Posted on 07/10/2005 5:34:13 AM PDT by Kaslin
A 14-year-old boy was charged Thursday with involuntary manslaughter in the death of his 5-year-old stepsister, who died last month after becoming trapped inside a locked, heavy-load washing machine at a Virginia coin-operated laundry.
The boy, whose name is not being released because of his age, was charged after a three-week police investigation.
Chilhowie Police Chief Dwayne Sheffield, who heads a small police force of only five officers, said his department worked tirelessly in attempt to figure out how the "most horrible" event unfolded the night of June 17.
Rebecca "Hope" Wagoner, her brother and mother Rebecca Billings Wagoner were the only ones inside the Village Laundry that night, Sheffield said. Hope's mother left to make a phone call outside, leaving the two children inside alone.
When the mother returned, she found her 30-pound daughter spinning inside the machine filled with water.
Billings Wagoner told police she saw no emergency stop button or electrical cord to stop the machine, so she smashed a rock through the glass door in an attempt to save her child.
Sheffield said officers and rescue workers found the girl unconscious when they arrived about 9:30 p.m. and water from the machine covered the laundry floor.
The girl was whisked to a Tennessee hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after. The autopsy report released by the Virginia Medical Examiner's Office listed asphyxiation as the cause of death, due to the girl's confinement in the water-filled machine.
Police reviewed security camera videos from the store and fingerprints on money inside the machine, and interviewed the washer's manufacturer, Pellerin Milnor Corporation in Louisiana. Under normal operation, the Automatic Washer-Extractor spins 451 revolutions at high speed and requires 11 quarters to run. Once the washer begins, the door is locked until the cycle ends 31 minutes later.
Investigators initially speculated the machine had malfunctioned and that the 5-year-old had climbed inside and the cycle began on its own. Later, the investigation shifted toward the family, with police focusing on the stepbrother's actions while he was left unattended.
Social Services removed five children from the Wagoner's custody and placed them with other family members during the investigation. Police were also considering charges of neglect against Billings Wagoner, but none have been filed.
Sheffield would not detail the police findings, but he said the investigation was complete.
"It would really be detrimental to the prosecution of this case to comment further on statements or give out information regarding the case or investigation," Sheffield said. "As far as the decision to file charges, I'll leave that for the prosecutor."
Calls to the Smyth County prosecutor, the Wagoner family, and their attorney were not returned.
Currently, the 14-year-old is awaiting arraignment in a juvenile facility. Under Virginia law, prosecutors could opt to charge the 14-year-old as an adult, but no information has been released about whether they will do so. The teen could face 10 years in jail if tried and convicted as an adult.
Just damn.
When the mother returned, she found her 30-pound daughter spinning inside the machine filled with water.
... Under normal operation, the Automatic Washer-Extractor spins 451 revolutions at high speed and requires 11 quarters to run.
The brother just happens to have the required 11 quarters and is able to force a 5 year old into the washer without anyone noticing. Something does not add up in this case.
It stinks to high-heaven. This has whitewashing & PC censorship all over it.
A fourteen yearold with $3.25 burning a hole in his pocket decides 'washing' his step-sister is a logical decision?! God almighty.
Evil is getting younger and younger these days...
I think that's why they fingerprinted the change machine and reviewed the video surv tapes..... and why he's in a juvenile detention center. :)
The brother could have put a five dollar bill in the change machine, and gotten all the quarters he needed very quickly.
As for getting the girl in the machine, I seriously doubt force was required. All you have to do it make it a "go for a ride" game. It's not that hard to manipulate a five-year-old who trusts you, especially if you're promising fun.
BINGO! The kid in the washing maching having a great old time is a stock comedic situation. Any kid at fourteen has seen the gag a dozen time already. A five year old is always game for fun. What they didn't count on is the door locking on them...
In addition the boy was probably just stupid, not malicious. I talked by little brother into doing some pretty stupid things. One time I convinced him to tie a rope to himself and that I would lower him out of our second floor bedroom windows. Naturally I couldn't hold his full weight and he virtually fell to the ground. Luckily he wasn't hurt.
The boy probably thought he could open up the door at any time.
Wouldn't it be $2.75?
I think he could get her in the machine without much trouble, (tell her it would be fun like a ride at the amusement park , who knows) it's the 11 quarters that I don't get. Unless the mother just had all her change in a jar or something and left it while she went outside.
It's tragic. I hope they had evidence of neglect before they removed the rest of her children from the home.
I'm an artist.
According to the original report someone had tried to use the mashine before but it did not work, so the person moved on to the next mashine
I'm sure that the in-store video cameras have provided the police with more than enough information to put the whole sad sequence of events together.
DO IT!!
It doesn't mean he put her in the machine. What happend I think was they both played in the laundromat. The girl climbed into the washer and the 14 year old locked the door without thinking of the concequenses
That is what I think
"It doesn't mean he put her in the machine"
No, if he convinced her it would fun, she would climb in on her own. The door doesn't lock until money is put in and the wash cycle begins.
I don't think he should be charged with manslaughter. Unless he's abused his other siblings and they have reason to believe he intentionally meant to hurt her.
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