( life sentance no parole he is gonna get loved long time bye bye POS!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted by ( Desmo ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I guess mommy won't be able to defend her little angel against two DNA matches.
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Posted by ( Petey90 ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
djtomr941, well, great defender of the accused rapist. What do you have to say now? Turns out he is more of a montster than we all thought.
And don't accuse the HCSO of fabricating the evidence, his attorney will have plenty of chances to do their own testing on his demon sperm.
Hungry for some crow now?
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Posted by ( markyn11 ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
It also seems from a report in the Times their going to charge him with another rape in 2007 this kid had already lost his rookie status he was a pro.
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Posted by ( Petey90 ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Unfortunately life in prison in Florida is only 20 years. Hopefully he will get it twice and some weeny judge will make him serve his sentence consecutively which means he will serve forty. He will still be 65 when he gets out. Probably less with overcrowding and the like.
More than likely he will get about 10-15 and be out in less. Still plenty of time to rape more of our children.
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Posted by ( mari25 ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why was he a student at Bloomingdale? Is this a football promise gone bad????
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Posted by ( westchase85 ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:19 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( ToTheBeachWeGo ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
He's raped two people (that we know of) and he's only 16! I guarantee you there's a history of sexual abuse in his life. I'm not saying that's an excuse, but it's common in cases like this.
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Posted by ( westchase85 ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
i hope he gets what he gave in prison if you know what i mean
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Posted by ( tigress21 ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Maybe its a God send that she doesnt remember what happen that night.
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Posted by ( T11 ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
My sincerest thanks to our law enforcement officials for the incredibly fast and careful work on this case.
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Posted by ( emte ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Good job HCSO getting this dirtbag off the street. I know there are good people working at the HCSO and a lot of hard work was put into this investigation.
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Posted by ( time4change ) on April 28, 2008 at 9 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hmmm... Darling Kenny's defenders seem to be in short supply this evening.
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Posted by ( time4change ) on April 28, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
westchase85: I'm sure that somewhere in the Florida Penal System, someone named Bubba is ready, willing, and able to take darling Kenny under his wing and teach him the finer points of "prison love."
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Posted by ( slappy ) on April 28, 2008 at 9:22 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( mcmurphy7 ) on April 28, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hey, hook him up with Stephanie Ragusa and make a reality show out of it!
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Posted by ( ron401k ) on April 28, 2008 at 9:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
You won't hear old liver lips Al Sharpton on this one, it's a typical situation, no dad, mom's a worthless criminal (probably like the dad) and you can see the result. We neuter animals so why can't we neuter animals like the accused, his family and their type. In this case we will have to resort to euthanasia.
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Posted by ( mr_hanky ) on April 28, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
2 rapes??! Where's his momma and all the other bleeding hearts to defend him now? It's all fun and games until the DNA match comes back. Hang him high and leave him swinging - AFTER he gets some hands-on experience with love in the Big House.....
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Posted by ( inflorida ) on April 28, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm waiting for charges to be file on the mom for neglect. Who gets away with leaving their kid at a library for 6-7 hours a day after school. Who fed him? Oh wait a minute, I mean additional charges since she was already on probation for child abuse. Who was to pick this thing up that night seeing as how her happy a$$ was in jail?
I really hope they aren't done with her either!!
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Posted by ( Zoospey ) on April 28, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Everyone please remember... Mommy was late picking him up from the library because she was in jail... GEEE.. I WONDER why this kid is bad.... Learn from our Mommy... and Daddy is nowhere to be found at all, I am sure!
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Posted by ( inflorida ) on April 28, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ritchie, with that ignorant comment and all your other ones about women and guns, I suspect we will be posting about you and your family soon!!
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Posted by ( crazymonkey ) on April 28, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
holy mother of god i mean a rape at 16 years old i mean this kid neads t be like blown straight to kingdom ha ha ha he will know what its like to be treated like he treated that girl when he gets to jail and drops the sope
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Posted by ( godzilla ) on April 28, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Can we hang him now?
