http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3023837 Mother faces charges of not reporting abuse after saying infant was 'scratched' By ANDREW TILGHMAN Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Keith Samuel Cook, 35, left, was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of his girlfriend's then-6-week-old daughter. A 13-month-girl, biting on a pink plastic pacifier, sat in her uncle's lap in a Houston courtroom Thursday and watched as a jury recommended a 50-year sentence for the man who raped her when she was 6 weeks old. Keith Samuel Cook, 35, showed no emotion as the sentence was announced for the aggravated sexual assault of his girlfriend's daughter. Prosecutor Murray Newman had urged jurors to give Cook a life sentence, telling them there is "a special place in hell for people who rape babies." "There are some things you don't get a second chance for, and raping babies is one of them," Newman said in his closing argument in the court of visiting Judge Woody R. Densen. The girl's mother, Eugenia White, 28, was not in court as the three-day trial ended. She testified earlier this week that she had been dating Cook for about six months when the assault took place, and initially lied about it to doctors and detectives. White originally said she had "scratched" her daughter while changing a diaper. She is charged with failure to report child abuse, punishable by up to one year in jail. She told jurors she was taking a bath at her northwest Harris County apartment Feb. 20, 2004, when Cook told her he had scratched the baby while changing her diaper. White said Cook pressured her not to take the baby to a hospital. More than 24 hours after the assault, the baby's maternal aunt, Debra Straker, saw the injuries and insisted on seeking medical attention. The girl underwent surgery at Texas Children's Hospital and spent three weeks in recovery. Dr. Robert Bloss, who performed the surgery, testified that the girl is recovering well and "hopefully" will be able to have children as an adult. The girl is in the custody of Straker and her husband, Stephen, who say she appears happy and healthy. Stephen Straker said the family is pleased with the verdict, which renders Cook ineligible for parole for at least 25 years. The young victim, who sat quietly and often smiled, was in the courtroom for much of the trial. Jurors frequently turned to look at her throughout the testimony. With punishment options ranging from probation to life in prison, they deliberated for about four hours. "We're disappointed, but I can't say I'm surprised, given the nature of the offense," said defense attorney John Petruzzi. Cook's mother testified on his behalf Thursday, saying her son had an alcoholic father and a history of mental illness. "I feel like it's a nightmare," said Bonnie Cook, of Rosenberg. "I just wish I'd wake up."
Just when you think human beings can't sink any lower... I'm not even normally in favor of the death penalty, but for someone that twisted, let's just say I wouldn't be too upset. Even if he didn't kill anyone. It's scary to even think we share a planet with these people. And I hope the mother never sees custody of that kid again. For covering it up... aiding and abetting... enabling... what kind of sick situation is this?!? At least the baby won't remember anything that happened to her that early, thank goodness, but there has got to be a lot of physical damage. I don't see how there couldn't be.
The truly sad thing is on the same day, it is not the only story concerning the subject. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3023824 Feb. 4, 2005, 11:16AM Parents charged in case of severely abused baby 6-month-old girl appears to have suffered sexual and physical abuse By PAIGE HEWITT Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle The parents of a severely abused 6-month-old girl have been charged with injury to a child-serious bodily injury, Houston police announced today. Charges against Ivan Castaneda, 21, and Donna Marie Norman, 19, who are in custody, will be upgraded if the infant dies. The baby is on life support at Texas Children's Hospital. Police said today the child was abused sexually and physically in the family home in the 1000 block of Gargan, north of downtown Houston. The baby was penetrated or raped vaginally and anally and her tongue was nearly severed, said Lt. Bill Staney, with the Houston Police Department's juvenile sex-crimes unit. The baby, whose name was not released, was in very critical condition, said Estella Olguin, a spokeswoman with Harris County Child Protective Services. "It is one of the worst cases I have ever seen, where a child has suffered such horrific type of injuries and is still alive," she said. " ... The pain she must have suffered." Olguin said doctors have found further signs of abuse but would not provide details. Olguin said the parents are not married. The baby's parents took her to Doctor's Parkway Hospital about 3 p.m. Wednesday and told the staff she had problems with congestion, Olguin said. The medical staff became suspicious of abuse, and the baby and her 15-month-old sister were transferred to Texas Children's Hospital. Texas Children's staff examined the two and determined both had suspicious injuries, she said. The toddler had old rib and skull fractures, Olguin said. CPS took temporary custody of both girls — the toddler is now with a foster family. CPS has dealt with the parents before regarding the toddler, Olguin said. "When she (the toddler) was a month old in November 2003, she suffered a fracture to her femur and also had some retinal hemorrhaging, which is indicative of shaken baby syndrome," Olguin said. "She was taken into (CPS) custody. ... To this day we don't know who actually did it. With those types of cases ... unless you get a confession or have a witness, it's really hard to find out who did it." The father was charged with injury to a child in December 2003, Olguin said. The case was dismissed in October 2004. Olguin said she doesn't know the details of why the case was dismissed but plans to investigate. CPS had recommended a drug and alcohol assessment of the father, but it was never done, Olguin said. In that case, the mother completed various parenting classes and therapy, and told officials she had left the father and was living with her parents. The toddler was sent home to the mother in October 2004. Olguin said 80 percent of the victims of severe abuse are 3 or younger. "They are vulnerable," she said. "They can't tell anyone, and they don't go to school."
damn...can't these [enter most expletive word possible]'s find a hole in the wall or something other than a helpless being to do this crap with? just disgusts me.
