Malnourished boy rescued at buffet

Orlando Sentinel ^ | 11-21-07 | Amy L. Edwards

[atomic conspiracy]

The inside of his ears had been burned with cigarettes. He was forced to drink shampoo. >His caretakers bent two of his toes to the point that an amputation may be necessary, according to reports.

When a Westgate Resorts administrative assistant spotted the 7-year-old trying to serve himself cereal at the buffet in their Osceola County sales center earlier this month, the first thing she noticed was his trembling arms. They were too thin. His eyes were sunken.

"He was really skinny," said Westgate employee Hilda Berrios. "He looked like one of those kids you see on TV." "As I focused, looking on him, I noticed the bruises and the cuts. I just kept noticing one thing after another. I was like, this isn't right."

Berrios contacted her manager, who contacted Westgate security, which called the Sheriff's Office.

The Department of Children and Families on Tuesday said Berrios and two other employees -- Steve Siegel and Humberto Garcia -- likely saved the boy's life.

The boy, who was alone when Berrios spotted him, had a large bruise on his temple and dried blood on his head. His legs were black and blue. Berrios asked the boy if he knew where his mom was. He didn't. She asked if he could spot her in the room. "There was no one," she said. "No one."

Two Baker County women who cared for the boy, Suzette Renee Stevenson, 45, and her girlfriend, Jamie Lynn Martin, 26, are accused of leaving the child in a car while they toured Westgate's time-shares Nov. 6. Each woman was arrested on charges of aggravated child abuse. Martin is being held at the Columbia County Jail, and Stevenson is jailed in Baker County.

[atomic conspiracy]

As you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner today, please remember to thank Hilda Berrios, Steve Siegel, and Humberto Garcia for this child's rescue.

[krb]

It’s good to see the system apparently working in a case, instead of being used by nosy busy-bodies or divorcing spouses who want to screw their exes.

[1rudeboy]

If you read between the lines, this is one smart kid. His parents ditch him in the car, and he goes to look for food.

[Southerngl]

Wow, 37 pounds??

My six year old weighs 38 lbs and she is a dwarf (size of nearly 3 1/2 yr old), I can’t imagine how thin that normal size boy must have been.

Poor thing. Can I please please put my cigs out in these women’s ears. Or other cavities?

[Southerngl]

If you read between the lines, this is one smart kid. His parents ditch him in the car, and he goes to look for food.
******************

Yes, pleaded to stay in car, claimed he didn’t feel well, used opportunity to get food he wouldn’t get otherwise.

Let’s get this boy healthy, therapy and promote him to a nice rank in the military. He seems like he would be a natural. (I’m not being sarcastic. He might be a natural born warrior)

[gusopol3]

"Suzette Renee Stevenson, 45, and her girlfriend, Jamie Lynn Martin, 26"

His parents ditch him

euphemism?

[Fresh Wind]

If you read between the lines, this is one smart kid. His parents ditch him in the car, and he goes to look for food.

Parents?

"Two Baker County women who cared for the boy, Suzette Renee Stevenson, 45, and her girlfriend, Jamie Lynn Martin, 26..."

[1rudeboy]

Should’ve said something else. This boy’s family history is, let’s just say, tragically convoluted.

[abclily]

Parents? Two lesbians are not parents - as this case proves.

[1rudeboy]

Thanks for missing my point, everybody.

[Mark was here]

Why were two lesbians taking care of this boy?

It sounds like they were expressing their hatred towards men by abusing this boy.

This boy’s parents also have some explaining to do.

[atomic conspiracy]

The LGF poster I got this from linked it as "Lesbian foster parents torture 7 year old 37 pound male in their care."

[nuconvert]

I wish there was a way we could send these people to Hell

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Each said the other bound the child's wrists and nailed them to the wall, where he was forced to stand for hours.

Double ditto to my last post.

[Mark was here]

Yes, you are right, the boy was clever in escaping from these bitches.

[SoftballMominVA]

Each also accused the other of refusing to feed the boy and refusing to send him to school because they feared teachers would see his injuries.

I wondered why no one else had stepped into help - no one else saw him.

What a tragedy. With that type of damage done so early in life, he will struggle forever emotionally. If anyone deserves life in prison, it is these two bitches.

[GraniteStateConservative]

We can torture them here on earth just fine. No need to wait for the afterlife.

[aroundabout]

"Let’s get this boy healthy, therapy and promote him to a nice rank in the military. He seems like he would be a natural. (I’m not being sarcastic. He might be a natural born warrior)"

Actually it's an excellent idea although I fear you will cause the heads of many anti military types to explode.

[brytlea]

According to Baker County Sheriff Joey B. Dobson, investigators don't know how Stevenson gained custody of the boy. What they have learned, Dobson said, is that the boy's father obtained custody of the boy in California. But the father gave the boy to his aunt, who raised him with her partner, Stevenson. Dobson said the aunt died and then Stevenson and the child moved to Baker County.

Poor kid. God Bless those who recognized a problem and came to his aid.

susie