April 2, 2011
BRUCE A. BRENNAN BLOG FROM THE WORLD AND MY MIND
The news as I see it and the views as I want them.
April 2 is … National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
Bruce Weber is being pursued by other NCAA college basketball programs. Please, make him an offer he can’t refuse. The White Sox won their season opener. The Cubs lost their season and home opener. Other than Weber still being at Illinois, it was a good day.
This story was first reported by Aol News. Police in Utah are investigating the death of a disabled woman who they say was brutally abused and hung crucifixion-style inside a small closet. "It is a very unusual, sad, tragic case," Unified News Lt. Justin Hoyal told AOL News. "It is sad to see that somebody could do this to another human being. You just don't see people being treated like this." Authorities were called to a residence in Kearns, a township in Salt Lake County, on Friday afternoon to investigate a possible overdose. When police and paramedics arrived on the scene, they discovered the body of 22-year-old Christina "Nina" Harms. Investigators observed ligature marks on Harms' ankles that were consistent with plastic zip ties, Hoyal said. They also found bruises on her thigh and head and discovered a pepper seed in the lower area of one of her eyelids. Harms' hands and arms were completely covered with bandaging material, which would have prevented her from placing or removing the pepper seed from her eye. "Investigators believed this to be consistent with abuse of a vulnerable adult as they determined the victim was unable to care for herself," Hoyal said. Cassandra Shepard, left, is charged with murder in the death of a disabled woman in her care. Shepard's mother, Sherrie Lynn Beckering, right, and stepfather, Dale Beckering, face charges of domestic violence abuse of a vulnerable adult. During their search, investigators discovered a small closet in the living room area that contained an alarm on the doorway. "Inside they found a metal bar [used to] bind the victim in a crucifixion manner," Hoyal said. "Her arms [had been] bound to this bar and [she had been] left in this closet." Authorities arrested Harms' primary caregiver, Cassandra Shepard, 27, and charged her with murder, domestic violence and obstructing justice. Shepard's mother, Sherrie Lynn Beckering, 50, and stepfather, Dale Beckering, 53, were charged with domestic violence abuse of a vulnerable adult because they allegedly cared for Harms last year and were aware of the crime, police said.
According to the Deseret News, Harms, the mother of a 2-year-old daughter, was the victim of fetal alcohol syndrome. When her mother died of cancer in 2008, Shepard, a family friend, was granted legal guardianship of the then-17-year-old. "She was handicapped, but very smart. Very intellectual," family friend Marilee Nelson told the newspaper. "She was a fun child. She could play on the computer. She was just slow. She just needed help. She didn't need to be totally controlled." A preliminary autopsy on Harms has revealed "significant injuries to the victim's body," but a cause of death is still pending. Hoyal said it could take "several weeks" for toxicology tests to be complete and a final report to be issued. Harms' death has angered area caregivers, one of whom told AOL News she is "completely disgusted" by the case. "Where is her family ... the father of her child?" Jessie Peters, a caregiver from nearby Provo, told AOL News. "Why isn't there a system put into place where a person not able to take care of themselves is checked up on like they do for the many foster kids here?" Peters added: "This woman was tortured to death and the only thing people are saying is sometimes the caregivers get overwhelmed. When did we start sympathizing with the aggressors when we should be focused on what the last hours of this woman's life was like and who is going to take care of her baby. These so-called caregivers ... need to be dealt with accordingly."Hoyal said police are still trying to determine a motive in the case. "Obviously, this has been unfolding very quickly with a lot of information coming in," he said. "They're trying to look at all the possible motives and reasons why they did this." It was not immediately clear today if any of the three suspects had an attorney. Harms' 2-year-old daughter was living with her inside the home where she was allegedly tortured. According to police, she, along with Shepard's two children, ages 5 and 9, have been placed in protective custody with the state. “She was a lovely person. She had a heart of gold. I just want to cry when I think about it," Nelson said of Harms in an interview with the Deseret News. "She's in heaven with her mom, thank God. I hope that the people responsible pay."
