A Sick, Twisted, Sad Story....also known as - Where Was Help?

I promised I would write this story...though I have to admit, it made me ill when I read about it.  If you don't know the name Christian Choate, I hope you will remember it when you are through reading.  This is a sickening story about people that should never be allowed near other individuals, much less a child.  It's also a story of Child Protective Services doing what they do often - complain of being overworked and having far too many cases, while failing to do what their name implies - protect.  It's a story of law enforcement being an oxymoron - they enforced nothing.  Quite honestly, the 'System' we have come to expect to be an 'Epic Fail' did not disappoint.  They failed beyond measure and, sadly, it cost a 13-year old boy his life.  To think this even goes on in the world is shocking.  To think that we won't consider 'An Eye for An Eye' as punishment is even worse. 

Christian Choate went to live with his father and stepmother after his biological mother gave up custody of he and his sister.  She had left the father, Riley Choate, claiming he was abusive.  Why would this woman willingly give up her two children to a man she claimed was abusive.  Yeah, I agree - problem #1.  This boy was kept in a dog cage, savagely beaten, rarely fed, and chained to a bed frame standing on end.  He was kept this way, unbathed and naked (except for a diaper) constantly from the age of 11-13.  Twice a week he was given a shockingly cold shower which would make him scream...which, of course, led to more beatings.  When he wouldn't eat, the sister was told to punish him - she'd strike him and, by her own admission, choke him until he turned blue.  Sick yet?  Just wait.  The day before he died, he would not eat and, when his father heard this, punched him in the chest and head repeatedly, then threw him back in the dog cage.  The last day of his life, as he lay unresponsive in the cage, the sister was told to give him CPR...which she did with an air mattress pump.  The father and stepmother then put him in two garbage bags and buried him in a shallow grave with lime and concrete.  They put a Bible on his chest, too.  How thoughtful.  He had been dead and gone two years before authorities were even alerted to the disappearance.  Search 'Christian Choate' and read the full articles.  You'll become physically ill.

The bigger picture questions I have are - where the hell was Child Protective Services?  We'll never know.  confidentiality provisions in Indiana prohibit them from releasing any information.  The Police?  They will not comment on active investigations.  No one was ever called to find out what happened to this boy, nor did they ever make it a priority.  He was dead for two years...TWO years...before anyone knew of it, and then it was only because the mother was finally alerted by the sister.  Here's my suggestion for these people - first, find two cages.  I know some of you are saying it wouldn't be right and that would be cruel and unusual punishment.  You think Christian would feel that way?  If we cannot protect the children and use some damn common sense, who will?  We let these things happen more often than we care to admit.  Children are molested, attacked, beaten, and killed and we always do the same thing - we shake our heads, say, "What a shame," maybe even cry a little for an unknown child.  Enough already!  We have to ACT!  The system, my friends, is broken.  Prisons are overcrowded and we have no room?  Build more and put people to work.  We can get rid of a few lawmakers who are squandering our monies and build jails.  We can actually use programs designed to help kids and hire more caseworkers.  Better yet, when we DO hire caseworkers, let's make sure they aren't just working for a cushy government job.  Let's find people who will actually CARE!  I am physically sick...and tired...of people working for agencies like Child Services that do nothing but tell me how busy they are...all while filing the paperwork when a child gets killed and forgetting them.  It is unforgivable, yet here we are.  You'll read this tonight and think it's a sad story.  You'll tell someone about it tomorrow.  You might even share it with someone in a postion that could affect change.  Ultimately, though, nothing will happen.  We are not united and there are far more pressing issues.  The deficit and healthcare.  Well, here's my little nod toward fixing healthcare - why don't we just let these people loose on our youth today?  That way, we won't have to worry about healthcare - they'll kill the kids for us.  What?  Sound too radical and turn your stomach?  Mine, too...so what say we collectively find a way to fix this and change things.  I'll say it again - Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world.  It's the only thing that ever has........

Until next time........