Baby Sitter Arrested, Accused Of Witchcraft, Satanism

Iowa Channel ^ | 11/14/03

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Des Moines police filed a criminal charge in a bizarre case which they say involves a baby sitter, two 8-year-old girls, witchcraft and alcohol.

Melissa Fernandez, 20, of Des Moines, is accused of giving 8-year-old twins alcohol, and providing a sharp instrument for one of the girls to cut herself in a ritual to become blood sisters. Fernandez is charged with one count of child endangerment.

Tina Kish told NewsChannel 8 she was shocked by what her daughters told her about the times they stayed with Fernandez, a family friend and baby sitter who also lives in the Park Ridge Apartment complex on Indianola Avenue.

Kish said the girls told her that Fernandez served them alcohol, and got one of them drunk. The girls also said Fernandez taught them things about witchcraft, took them to an abandoned building Fernandez told them is haunted, and allowed one girl to cut herself as part of a blood ritual.

According to police reports, Fernandez encouraged one of the girls to cut her arm and commingle blood with her.

From her jail cell, Fernandez did not deny the alcohol accusation.

"I had been drinking a little bit that night. And they pretty much wanted to try it, like kids always do," Fernandez said.

"I can completely understand the charges for distributing alcohol to a minor, and I will fess up to that, but anything else I completely do not understand," Fernandez said.

Fernandez said she simply showed the girls the movie "Practical Magic," which is about witches, and the twin's satanism claims are a misunderstanding.

"I just wanted the girls to have fun, you know, because they had watched that movie and pretty much they wanted to mimic some of the stuff of that," Fernandez said.

"I had cut myself. I do that kind of out of habit now. And she just kind of copied me," Fernandez said.

Fernandez admitted she studies satanism as a religion, but denies she practices witchcraft.

Fernandez appeared before a Polk County judge Friday morning. Her bond is set at $6,500.

The judge issued a no contact order, meaning Fernandez must stay away from minors.

Fernandez is out of jail.

[jocon307]

It's almost too wierd, but you know, just damn! maybe literally in this case.

[ChemistCat]

Anybody who is cutting on herself has some real mental problems. It's usually pretty darn obvious. Hello, Mom....this is a family friend, and you had no clue she wasn't a fit custodian for your babies?

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

"I had been drinking a little bit that night. And they pretty much wanted to try it, like kids always do," Fernandez said.

Geez. Thank goodness the babysitter wasn't into bestiality, then... :)

[netmilsmom]

And people thing I'M weird that I do not let anyone watch my children!

[ChemistCat]

Anybody????

No offense, please, but if you don't know anybody at all that you'd trust with your babies, how did you get the courage to bring children into the world? That's sad--the world can't be that bad, that bleak. And...they have to learn to deal with different people. You want to protect them from people who will harm them, but it's maybe not a good idea to protect them from all people who will challenge or even annoy them. You learn people skills by being around people, after all.

When I was growing up, a lot of people took care of and loved me. I gained a lot from teachers, parents of friends, other significant adults who took an interest in me and were good to me. It made up somewhat for not having good grandparents. It only augmented having good parents!

Nobody MOLESTED me or mistreated me, of course. I'm sure that's because my parents supervised and used discretion in the matter--without my being aware of that. So I wasn't scared of people. That's a good thing, isn't it?

When I was a young teenager, having conflict with my mom, having other adults to talk to about my problems was a useful pressure valve. It didn't mean I didn't love and trust my mom--but it means she didn't, and wasn't, and couldn't be all things to me at that point. She never needed to be all I needed. She was secure enough that I loved her and she loved me that she could let another adult become important to me, become a mentor to me, and guide me a little, at a time when I was being a contrary little cuss who wouldn't listen to my parents. The phase passed, as it always does, with no permanent damage done to anyone.

It doesn't take a village but it doesn't take a hermitage either....

[gcruse]

I prefer a little more intelligent witches, myself. And any witch that thinks twins need to mix their blood to be blood sisters must have got her biology in a fundamentalist prayer meeting.

[concerned about politics]

She was no doubt raised by the liberal village.
"We are legion."

[WorkingClassFilth]

"Fernandez did not deny the alcohol accusation."

