New Year, same stories

On January 1st, Google News reported three child abuse stories ... all out of Florida.

Some stories show neglect. Parents who cannot be bothered with their children so they leave them alone while they tend to their own needs. In Tampa, a couple rang in the New Year playing the slots and leaving their 8-year old daughter alone for 7 1/2 hours in a hotel room.

In Clearwater a 50-year old mother abandoned her teenage child whom the report said has Asperger's Sydrome, a form of autism. After being evicted from their hotel, the mother -- who was drunk -- disappeared without a trace. Police did find her some time later.

While any parent can think of some justifications for the stories above, some stories defy any sort of rationalizations.

In Belle Glade (Florida still), a 23-year old man beat to death a two-year old. This story has many hallmarks of classic abuse scenarios, including that the man was the "boyfriend" of the mother, the abuse had been going on for some time, and the mother was aware of the beatings.

The "boyfriend," Antion Denard Lawrence said, "I don't beat him, I tap him on the butt every now and then with a belt or something but fist wise or pickin' up something heavy, no," according to the arrest report.

The autopsy showed the baby had a torn liver, wounded sternum, torn small bowel intesting, hemorrhage to the adrenal glad, deep bruising to the neck, bruises on the forehead, abdomen, back, scrapes on his penis and scrotum and "several" other injuries. Can you imagine the force that was used against this child?