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Posted by ( sames ) on April 28, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Bravo to the HCSO in catching this guy even if it were after the fact. In America it is now unfashionable to defend oneself. What if this young woman was trained in firearms and was carrying one that night? The incident might have been different as she would have caught the rapist for the police! What happens when a rabid animal vicously mauls a human...this young man should be treated as such. I will offer this young woman free firearms instruction as soon as she fully recovers so she may feel confident as before. Ted Sames, President of Sames Instinctive Shooting School
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Posted by ( Sharona ) on April 28, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hang the mother too. "My baby couldn't have done this." What BS. DNA doesn't lie - and the POS mother that brought this to bear on our society should also be removed from said society. Thank you.
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Posted by ( hemi_girl ) on April 28, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hey freedomfighter.....I like your idea of the "wheel of unfortune"....we should all write to our senators and congressman tomorrow with your idea....and we could have bonus rounds for the people who are cruel to animals(put them in a cage with no food or water), people who abuse the elderly (tie them to a wheelchair and put them in the hot sun for a week), men who abandon women as soon as they become pregnant,(hunt them down and castrate them), etc . Do you think Bob Barker would come out of retirement??
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Posted by ( c4all ) on April 28, 2008 at 10:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
They have all this evidence against this boy and so confident he did these acts, yet they still have not charged him. Something is fishy about this.
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Posted by ( somerandomguy ) on April 28, 2008 at 10:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
FRY THIS WORTHLESS PIECE OF HUMAN EXCREMENT!!!
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Posted by ( flaborn ) on April 28, 2008 at 10:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
God Bless us all, I have a 8 month old granddaughter and I want her to be home-schooled (her mother is a teacher) I want to to be her sitter (or another family member, who doesn't molest children) and I never want her let out of our sights. My son is 30 yrs old and even in that amount of time so much has changed. It changes daily. You want them to be independent & experience life but that is not possible anymore. How sad for us all.
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Posted by ( tedh1112 ) on April 28, 2008 at 10:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mom has a rap sheet too. Apple didn't fall too far from the tree.
This is a terrible crime which will adversely alter the lives of the victim and her family ad infinitum.
Prosecution and punishment should be swift on this one.
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Posted by ( picogator ) on April 28, 2008 at 10:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ritchie You are one dumb and stupid a@@. His ovaries??? Is that what you wrote or meant????
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Posted by ( GF ) on April 28, 2008 at 10:52 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
VatoLoco, That explains everything.
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Posted by ( Jen1897 ) on April 28, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
he called him a "demon" seed machine and you guys are concerned with ovaries? LOL
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Posted by ( Timmmmy ) on April 28, 2008 at 11:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why would he do such a thing ?? Let me guess, hmmm, he is an animal!!! But I guess he is just misunderstood, poor fellow. When is everyone going to wake up and see that the juvie justice system is a joke!! I hope everyone enjoys reading about horrific events, there are going to be plenty more of them in the future! Is this the freedom what our families have fought and died for, to protect the rights of criminals, or did they do it to make easier victims?
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Posted by ( secretroses ) on April 28, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is a horrible tragedy. This kid is only 16 years old, something had to happen to mess him up so much. Maybe when the rest of the DNA test comes back it will show it is not him after all. Until then why act like a lunch mob?
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Posted by ( flaborn ) on April 28, 2008 at 11:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
secretroses...it's "lynch mob", jees...get a life. The DNA is there. NOTHING in your life should lead you to these actions. EOS
16, yeah, that's very sad & very scary, but I want my family to be safe from this scum.
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Posted by ( Timmmmy ) on April 28, 2008 at 11:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Because we are hungry for justice, pardon the pun ! Secretroses, if you are goinig to post something at least take the time to look it over it. If someone posted a comment about a "Lynch Mob" I am sure there would be many comments about race. Why can't people just be bad ? Look at the court system if you don't believe me, just about every defendant pleads not guilty. If that's the case, either we have horrible Law Enforcement, or just about all the defendants are lying. Who do you believe, I know who I trust !
