MICHINGAN— Michigan police located Shylae Thomas, a 9-year-old girl with quadriplegia due to a brain injury in infancy, dead in a storage facility earlier this week. Shylae was the adopted (familial) daughter of Lorrie M. Thomas, now charged with second-degree murder, second-degree child abuse, tampering with evidence, welfare fraud and other charges. Evidence shows Shylae died about six weeks ago, and her death was ruled “homicide from neglect” by the local medical examiner.
** Articles and video do not use person-first language**
SOURCES:
“Disabled 9-year-old found dead in MI storage unit”http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=10232916&nav=menu54_2
“Shylae Thomas' mother to face second degree murder, other charges”
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/04/shylae_thomas_mother_to_faces.htm
RELATED:
Associated Press/You Tube Video: Quadriplegic Girl Found Dead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt4somInSVY
44 comments:
Wow, I am truely disgusted by how this lady neglected her adopted daughter who was quadriplegic. When I read the articles describing the whole incident I read that Thomas also had other children in her custody. This brings me to believe that she must have been adopting kids for the state support checks. She was doing it for the money! The article also mentioned how they discovered bed sores that were so bad that the bone was sticking out. That alone leads me to believe that Thomas did not care about this little girl's well being,, but was only looking out for herself and that financial stability. What kind of mother neglects her children, starves them to death, and forgets to clean them on a regular basis? What Thomas committed was neglect to the fullest degree that lead her to murder her own adopted child. She deserves the worse possible sentence that the judge can give her............daisy hdz
I am appalled at the entire situation. First of all, Lorrie Thomas should have been more thoroughly screened as an adoptive parent. Did Thomas have any knowledge or training in caring for adopted children with disabilities? If child protective services had previous reports of neglect and abuse by her, all of the adoptive children should have been removed from the home permanently. Furthermore, if Thomas was such a good mother as her family members claimed, then why didn’t she get in touch with medical doctors or the adoption agency when she was unable to care for the child who was in her custody for several years? Second of all, I have to agree with what Sheriff Pickell said in that this was a sicko crime and it was obvious Thomas was after the money especially when she cashed an adoption check given for the care of Shylae. I also agree with Pickell in that Thomas could have gotten help and that she kept Shylae’s body in storage so she could continue receiving the state support checks. Finally, the public continues to not use person first language when talking about people with disabilities. Lawyers continue to use labeling language such as referring to Shylae as the quadriplegic girl instead of the girl who has quadriplegia. The girl isn’t the disability; the girl is a young girl first who just happens to have quadriplegia.
Diana F.
I agree with you Daisy in that Thomas does deserve the worse possible sentence - she's a murderer.
Diana F.
I was so shocked and very disturbed when I read the article about the nine year old Shylae Thomas a quadriplegia child. I just can not believe that a person could have been so malevolent and have left a child to die of neglect. I am glad that Lorrie Thomas is in jail for causing Shylaes’ death. I hate to see these cases because it reminds me how people do what ever they can for the money because Lorrie Thomas cashed a check after Shylae had already died and had other several children that she took care of. I honestly believe that she should spend the rest of her life in prison because what she did was very immoral and she should be punished. The human services found her in a storage room and Shylae only weight thirty pounds and had a lot of bed sores. I hope there is justice and Lorrie Thomas stays in jail because you do not do that to children.
Brenda Hernandez
Brenda, I agree with your statements but you need to be careful with your terminology. You said, "Shylae Thomas a quadriplegia child." She is not a quadriplegian child; she is a child with quadrilegia. Don't name the disability first. She is a human being first the disability is something that is a part of her but not her as a human being.
Diana F.
I agree with Diana F. this lady was thinking for the future that maybe having her in the storage room family or authorities wouldn’t be able to find the child. She was in it for the money. I am also wondering this lady has so many people in the house even a 12 year old child having babies. What kind of treatment or supervision is she giving these kids? With so much going in the house how was Shylae going to get the proper treatment that she needed. This is just a horrific situation because it was happening in front of everyone and no one noticed.
Evelyn A.
I read about this yesterday, and I cannot believe how someone can do this to a child. It sickens me that someone can neglect a little girl who had quadriplegia who needed love and support in her life. Instead, this child was hurt, malnourished (she only weighed 33 lbs at the time of death and she was 9 years old) y and abandoned. This lady doesn't deserve 2nd degree murder, BUT FIRST DEGREE. I saw pictures of her adoptive "mother" (if she should even call herself that) crying in court, and it surprises me because when was she crying when the child was in pain and needed food to eat or help with her disability. What a selfish lady, and I hope that she is in prison for a long time so she can never hurt another child again. It's so sad that this little girl never had someone in her life to love her and care for her. I hope the other children that were in the care of this woman will go to good homes where they won't be abused.
Diana Anzaldua - Case Management I
Rivas
This is so shocking how can a person do this to another. The person must not have any feelings. I hope she jail sentence she deserves. The little girl needed love and support and her guardian just killed by not takeing care of her she deserves the worst.
Gerardo G.