"Fernandez said she simply showed the girls the movie "Practical Magic," which is about witches, and the twin's satanism claims are a misunderstanding."

"I just wanted the girls to have fun, you know, because they had watched that movie and pretty much they wanted to mimic some of the stuff of that," Fernandez said."

"I had cut myself. I do that kind of out of habit now. And she just kind of copied me," Fernandez said.

"Fernandez admitted she studies satanism as a religion, but denies she practices witchcraft."

"Fernandez is out of jail."

Sure, yeah, uh-huh. Hey, I need a babysitter from time to time. I'd trust this Democrat, wouldn't you?

[Dianna]

Nobody MOLESTED me or mistreated me, of course. I'm sure that's because my parents supervised and used discretion in the matter--without my being aware of that. So I wasn't scared of people. That's a good thing, isn't it?

Very few people are allowed to watch my children. I've only used a teenaged babysitter once (my kids were probably 3 and 9 at the time). All babysitters (aside from the teen) have been very close, adult, woman friends of mine.

My parents were very careful too. Much more careful than anyone else I knew in the 70's. My brother was molested by a family member. Aside from my parents, there aren't many family members I'd be happy with as sitters either.

[ChemistCat]

I took my kids out of public school because this lets me pick the adults who influence them. So I know what you mean. I guess I could still be wrong....

...But everybody who works with my kids now is someone I am pretty sure I can trust, and that's the best we can get!

[netmilsmom]

I have to say, I live 200 miles away from my family. My parents are gone. His mother is a flake. I haven't known anyone here long enough to let them watch my girls. My one trusted friend in MI moved to LA. Then we moved north.

You too may think I'm crazy, but I have one shot with my children. If I make a bad decision, it's for life. And what is so bad about being with your kids anyway? I love my girls and if we can't do it as a family, why do it? Sooner, more than later, they grow up and are into their whole lives. If the only difference I make in the world is teaching two little girls that when one has a child, that child is the first priority, I feel I have done ok.

[ChemistCat]

I don't think you're crazy. I'm just sad for you.

We all need a break now and then, and when we're surrounded by people we can't trust to help us if we need it, that just stinks. :-(

It shouldn't be like that, and if they would just kill everybody who molests or deliberately harms a kid as soon as they catch them, in a generation or two our race would be purged of this, and the kids could run free again.

[netmilsmom]

>>It shouldn't be like that, and if they would just kill everybody who molests or deliberately harms a kid as soon as they catch them, in a generation or two our race would be purged of this, and the kids could run free again.<<

I love you, want to babysit for me? ;-).
Really, don't feel sorry for me. My girls are so sweet and darling, I choose to take them everywhere. If you could be with them for 1/2 an hour you would see why.
Netmilsdad feels the same way. If one of us need a break, we have each other to watch the girls. He is in CA seeing his siblings, last weekend I ran to Cleveland for a birthday party. Things work because we have a solid two parent family.
Trust me, I would love to have them grow up as by Dad did, with Aunt So and So on the same street or as I did with all my Mom's friends and their kids right in the same neighborhood, but it's not that way for us. God knows, we could live in Alaska and live as we are.

[Old Professer]

A tatooist who has himself as a client has no one to complain to.

[ChemistCat]

I know someone who's about to become a single divorced mom of 4. I guess you could say she's been a "single parent" all along since the bar steward she's married to hasn't ever helped, and has taken out his anger against her on the kids. I don't know how she's managed, how she will manage, or how she'll keep the kids safe, without a partner/parent. I'm surrounded by single moms who must need to take terrible chances to get by. Let's just count our blessings, I guess.

[ChemistCat]

THAT is a profound observation.

[freeangel]

The ACLU should be right on this case--freedom of religious expression and all.

[freeangel]

oops-I forgot the sarcasm sign again.

[Dianna]

I haven't known anyone here long enough to let them watch my girls. My one trusted friend in MI moved to LA. Then we moved north.

I totally understand what you mean! We got very lucky in that we moved to an area where we already knew one couple. It was just coincidence, but they had been good friends and I don't know what I'd do without them!

The sole reason my youngest never had a bottle was because I never left the freakin' house! We had moved to a new area when he was only a couple months old. After living in Navy housing, with people all over and moms home all day, I thought I'd lose my mind!