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Posted by ( flaborn ) on April 28, 2008 at 11:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Okay, I am going to have to learn to be more funny or sarcastic, although that doesn't always hit the mark. LOL
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Posted by ( Jen1897 ) on April 28, 2008 at 11:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
secretroses
..I'd like a bacon cheeseburger with fries and a lrg choc shake. You should probably write this stuff down.
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Posted by ( ron401k ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Funny, you never hear people from the African American community talking about being calm or seeking justice when the all too often offenders come from their side. Just like you don't see many muslims denounce their own kind who are killing Americans and terrorizing the civilized world. I wonder what the world would be like if we took care of our own.
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Posted by ( flaborn ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
ron401k, You also, are an idiot. Let's play the race card. Where did that come from? What an a## hole. Jen1897 & VatoLoco LOL you are teaching me although I don't always agree with your posts but that what makes it so fun.
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Posted by ( RobKay ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Had this happened at cape Kennedy, secretroses could have handled the launch mob too.
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Posted by ( flaborn ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:19 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
ron401k, maybe that was sarcasm? I didn't get it. See it doesn't always work.
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Posted by ( Timmmmy ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:54 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
VatoLoco, I trust the men and women that we empower to bring these criminals to justice. There are too many thugs out there and way too many defenses for them. What does it take, to show that a person is dangerous ? For most people, it's the daily news articles about crime in their community and for everyone else that does not hear and see what actually goes on, they believe the first person that gets on camera and states their case in the forum of public opinion. People talk about what should be done to people that are convicted of crimes that outrage everyone, but then who are we to reduce ourselves to the level of the criminal. I am for Capital Punishment, don't get me wrong, but it takes everyone to realize that this country system is out of control. Freedom is a great thing, but I am not giving up the safety and security of my family or myself !
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Posted by ( ron401k ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:55 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The race card is played by folks like Al Sharpton. His people are always the victims, however when it's one of their kind, well then silence, look for the next opportunity. I think Bill Cosby is more appropriate when he calls for his people to take responsibility and accountability for their actions which breeds credibility in our society. In this case it's the typical no father, baby making but good for nothing else mother (and not even good at that) resulting in a product (can't use the term human here) known as Kendrick. I'd like to see the press do some reporting and find out who the father is. You'll find garbage breeds garbage.
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Posted by ( belong2 ) on April 29, 2008 at 2:41 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I have a 4 y/o daughter and an 8 week old son and have lived in Florida my whole life as have both my parents. This incident only strengthens the position I've had toward getting the hell out of here. I don't feel it safe to enroll my little girl in the public elementary school down the street (Frost), so she will go to private school instead.
This piece of human excrement probably didn't have the best upbringing in the world but he is a prime example of why my child won't have to sit next to the neglected, emotionally handicapped brood of a crackmother from Progress Village or Clair Mel. When you live in proximty to communities whose family units are in disarray at epedimic proportions one must prepare for the worst. Even the best laid plans often go awry. Valrico/Bloomingdale/Fish Hawk seem far enough away to shield from the depraved spawn of your neighbors but one of Clai Mels finest sons made his way into your local HS and hung out at the local library. I sincerely question how safe this area truly is to raise children. My wife and I were considering buying a home in Fish Hawk to move to a better school district but maybe a total relocation would be best.
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Posted by ( nprvoice ) on April 29, 2008 at 2:59 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
15 and you're out raping...kids grow up so fast these days!
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Posted by ( harpman ) on April 29, 2008 at 3:15 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I feel so guilty. Where did we as a society fail this young man? Not enough WIC benefits? Was Early Head Start or Head Start at fault? How did the Children's Defense Fund miss this boy? Where did the Dodd-Miller Act "Leave No Child Behind" fail here (not to be confused with the education bill of 2001 entitled "No Child left Behind"). Why wasn't Daddy watching little Kendrick while Mommy was in jail? Was Hillary and the rest of the village asleep while Kendrick was learning to maim animals and rape children and young women? Kendrick's mommy couldn't do it alone right? It takes a village and she was in jail. Perhaps Kendrick acted out because he was simply hungry, the School Breakfast program, School Lunch Program, or lacked an After School program? Whatever is was that failed, let us all rejoice that little Kendrick will no longer be deprived of these vast programs and will now get a chance to graduate high school and college while in prison, will be reformed and will someday be released as a functional member of society. Then, those of us riddled with guilt for failing this worthless POS by way of cradle to grave entitlement programs can be at ease for our success. Then again, all this is "pure speculation" as Kendrick's mommy pointed out.