It is sad what happened to Shaylea, and it is an unfortuante occurance happening to many children both with a disability and without. I feel that the problem is that children are seem as property or possessions of parents, so society is not willing to get involved unless a serious matter can be proven, that intervention is required. I think that the gift of parenthood is solely left to parents, however if society would step up and share in this gift we might not have so many overwhelmed parents resorting to abuse and or neglect. I don't know much about Shaylea's adoptive mother or family but it seems for news reports that she may have become overwhelmed and made a terrible mistake. I don't think that one will truely know the entire situation, I do know that society should try getting more involved before headlines call attention to the matter.
~Marlene H.
This is definitely appalling! I hope that the court system prevails and justice is served during this very horrible case.
This killer!! should be given the worst sentence possible.
I also do wish that CPS could have gotten a hold of this case before this tragic death, but this little girl is one in thousands that unfortunately get abused each year. This is no "mother"... this lady was a fraud, a crook and a murderer who needs to be punished for her actions.
John-Robert I.
I agree with everyone, this woman needs to stays in jail for life. The CPS needs to do a better job also, this should not have happend if the CPS were doing there job.
Anthonia .F.
I agree with everyone that has commented to this article. I myself found it very disturbing how someone could have such cruel intentions over a child. In my opinion I feel she does deserve such harsh sentence for neglecting a child that she had made a commitment to that she could not be able to fulfill to the best of her ability, due to the fact that she was jus looking out for herself in financial terms.-Audrey G.
It was shocking after reading these articles. How can someone neglect a poor who suffered innocent child disabled who suffered from quadriplegia. It is upsetting that this selfish and hateful mother adopted such child and never cared for her. Then why adopt? I feel she was using the poor child to receive state support checks. I feel the mother is truly a murder.
Emily Case Mang. I
Before I decided to go into rehabilitaion counseling. I pondered the idea of being a detective to put scum like this where they belong behind iron bars. Everytime I read a story like this I tend to question myself I love rehab counseling but sometimes I wonder if I should be out putting people like this who kill their children behind bars.
-Pete Castaneda III
It is just so sad to hear stories like these. i just do not understand how someone can carry their own child for nine months and go throughthe pain of havng a child to then neglect them. its a harsh world out there. how could she live with all that in her mind.
Annette M. CM1 Rivas
How horrible. It really sucks that this little girl didnt even get a chance at life, it just isnt fair.
Andrea H.
I was disgusted, sad and furious when i read this article. I can not believe that after all the little girl went trough, they did not properly screen someone to take care of her. The family should have been more involved in the care of Shylae. This is a wake up call, for people to get properly screened, its not fair that innocent children are dying in the hands of people who are not going to care for them.
Diana O.
It is completely heart-breaking to hear this child's story. First she had to struggle for her life when she had her crib indecent then was tossed around different families and ended up in a horrible one, which left her poor body in a freaking storage unit! Its very aggravating to hear how some people are just so sick and money hungry.
-Jennifer O. REHS 3303.01
Oh my God! This child's story really is heart breaking. Thomas should be given a horrible punishment. What kind of person could have the heart to do this? It is obvious that this so-called "mother" was only interested in money and not in this child's health whatsoever. Letting somebody die, especially a nine year old with a disability, really is sickening and disturbing to think about. Thomas really did not care about this child that only needed love and support, only the money! This story is so heart breaking
Anel C.
That is a very depressing and disturbing thing that happened. I do not understand how someone can do that to thier child even if they are adopted. There is just no excuse. Also to find out that she had more kids and was was using them just to keep getting checks just makes me sick. I hope that she gets what she deserves.
^Cristopehr A.^
I cannot believe that people can be so cruel and have no remorse for their actions. She is a little girl with a serious disability and she needs the love and care that any other child needs. I agree with everyone that she deserves the worst possible sentence, its one thing to neglect but to do that and never report her death. Now that is even sicker, I hope CPS will keep close eyes on those people that adopt children. Some people just don't know how to be parents and some that shouldn't even be parents. I pray that this doesn't happen again, many children die due to abuse and neglect, and I think it's time that we as a society pay attention to the signs and locate proper authorities. We can prevent this from ever happening again.
Victoria G.
This article was just horrifying. It made me so angry to think that a "MOTHER", adoptive or not, who is supposed to love and care for her children with the best of her power would even think about doing this to a child. If she was only looking out for herself and her own financial stability, that is absolutely no excuse to harm a small child so gruesomely. Especially a small child that has a disability and in no way can defend herself. No body in the world ever deserves that kind of treatment and I hope she gets the sentence that she deserves. It is sad to think that this could ever happen. I will be praying for Shaylea and all the little children who are out there suffering in silence.
-Mariel G.
i can not imagine how someone could do that. it is incredibly disgusting. i am in disbelief. nobody deserves to be treated like that.
-shannon
I cant believe how a someone can do such a thing, but then again nothing surprises me anymore. I hope the judge gives her sentence that she derserves for doing such a horrible crimes against the little girl.
Vanessa G.
This is a very disturbing article. I can not believe someone could do that to another human being.I agree with many of the other comments, she should get the greatest sentence possible, she is a murderer.
