When Juan Gonzales and his wife were sent to prison they left their toddler daughter, Cyleste, and her four-year-old brother with a good friend of theirs, Sarah Sifuentes. But they trusted the wrong woman. Cyleste ended up in the hospital with blunt-force trauma to the stomach, bruising all over her body, and a broken arm. And because the 22-month-old girl didn't get medical attention early enough she died.
Sifuentes was found guilty of injury to a child and serious bodily injury by omission. Now it's her turn to go to prison. Gonzales later said, "We thought she was a nice friend. We trusted her, and I mean, obviously..." Obviously she was a horrifically incompetent care-giver, at the least! Was Gonzales too trusting? And didn't he and his wife have better options for their children?
I wonder why the Gonzaleses would leave their children with those friends, rather than with grandparents, or siblings, or at least more reliable friends. Maybe they don't have family they can rely on. Maybe they've always associated with people who just barely have their own shit together and can't handle more kids. They must have been desperate for someone, anyone to take their kids. And they must have thought even their friends' home would be better than a state foster home.
I know we're all supposed to have a living will with plans for what to do with our children in the event of our death -- or anything else that might happen to us. (I'm not planning to do anything that sends me to prison, anyway!) But it's hard to think about putting that burden on anyone else. Another mouth to feed, another child to raise. And it's even harder to decide who you really trust.
But this should make all parents think extra hard about who they can trust to care for their children in an emergency. You may think your friends are "nice" -- but are they loving, compassionate, patient, and emotionally strong? That's more important.
Do you know who you would leave your children with in an emergency?
Image via KENS5 News
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Comments 63
This story breaks my heart. Where was CPS in checking out this woman who took the kids? Lots of things were messed up when the parents went to jail. The little one being the worst of all possible outcomes. Sad and disgusting, to the parents, the woman and the city for not stepping in with the children's care. Poor little girl.
When you're in a desperate situation, you have to choose what you think is best. Obviously these parents weren't in a good place in life. How terrible that their innocent child had to suffer for it.
This isn't the first time, nor the last, that this has happened. Victor Hugo wrote essentially this exact story in Les Miserables in 1862, with almost as tragic an outcome!
I agree. It's not like they went on vacation,they were in prison....people who commit crimes and get sent to prison,typically associate with criminals. If commiting felonies is your moral standard,than anyone who isn't a murderer or child molestor is a "good person".
that is why my husband and i would rather not have date nights due to anything can happen... i would rather keep them safe under our care, we had them and no one else... i dont give a crap what people say about needing adult time, that is bullshit... you dont have children if ou expect me time....simple as that..
Who gives a hoot what these fools went to prison for? They should have been taking care of their own kids. Part of the large problem in society is too many excuses for wrongdoing. They were irresponsible!
Not knowing why they themselves were being sent to prison, makes it tough to judge, however, its sad anyway you slice it.
Well it's obvious they have bad judgement being this poor girl had to go into their friend's care because they were going to prison.
Stop blaming the parents,sheesh! Ok, so they did a crime that sent them to prison,yes,shame on them. However,the story didn't mention what the crime was. I mean,obviously bad,since they were sent to prison,as oppose to county jail..But still. Who's to say their friend was an evil person? The friend was probably the nicest,decent friend they had,and they probably knew each toerh for years...although the story didn't say... Some people put up a front in front of others,but behind closed doors,they're satan's spawn..Who knows? Before you jump to conclusions,find out how long were they friends,was she truly satan in disguise,or was she a horrible person,but the parents were desperate...and why would child welfare step in,if they found a home for their children... When you can answer these,then I'll make a judgement......
You sometimes can't tell what people are underneath until it's too late. I married a charming man that I'd known for two years. I kind of saw some red flags, but blew them off because I felt like I must be overreacting. Nope. The very day after the wedding, he went insane. I later found out he had a history of violence and was diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder. Mutual acquaintance still aren't sure they believe me because he's just so nice on a casual level. I speak out about abuse because most of the time, you don't see the true monsters until you are trapped in an intimate relationship with them. They can hide it in public. Maybe these parents made an unwise choice, but I think there's a strong possibility that they trusted a "friend" who was very good at charming them. Four percent of the population has anti-social personality disorder and most of them aren't murderers, (yet,) but they are still monsters without conscience.
First,the story didn't state why the parents went to prison. It could have been robbing banks to gain money to support thier children,because they're laid off due to the economy,or maybe it was for drugs. I'm not gonna judge them,until I have that detail. Second,maybe thier family isn't good enough,or live to far away,that they couldn't travel (again,the economy) to tend to the children. And third,maybe this friend (the murderer) was always nice,sweet,gave the shirt off her back,to the parents,and that's why they chose her.. I need a little more to go on,before I can judge...Wouldn't you agree?