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Posted by ( Timmmmy ) on April 29, 2008 at 6:34 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I hear your pain and I agree with you ! The Thug Life is the thing to be now. Look around, It is different when you and I went to school. These kids are all about respect these days. I grew up knowing that respect is earned not given, and in order to disrespect someone, you have to have some form of respect for them. These THUGS don't know that concept, until they try the right person ! A Man's home is his castle."
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Posted by ( Timmmmy ) on April 29, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
belong2, I agree with you. Our children are given and taught a new thing. How to get out of responsibility ! The role models that we had, are different then what we have now. We respected the character who captured our hearts or took out the army who wanted to kill us. Right now, I see what I am supposed to agree with. From what I see, the Thugs control everything. Control your own neighborhood and don't drive it into the ground. The only thing that separates us from idiots, is that we can communicate !
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Posted by ( Publius ) on April 29, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I must take issue with all the posters who are referring to this guy as an animal. Come on, people, that is a supreme insult to animals! This POS is lower than whale s**t, which is at the bottom of the ocean. He's a slimeball who has no redeeming societal virtues and should be treated accordingly.
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Posted by ( Dawg_In_Tampa ) on April 29, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
harpman - That was an awesome post. Funny, in a sad kind of way. You did a great job of pointing out that,scum is scum. No federal/state program or handout is going to fix that. I believe someone put it best when they said, trash breeds trash.
I feel sorry for this kid in the sense that; he was really destined to lose from day 1. His fate was sealed when his parents created him. But at the end of the day, I'm sure he knew what he did was wrong. So now he's going to have to pay the price.
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Posted by ( rocknroll ) on April 29, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Yes I would like to know where good ole Al Sharpton is now also. The POS opens his ignorant lowlife mouth any other time. What a piece of garbage he is, he should truly be shot and am surpirsed someone hasnt done it yet. Probably not worth the bullet the scumbag.
Good job to the police who worked quick on this. I know they had roadblocks all over bloomingdale on the weekend. And I hope he rots in jail for the rest of his natural life. As for the girl, god bless and I hope she doesnt remember it, may be better for her.
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Posted by ( DaddyLutz ) on April 29, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
In other cases like the boy who blew a kiss to a cop, and other mischeviuos crimes I think the parent should be held responsible. But in cases like this I really believe this kid was born with this demon. Although his mom did defend his animal cruelty charge. How horrible. This is such a gruesome crime for such a young kid. Whoever said he probably was sexually abused is probably right. He'll get his, they don't take to kindly to this kinda stuff in the bing!
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Posted by ( RedRose111 ) on April 29, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I wonder how many more unsolved rapes will now be solved. Sixteen years old & already a serial rapist?!?! This thug is obviously a mysogonist by the evidence of his crimes. Boy, momma must have really abused her little Kenny for him to HATE her so!!! Thank God he's being taken off the streets now. Can you imagine what havoc he would wreak in 10-15 years??? To c4all: Although the police have much evidence they probably want to get "all of their ducks in a row" before charging him due to the Statute of Limitations. Once charged, the clock starts ticking on prosecution. I'm sure the police want to cover all their bases so that due to a mistake or technicality on their part the POS walks. I'm certain he'll have a great Pro Bono defense team.
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Posted by ( GF ) on April 29, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
harpman, I like your thinking. I nominate you for "post of the day".
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Posted by ( commentcava ) on April 29, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why do we have to bring race into this issue? Kendrick is a bad person, true, and probably the product of a bad mother, but don't blame the african-american community for this person anymore than the white community is responsible for John Wayne Gacy or Ted Bundy. Apparently, some people are just born to be evil, and no parent wants to believe that their baby has grown up to be evil. Pray for the victim that she recovers fully and is able to lead a full, healthy life. Pray that things like this never happen again. But do NOT blame any ethnic group for the actions of a single individual.