According to the Deseret News, Harms, the mother of a 2-year-old daughter, was the victim of fetal alcohol syndrome. When her mother died of cancer in 2008, Shepard, a family friend, was granted legal guardianship of the then-17-year-old. "She was handicapped, but very smart. Very intellectual," family friend Marilee Nelson told the newspaper. "She was a fun child. She could play on the computer. She was just slow. She just needed help. She didn't need to be totally controlled." A preliminary autopsy on Harms has revealed "significant injuries to the victim's body," but a cause of death is still pending. Hoyal said it could take "several weeks" for toxicology tests to be complete and a final report to be issued. Harms' death has angered area caregivers, one of whom told AOL News she is "completely disgusted" by the case. "Where is her family ... the father of her child?" Jessie Peters, a caregiver from nearby Provo, told AOL News. "Why isn't there a system put into place where a person not able to take care of themselves is checked up on like they do for the many foster kids here?" Peters added: "This woman was tortured to death and the only thing people are saying is sometimes the caregivers get overwhelmed. When did we start sympathizing with the aggressors when we should be focused on what the last hours of this woman's life was like and who is going to take care of her baby. These so-called caregivers ... need to be dealt with accordingly."Hoyal said police are still trying to determine a motive in the case. "Obviously, this has been unfolding very quickly with a lot of information coming in," he said. "They're trying to look at all the possible motives and reasons why they did this." It was not immediately clear today if any of the three suspects had an attorney. Harms' 2-year-old daughter was living with her inside the home where she was allegedly tortured. According to police, she, along with Shepard's two children, ages 5 and 9, have been placed in protective custody with the state. “She was a lovely person. She had a heart of gold. I just want to cry when I think about it," Nelson said of Harms in an interview with the Deseret News. "She's in heaven with her mom, thank God. I hope that the people responsible pay."
Did the White Sox just score again?
This story has a creepy subplot being this close to Easter A good change of pace is the story of Hans Christian Andersen.
Denmark’s most famous author, Hans Christian Andersen, was born on this day in 1805. His life was a true tale of the boy who went from rags to riches. He was born to a poor family; his father, a shoemaker, died when Hans was 11 years old. When he was just 14, Hans left his hometown of Odense, Denmark and traveled to Copenhagen where he, literally, became a starving artist (actor, singer, dancer). It was there that he met the man who became his lifelong friend and benefactor, Jonas Collin. With Collin’s help, Andersen received a royal scholarship and completed his education.
By his 25th birthday, Hans was on his way to a writing career that would make him one of the most widely-read authors in the world. His first recognition came for his many plays and novels. Five years later, he penned his first of 168 fairy tales. Maybe you recognize a few…
The folk tales: The Tinder-Box, Little Claus and Big Claus; tales that made fun of human faults: The Emperor’s New Suit (also known as The Emperor’s New Clothes), The Princess and the Pea; tales based on his life: The Ugly Duckling, She was Good for Nothing, and others, some philosophical, some with sly humor and some with serious moral messages: The Snow Queen, The Red Shoes, The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, The Marsh King’s Daughter.
As Andersen’s popularity rose in the 1840s, he found himself rubbing shoulders with kings and queens, famous composers, poets and novelists. He became wealthy enough to visit throughout Europe, writing about his experiences as he traveled. In Sweden is often considered his best travel book. The sensitive writer also wrote his own story in 1855, The Fairy Tale of My Life. Hans Christian Anderson died a lonely man on August 4, 1875, but his stories and fairy tales live on, entertaining children and adults, inspiring new writers. In fact, the Hans Christian Andersen Award is presented every other year to an author and an illustrator of children’s books. The ‘Little Nobel Prize’, as it is often called, is the highest international recognition bestowed on an author (since 1956) and to an illustrator (since 1966). It is presented by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).
The Ugly Duckling would be proud as would Danny Kaye.
Deaths on this date over the years;
1872 Samuel F B Morse developer of electric telegraph, dies at 80
1972 Gil Hodges manager (New York Mets) dies of heart attack at 57
1987 Buddy Rich drummer/orchestra leader (Away We Go) dies at 69
On this date throughout history;
1978 Velcro was 1st put on the market
1992 John Gotti found guilty in death of Paul Castallano’s
1996 Tigers slugger Cecil Fielder steals 1st base in 1,097th career game. I don’t think he stole first base, just his first stolen base.
BRUCE A. BRENNAN
DEKALB, IL 60115
COPYRIGHT 2011
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Email: brucebrennanlaw@aol.com
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www.barnesandnoble.com (do a quick search, Title, my name)
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"Don't say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary." –Ralph Waldo Emerson
