Toddler Left Home Alone Found Dead
Eric HicksTime and again the headlines are filled with stories of young children left home alone. Typically they're found fine, and we all fret about what could have happened. In Joplin, Missouri, however, it's what did happen that's heartbreaking.
According to The Joplin Globe, Eric Hicks, 28, was watching his girlfriend's 18-month-old son, Emjay Corn, Saturday morning. He had an appointment at a methadone clinic, but instead of taking the boy with him or finding alternative care for him, he just left him there, alone in his crib. Sometime later the boy was found dead.
The boy's cause of death is still under investigation, and Hicks has been charged with felony child endangerment. Other details are murky as to why police arrived at the house when there was no record of a call being made to them that day and where the mother was. But regardless of the specifics, on the surface, it's such a blatant and sad example of why young children should never be left home alone -- not for an hour, not even for a couple of minutes.
It's hard to find child care, I know. And for some who have to work to pay the rent or keep medical appointments, leaving the children alone may feel like the only option, perhaps especially so for someone coping with drug addiction. But it never can be. Even children who are sleeping or otherwise engaged can get into a dangerous situation in no time at all. People who don't understand that shouldn't be left in charge of them.
I feel for this entire family. I can only imagine their pain and suffering right now as they piece together what happened, contemplate what they could have done to prevent it, and beat themselves up for the rest of their lives over what they didn't do. But that's the thing when it comes to our children's safety -- we don't get do-overs, and that's why we have to put it first, above anything else.
Do you know people who leave young children home alone? Have you ever?
Image via KTTS
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LucretiaMcEvil
Methadone is hillbilly heroin.
She's probably a druggie too, because who would date a heroin addict, unless they are one themselves?
Poor little guy...
LikeAVirgin
mamajen82
Bertha21
How horrible :( poor baby! I hate hearing things like this. Why would anyone leave a baby alone in the house?!? I don't trust anyone else but my family with my son. I am so grateful to never have to worry about him yet, but when I do I will be terrified!
hmeg89
Not defending this guy or anything, but don't slam people for trying to help themselves. I've seen what heroin can do and if methadone has the most successful recovery rate then so be it, but it is not hillbilly heroin.
night.magic
People need to get off the damn drugs and get clean. For the sake of future generations. Too many neglected and abused children, and children dying at the hands of these damn idiots. This country is spiraling out of control, and I blame the worst of it on people who are dealing and abusing drugs.
ReiReally
I lose friends over telling them that they're stupid for doing stupid things to their kids for selfish reasons. I always try to be nice but how dense do you have to be to not realize a child can't be by themselves in a house, or even a crib? I don't care if they're asleep while you're walking your dog and you're "RIGHT THERE" around the block. What if you got hit by a car while they're home alone two houses down and you were knocked out or worse, killed? No one would ever know they were alone until you woke up or their dad got home at 10pm.
I'm the same way with car seats. What on earth would possess you to hold your child while going 80mph? Again, i don't care if your husband it "the world's best driver" even if he is, that doesn't mean the world's worst driver won't hit you at 70mph while you're at a dead stop on a red light. When you do stupid shit and all it hurts is YOU, that's natural selection Darwin Award stuff. When it's a minor in danger, that's what's it's called when you're arrested- Child Endangerment.
It's so obvious that the gov't made LAWS about these things. If you won't do it for the sake of your own offspring, then do it to keep your stupid, selfish self out of jail.
Trollie
Mrsmelissa31
GlowWorm889
I think Mom should definitely be held accountable, as well as this guy. I would never leave my child--at any age--with someone who abuses drugs or alcohol. I've seen firsthand the kind of things people who are addicted and/or under the influence deem "good parenting", and needless to say, it's not by any means "good parenting." Let's face it, an addict doesn't care about other people. They care about their high or not experiencing withdrawal symptoms. That's what methadone is for. It's still a narcotic--meant to inhibit the craving for opiates and avoid withdrawal symptoms. And given that this guy thought it was okay to leave a toddler ALONE, sounds like this guy was hurting pretty bad and felt his fix was more important than the life of an innocent child. I have no patience for these kinds of people.
And yes, I do know people who leave their kids alone at ages I probably wouldn't, but I've never seen anyone leave a toddler in a house by themselves. At least not to go anywhere. In the backyard during naptime with the baby monitor or within earshot is about as far as I've seen parents go. It's common sense not to leave a helpless young child alone.