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Posted by ( Publius ) on April 29, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
RedRose111, the time limit to which you are referring is "speedy trial", not the Statute of Limitations. Once formal charges are filed the State has 174 days in which to bring the accused to trial in a felony case, 90 days in a misdemeanor case. The Statute of Limitations refers to the time in which a case must be commenced once the crime occurs or is found out, whichever is later. There is no SOL problem here.
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Posted by ( RedRose111 ) on April 29, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Oops, my bad. : P Thanks, Publius, for the correction.
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Posted by ( ernino ) on April 29, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
the problem isn't lack of child care, after school programs,medical,food ect. 2 much already, its lack of parental care.. and its only going to get worse.
We don't give a @#$# about our kids. We care more about the car we drive and the designer handbag we sport. We spend more time working to have the best that we leave our kids in the hands of people who don't love them. We start them off in day care at 6 weeks old and we expect them to be well adjusted. Come on we take better care of our dogs. if this is the best we can do for our kids we should all be ashamed of ourselves. Kids 2day suck bcuz we parents suck. stay home with ur kids get 2 know them and love them and maybe we can stop this #$%%$# from happening but as long as we tell our kids mommy has a career be it a criminal,prof, drugs as long as our kids come last what do we expect???? I bought my son a $165.00 pair of air jordans and a matching shirt so now Im a good mom give me a break!! WE NEED WAKE UP NOW THIS IS ONLY THE BGINNING!!!!!
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Posted by ( woody ) on April 29, 2008 at 9 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
ron401k. Yeah, let us take a look at dad ... if we can find him. I doubt he could be found at the library researching the parenting aisle of books. Did I say library? "Like Father, Like Son" could be a clue here.
And I doubt he is currently gainfully emplyed in some job for more than a year or so.
Someone look into this, please.
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Posted by ( mr_hanky ) on April 29, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
harpman, I couldn't agree more. When I was working in an ER, I would have the "I gets a check" mommas tell me with pride that their welfare check was more than what I made in a month. I guess I shouldn't have had enough self respect to actually go and get a job.
Dear Kenny - kind, huggable, gentle, goofy Kenny - is what we get from the Entitlement mentality. How many bleeding hearts who believe in the cradle to grave nanny state would be willing to take in little Kenny and his worthless breeder, I mean mom? Where are they now to offer hugs, checks, and hand-outs? Still think the Manson Family here can be saved? I didn't think so.
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Posted by ( whasup ) on April 29, 2008 at 9:48 a.m.
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Posted by ( rn01 ) on April 29, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
HCSO, you do a crappy job patrolling our streets in Brandon (i.e., not pulling over red light runners even when you're sitting there at the red light) but kudos to you for catching this scumbag.
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Posted by ( Publius ) on April 29, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Not a problem, RedRose111, always happy to help.
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Posted by ( CSCRiverview ) on April 29, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
In response to ERINO: You've hit the nail on the head. While I am a working mom, my husband and I have always made sure that our family was together in all of our freetime-as a family.
Each of my kids has a sport to which they are 100% devoted, and we all go to each other's activities and support each other. It has kept my kids entirely on the straight & narrow.
In my neighborhood, there are two other famililes that I can directly compare to mine-our kids have grown up together in the same neighborhood, have gone to the same schools, etc. These two other families both have kids that have been set free to roam the streets since they were about 5 years old. Now these teenagers are out all hours of the night, look and act like thugs, and always seem to walk really close to the edge between mischief and crime.
I believe that our nation has lost it's sense of values. The only things we consider valuable anymore have to have high-end brand-name tags.
At least my kids know what's really important.
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Posted by ( signit4bes ) on April 29, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
What's wrong with FL Dept of Corrections? Try this one for size...