Y. Torres
This is very upsetting, how in the world could someone do this to a child or to anyone for that matter. I think Lorrie Thomas should have life in prison, for murder. It is always about the money, she should’ve at least had the decency to bury her. I wonder where anyone noticed any abuse before this happened. Family or friends (if she had any) must have known something was wrong. I wonder how older Shylea’s sister was; perhaps she also had something to do with the murder.
I am very surprised that thomas did this to her daughter i totally agree with the restt of the comments she should get the worst possible sentence for doing that to a 9 year old girl. It may sound very mean of me but i am against people who kill children i have no heart what so ever for that people.
Jeannette O.
this news makes me mad. how could their be cruel mothers out there in the world. i am a mother and having a child i believe, adopted or not, is a blessing from god and this terrible homicide seems to be all because of money. it is sad to know that these types of stories are hapening in real life in our world..
jacklyn g.
I am sadden by this article because the little girl was help less I mean I bet these kind of things are happening around the world and we don’t even know till something like this happens. I just wish the CPS would have gotten to this sooner and everything would have been better but I mean we all have to play our part in helping everybody in need and trying our best to give children like this a better place to live.
Krystal R.
i truly cannot believe that a person would actually neglect their children and not only that but do it for money!!! what has this world come to, using people with disabilities for money!! wow, i really hope this all comes to an end.
janet s.
This is a terrible story about disability. I am truly in shock at how someone could do this to another human being. The article I read stated that the child was an adopted daughter to the woman who neglected her, my question is....Why adopt at all if you are going to mistreat and neglect them!? Especially because this child has special needs is disturbing. And in a storage unit? wow, what world do you live in inside your head that you think its ok to just dispose of a loved one like that. This woman deserves a great punishment for this crime. I just hope she doesnt plead insanity...
Aissa S.
Wow, this is why people lose hope in humanity. When I read stuff like this I alwasy wonder where the good people in this world are hiding. You want to blame the government for not looking into the background of these people but you can't always blame people for wanting to help and find a child a home. I do not personally believe in the death penalty but I do believe that Thomas should get the maximum sentence and sentenced to jail without the possibility of parole.
Aaron G.
this is not right!!!!!this lady should get life because she took her daughters life just because she had quadriplegia. no matter what circumstance this should never happen especially to a girl with qaudraplegia.she didnt deserve that...
justin r.
It is difficult to think about what this little girl must have endured before dying. Unfortunately, her case is not an isolated incident. There are plenty of individuals who foster or adopt children with disabilities and would never abuse them, but then you have those who do abuse them. I hope that Shylae receives justice and that her adoptive parents are punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Rosie
I agree with Diana about the worse sentence. I had a friend who almost died by medical neglect. This happened in a hospital in Mexico. I hope this lady gets the biggest punishment. I can't imagine how people can do this.
Alberto
This is a terrible situation. Sure you hear stories like this but it's sad to hear that it had to be this particular girl that had a brain injury that led to quadriplegia. There is really no excuse for having to be neglected, she was adopted and it should be an even better reason to give her the love and care she needed. This is very bad parenting. Sad to say but she will get what she deserves.
This is a terrible situation. Sure you hear stories like this but its sad to hear that it had to be this particular girl that had a brain injury that led to quadriplegia. There is really no excuse for having to be neglected, she was adopted and it should be an even better reason to give her the love and care she needed. This is very bad parenting. Sad to say but she will get what she deserves.
Crystal S.
This is a very sad story, how can someone treat someone that badly. This lady obviously did not care for this girl. It sad that this girl could not have been in a family that would have cared and loved her.
LMM
This is horrible. How does anybody in their right mind have it in them to leave a child to die. It makes it even worse to hear she did it for the money. How did she not feel any bit of guilt after even thinking it when she first thought of what she was going to do.It's so sad to know that a person would go to this extent for money. The little girl was completely innocent.
Vanessa M
How sad, how could someone do this. I mean if you can't take care of this child let someone know and they will take care of that individual. There is a lot of information out there that could be used to support any type of disability. How can someone be so mean.
Joana J.
Im glad that Lorrie M. Thomas is being charged for Shylae Thomas's death. However, why didn't anyone do anything initially when the little girl had receive the brain injury as an infant, that caused her quadriplegia? Something should have been done. Police should of remove the girl from that home at that time and possibly prevent Shylae's death. Sad Story.
Sergio M.
I agree with everybody. This lady needs to stay in jail forever.
I also asked myself this question; is CPS really doing its job? I don’t think so. There are several pending cases out there that need their attention. I hope this horrible experience help as an eye opener for everybody. And I believe an investigation to the whole family of this murderer should be done.
Mary Carmen Thomas
This is a reminder of how inhumane people in our society can really be. To think that this lady probably went through all the proper background checks makes me think that no one can be trusted no matter how squeaky clean their lives are. I used to work with abused children and saw this too often occur just for the money earned by being an adoptive parent.
-Anna Lee Ocanas - REHS Foundations -Online
It is so sad how often these cases occur. No matter a child's disability they are still human and deserve the same treatment as anyone else. This is very sad. :(
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