Unbelieveable This guy will get his when he gets into general population. That is so........I`m speechless
I was having such a good freakin day too! Then I read this....and now I am mad. Well, back to the preparation for tonight. Steaks....Beers..... (Bought me an Old Smokey today...... )
A similar incident occurred last year in League City... the child didn't make it. http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e6c85dbaf923d846 Man pleads guilty to killing daughter, 2 By Scott E. Williams The Daily News Published January 5, 2005 A man who beat his 2-year-old daughter to death in 2003 pleaded guilty Tuesday to capital murder and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. As part of the plea agreement reached Tuesday afternoon in the 122nd State District Court in Galveston, Frank Javier Padilla will serve two consecutive life sentences but will avoid the death penalty prosecutors had sought. His daughter, Linda Padilla, died Aug. 13, 2003, from injuries sustained five days earlier in the League City apartment where they lived. Padilla was arrested after taking the girl to the St. John Hospital emergency room in Nassau Bay. She had suffered a fractured skull, brain swelling, a broken pelvis, fractured ribs, anal and vaginal tearing, extensive bruising and black eyes. In court Tuesday, Padilla admitted beating the girl to death. Investigators believed he had become enraged over problems with toilet training the toddler. Houston attorney Don Cantrell, one of the lawyers representing Padilla, said the 45-year-old Mexican citizen suffered from bipolar disorder and lost control of himself because of a lack of medication. “That sent him on some real highs and lows,” Cantrell said. “After 45 years of never having any trouble with the law, this was an eight- to ten-week period in which he was out of control. There was a lot to indicate he didn’t want to hurt her. Two days before, he had made birthday reservations for her at Chuck E. Cheese’s.” During the hearing, Padilla was described as having an IQ of 90. However, Padilla also told State District Court Judge John Ellisor that he spoke five languages. County Criminal District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk, who prosecuted the case with Assistant District Attorney Bill Reed, said Padilla’s acceptance of consecutive life sentences and his waiving of any future appeals made the plea agreement tenable. “Look around the courtroom,” Sistrunk said. “Her father is the defendant. Her mother’s also facing charges. Aside from (League City detective Morton) Grant, there was no one else here looking out for justice for Linda. “This punishment was secured without any chance of him going free or any risk of it coming back via appeal. When it was all said and done, we felt this was the best way to proceed.” The child’s mother, Magdalena Padilla, has been indicted on a charge of injury to a child, which carries a possible prison term of five to 99 years, as well as a fine of up to $10,000. Sistrunk said he expected that case to be resolved by the end of this year. Although out on bail, Magdalena Padilla did not attend Tuesday’s hearing. Frank Padilla put his hands over his face as he walked into the courtroom, apparently in an effort to avoid news photographers. Padilla will have to serve his life sentence for capital murder while serving one of two life terms for aggravated sexual assault of a child concurrently. The capital conviction requires him to remain incarcerated for at least 40 years before parole eligibility. He would be eligible for parole on the sex charge after 30 years, but if he got it, the second sexual assault sentence would then begin. That means Padilla would have to serve at least 60 years before becoming eligible for parole that would make him a free man. People on both sides of the case agreed that his chances of ever leaving prison were practically non-existent. “Realistically, they won’t even give him a parole date for the aggravated sexual assault when he has 10 years remaining on the capital murder,” defense attorney Cantrell said. “Maybe if he had another 70 years left in him, but I just don’t see him making it to 115.” Grant, who investigated the child’s murder, said he was satisfied with Tuesday’s outcome. “I think justice has been served for Linda Padilla, and this animal is off the streets,” Grant said. “He won’t be able to hurt any more children ever again.” In the event Frank Padilla does get paroled, he will have to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
R&B singer gouges eye, man dies from sherry enema, rabbi gives baby boys herpes during circumcision because he uses he mouth and now somene rapes a newborn baby. Unreal! I am scared of what might be next.
This act is so low and disturbing...rarely do I cry, but it almost brought me to tears after reading those two stories. There's seriously something wrong with the human society for a grown man to be doin such an act.
That second story is even more disturbing, and I didn't think such a thing was possible. There are some sick sick SICK people out there. And you probably wouldn't know who they were if you were dealing with them on the street or at work. Even animals don't do these things. Anybody can go find a "hole in the wall". What these people are doing is about power and control. They take it out on the most helpless person they can. It is sick beyond words.
he's going to get it bad in prison. we've all heard how rapists get the crap beat out of them once they go in. this guy is a baby raper...i wouldnt be too suprised to read about him getting killed in prison sometime soon. this guy is a good example of why we need to consider the death penalty for rapists/child molesters as well as murderers. and i sure hope when the "mother" gets out she isnt allowed anywhere near that child. i cant believe she only got 1 year.!
I have to open the possibility that these 2 people can find redemption if only to keep hope that humanity balances itself out.
If he was convicted to death row, he would have protected life for at least 10 years. This way he get's it soon after he walks through the door. I hope they have his tortured death on the news.
wow those are two of the worst stories i've ever read. of all the things i've heard people do i never thought anyone would actually rape a baby?! that guy and those parents deserve at the minimum a life sentence. i wonder if that dude has ever heard of quadruple penetration in the a$$ by four huge inmates named tiny. that'd probably give him the idea of what it felt like for that poor girl.