Inexplicable
Prison reformer James McDonough revealed in February the extent of the mess he inherited when taking over the Florida Department of Corrections in 2006 (40 officials charged with crimes, 90 fired, 280 demoted) and said much of the problem centered on inter-department softball. Even though former officials had admitted to contract kickbacks and frequent taxpayer-funded "orgies," McDonough said, "I cannot explain how big an obsession softball had become. People were promoted on the spot after a softball game ... to high positions in the department because they were able to hit a softball out of the park ... The connection between softball and the parties and the corruption and the beatings (of prisoners) was greatly intertwined." [CNN, 2-11-08]
(from News of the Weird by Chuck Shepard)
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Posted by ( mleilanir ) on April 29, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I am tired of seeing everyone quoted as saying what a nice young man this punk is. Apparently thet don't know a thing about him. HE IS A RAPIST!! Thus equivalent to a l-o-s-e-r!!!
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Posted by ( kellieB ) on April 29, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Darwin creates another one.
Animal cruelty first and then a graduate to human depravity.
Granny comes to the rescue with a shrieking " its not him, hes such a nice boy, he wouldnt harm a fly"...well Granny, hes the kind of monster who would kill you and eat you....yup, your spawn is a bad seed.
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Posted by ( time4change ) on April 29, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well, well, well. So right-to-lifers, still believe abortion is a bad idea? How much better would our community be if we had paid this worthless POS mother to abort darling Kenny? It seems to me that it would have been a bargain at any price. I'm sure Kenny's victims would agree.
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Posted by ( situp ) on April 29, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
As usual it is the fault of everyone else around the guy and some not around the guy.
Obviously the mom did not teach the kid to be a rapist!
It is all of our responsibilities to the best job we can to raise our children but they have to make decisions based on right and wrong on their own! This guy is old enough to know right and wrong (and apparently has a few screws loose in there somewhere) but chose to do his own thing regardless of others.
It is now the job of the judicial system to put this looser away permanently so that he is never a mencae to society again!
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Posted by ( whasup ) on April 29, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
ERNINO, I hope you interview me for a job now that my kids are in college. I left the work force 12 years ago to raise my kids. Now no one believes my degrees are good enough since I was out of work all those years. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
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Posted by ( hope2008 ) on April 29, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
sterilizin him will not help ... rape is about power over another human been ..rapist will rape with anything.. any object... I agreed with the person that said there is probably sexual / physical abuse done to this young man in his past. Does it excuse what he did ??? NO... NO .. NO.. My prayers are with the all the victims ( since it appears to be more than one ) and the family.. she will never get over this..
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Posted by ( midnightone ) on April 29, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I was a stay at home mom for my children. I actually had "friends" pity me because they felt I didn't get to do enough stuff {go out partying} or buy things for myself. My rewards were seeing my child roll over for the first time, say mommy first, take their first steps....yeah...I really missed out on a lot!!! When they started school they were actually more advanced then children who were in daycare and they were in honors classes throughout their school years.By the way, they are both productive hard working mommy's themselves. One get's to be a stay at home mom but the other has to work but I get to watch my grandbabies. No daycare here.Family is much more important.My children and grandchildren have learned respect but most importantly love.
Seems like this POS didn't get anything from mom except her criminal gene.
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Posted by ( justliloleme ) on April 29, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
honestly, his age, race, and family background do not make any difference to me. he is a monster and since it is proven, he should be destroyed. the only thing his age determines is that since he is young he will more than likely continue his ways in the future if not stopped now.
i pray for the victim (the real victim) and her family and friends.
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Posted by ( Tampagirl ) on April 29, 2008 at 11:26 a.m.
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Posted by ( kellieB ) on April 29, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wow, all these bleeding hearts!..."where did we fail him?"...how did he fall through the cracks?....bah humbug.
Some people are born bad, some are born stupid and some are born bad AND stupid.
He was and is a bad seed...he was a bubble in his daddies sperm, an abberation, a psychopath.
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Posted by ( motorist ) on April 29, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
He was framed. The police planted the evidence. He would not do something like that, etc.....
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Posted by ( ron401k ) on April 29, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hope2008, Sterilizing will help. It will prevent breeding these kinds of cockaroaches. We do it to dogs and cats, these folks aren't a higher form of life from them. If we are going to pass out welfare checks to anyone for more than 18 months or anyone with more than two kids whamo. Stop the breeding and you'll stop the bleeding.
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Posted by ( belong2 ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The nature vs nurture debate will probably roll on for the rest of time. Was he abused? Was he exposed to or did something happen in utero? Did a childhood of turmoil mess him up? Maybe just tainted DNA from the start, or combination of some of the above. Regardless, there is an 18 y/o young lady laying in a TGH ICU bed traumatized raped and beaten, who will never be the same again. Her future is permanently altered/scarred because of what this pile of crap did to her and apparently she is not alone and who knows if there are other victims out there.
Oh the forensic psychiatrist will have their time with him eventually,maybe they can sort out what could make a humman being commit acts like these on others. I'm sure the conclusions will be multifactorial.
I've worked in healthcare for some time now and I am always taken back at how many dysfunctional people have large numbers of children. Not families mind you but children and seem to have no regard for the manner in which to provide a stable home or nurturing atmosphere for them. Many women continue to drink, smoke weed, use cocaine, and just generally party throughout their high risk pregnancy with zero regard for the soul they are bringing into this world, and I find it downright sickening. I often feel that the wrong group of people are having children in this country, that the wrong proliferation of genetic material is being produced for our future generations. I don't know how many children the boy's mother has or what kind of a home environment she attempted to provide but I will bet anything it wasn't very nurturing. I'm not saying Kendrick wasn't old enough to make his own decisions but that his parents bear some responsibility in these horrific acts as well.
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Posted by ( c_jay ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
commentcava,
I doubt that something like this will ever happen to the victim again. Chances are, she'll not talk on her cell phone again next time when approaching the library to drop off some books with some 'weird man' sitting there, will she?
And who knows? Maybe she will since she won't remember a thing (as some of you are so sure about).
Now, I said it before, I'll say it again, the retired FBI agent clearly pointed out (the obvious) that criminals see the vulnerability in people being on the cell phone.
NOwhere did the FBI agent say she deserved. And neither did I. I agreed with the retired FBI agent. She was vulnerable.
She should have listened to her instincts instead of disregarding the potential danger. Doesn't make her guilty, only made her a victim.
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Posted by ( Aquaholic ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I agree Ron401K, Castrate his genitals, everything, cut it all off, and he will not have anything to put anywhere!
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Posted by ( danrome1 ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Harpman,
Brilliant post!!! You hit the nail on the head. (Unfortunately, it is all true).
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Posted by ( ebgirl4 ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
c_jay You are insensitive and ignorant. I'm sure I'm not the only one wishing to never see such a retarded post from you again. Talking on her cell phone did not make Kendrick Morris a heinous beast, talking on her cell phone did not make the library a dangerous place, talking on her cell phone did not make her a victim. If anything talking on her cell phone saved her life because when her parent showed up on the scene they scared the little B@st@rd off. So again, I will point out that you are wrong and ignorant. This stupid POS would probably have done the same thing if she "looked him in the eye", "wasn't on her cell", and had a gun right in her hand. He is demented and her cell phone does not change that. The cell phone only got friends and family on the scene quicker and helped catch the dumb perp who didn't think they could pull his prints off the phone.
You may not have said that she deserved it, but you are implying that it was her ignorance that made her a target, um no. How about she was prey just for being near this scumbag. So lets focus on the REAL REASON why this happened, imbreeding, tainted DNA, poor parenting, crack-baby syndrome, or maybe he is just plain demented since birth. No more stupid conclusions please.
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Posted by ( mr_hanky ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
It's just so hard to believe sometimes how we as a society have let things get so dismal. And, ERNINO, you're absolutely right - there's a serious lack of real parenting out there. I'm a stay-at-home mom to my 2 kids. Even though my children's father and I are going through a divorce, neither of us wants to see our girls go to any kind of daycare. That's why we have agreed that I'll still remain at home with the kids even after our divorce is final. The proper upbringing of our kids is more important to us than making me work outside of the home. I know I'm more fortunate than most, but it makes me sad to think that even parents with unlimited resources are more interested in themselves than their kids. To them, sacrificing their own wants in favor of their child doesn't come into play.
I've seen children from families with meagar resources who are the best behaved and well-mannered kids you'd ever want to meet. Then I've also seen kids from very well-to-do families who are absolute monsters. The difference is all in the parenting, or rather, the lack of it. If we can get back to actually respecting family values and families in general, however quaint and old-fashioned that may be, perhaps little Demon Spawn like Kendrick Morris will turn up with less frequency.
But I doubt that.
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Posted by ( Brenda ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Interesting. A 16 yr old has sex with a teacher and many posters call him "lucky"...since sex is a meaningless act of fun for them. Yet, a 16 yr old rapes and many wonder "how could he have gotten so messed up?" Gee, ya think the way society views sex has anything at all to do with it? (not to mention non-existent parenting.)
BOTH 16 yr olds in BOTH situations are now messed up in the head. One at the hands of a female pedophile, one at the hands of horrible parent(s) and a morally sick society. Additionally, an 18 yr old girl is now suffering terribly as well. (I notice the teacher was the only one smiling in either case.)
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Posted by ( princessHaven ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is a tragedy that could possibly have been prevented if this young man had received help after his first brush with the law for animal cruelty. Research has shown that animal cruelty is a stepping stone to rape & murder. I fault the mother, who must be a major part of the problem - convicted of child abuse, making excuses for her son instead of getting him help when he needed it (apparently). Sounds like the perp has major anger issues with women.
God Bless the poor victims. Now let's try to get to the perps when they are young & still able to be saved!
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Posted by ( jeaniney ) on April 29, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
They didn't think Bundy could do it, either.
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Posted by ( altedbaseball ) on April 29, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
this "lunch mob" want TACO BELL.
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Posted by ( luvhandlz ) on April 29, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Cut his head off!
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Posted by ( mamasway ) on April 29, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
What happened to parent s being responsible for the childs actions.. If this mother would have paid attention to her son instead of just letting him sit at the library for hours on end maybe he would not have done this? I am not saying that it is always the parents fault for what there child does wrong but pay more attention to your children know where they are at all times. I have three teenagers and I know where they are at all times. I have given all of them cell phones w/ cameras and GPS tracking so if I call them and something doesn't seem right I will trace their phone and then sometimes I'LL say you have to take a picture of where you are and send it to me now and if you don't your grounded. Today there is technology that allows you to keep track of your children even when you can not be with them. I think that this kid needs serious help. The mother needs to be locked up with her son for not paying attention. That is what is wrong with these kids today parents have kids and don't think they have to pay attention to them, If they started punishing the parents for the stuff the kids did wrong they would start paying more attention and correcting their children, When I was a kid we use to have a problem with teens being out pass ten or eleven at night and they pasted a curfew law that if you were caught out after curfew your parents were fined 500 dollars, if you got caught it was only once cause your parent took you to the wood shed and took that 500 dollars out of your A--
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Posted by ( Stones ) on April 29, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why was this kid at Bloomingdale HS? Clair Mel is not zoned to go there. Was it a change of placement? Special assignment? I'd like to know.
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Posted by ( bafish ) on April 29, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I love how the post from people accusing others of being liberal, are the same people talking about some people are born stupid or bad are the same people who support No child left behind a program that basically makes no room for kids who are slow, have behavior or mental problems, or are just plain dumb. Race is not a issue violence is color blind it happens to people all over the world everyday.
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Posted by ( stp308 ) on April 29, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
send this man up to Alaska give him a knife a book of matches and leave him on a island. if he wants to be a predator let him find out what it means to be hunted.
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Posted by ( c_jay ) on April 29, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
ebgirl4
your insults are way out of line (and so are your assumptions).
But that’s ok, I completely understand – no really I do.
None of this changes the fact of what the FBI agent said and with which I agree.
Whether you like it or not.
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Posted by ( ebgirl4 ) on April 29, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
And I disagree with the "FBI agent" as well. I don't care who you are, or how high up in the rankings you are, if you don't make sense, you don't make sense. Read the story, cell phone saved her life. Bottom line. I'm thankful she was on her cell, because she may not be here now if she hadn't been.
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Posted