A 4-year-old girl, Jennifer Rose Kell, who police say was drowned by her father's girlfriend, lived in a home where reported child abuse was a constant companion, according to authorities. Police and child protective service records show a pattern of reported abuse by (father's) "Girlfriend" and "Father" against his 4-year-old daughter.  According to the Police Detective, "Girlfriend" punished the 4-year-old by leaving the little girl in the sweltering heat of a vehicle for 45 minutes and giving her cold baths and burned her at least once with a cigarette.

On Wednesday, "Girlfriend" allegedly became enraged when the little girl took a Pepsi and played with her make-up.  "Girlfriend" forced the little girl to drink 48 ounces of Pepsi, then tossed the girl into a bathtub filled with a foot of water. She threw cupfuls of water into the child's face as punishment, then submerged and held the little girl under water when she tried to avoid the onslaught of water.

She continued throwing water into the girl's face while she was under water. "Girlfriend" freed the child after "Father" pleaded with her to stop.  Within an hour, the little girl began vomiting and had trouble breathing and the "Girlfriend" and "Father" called 911.  Jennifer was groggy and nauseated when medical crews arrived.  Her condition worsened en route to the hospital, and she died 24 hours later at a children's hospital.  Doctors said the girl drowned and there were bruises on her body.

The little girl's Mother died in 1995, and the long history of child abuse involved police and social service agencies in two states, neighbors to each other.

- The Columbian  and The Oregonian -
September 19 and 21, 1999

Besides the terrible tragedy of a little motherless baby who died without a chance in life, there is something terribly wrong with this story.  As the above newspaper article reads:  ". . . reported child abuse was a constant companion in this home, and the long history of child abuse involved police and social service agencies in two neighboring states."  If these newspaper stories are correct, then we, the States of Washington and Oregon, as well as every other State in this United States, have a very serious problem.  A little 4-year girl has died as a result of "constant" child abuse in which two states were aware.

As a supposed civilized nation, what is the answer to a situation such as this, and what can we do about it?  It seems to me that we need to "upgrade" our social system so that a tragedy such as this never happens again.  Does a small child, a little 4-year old girl, or any helpless child, have to endure repeated cases of abuse of any kind before something can be done to stop the abuse?  Or, do we wait until the death of a victim and then spend our money on prosecuting and housing the perpetrator?  Wouldn't our tax-payer money better serve the system, and a small child's life if we spent the money before a innocent life has been destroyed?  What are the answers to these questions?

Update

I never did see anything in the newspaper about the girlfriend's trial, but I later did find something about an appeal she made in 2003.  She had been charged, tried and convicted of homicide by abuse and second degree felony murder.  I don't know how long she was sentenced, but the appeal was filed in 2000, and she went back to court in 2003.

I read the appeal and her attorneys were saying there hadn't been enough evidence to convict her. There were 26 witnesses testifying to the abusive treatment Jennifer received from the girlfriend, and it made me physically sick just reading about the abuse. These were things I didn't want to know.  In the end, the court decided she was guilty as charged and the sentence (whatever it was) stayed the same.  The appeal didn't mention the length of time, but she's been in prison for at least 6 years so far, and hopefully she has quite a few left to serve.

I know it is not my place to pass judgment, but she did have her day in court here, and was found guilty, and someday she will stand in a much higher court, and she will be judged again.

Jennifer's story is a good example of why we all need to pay attention to the young children around us.  Strange or violent behavior, marks and bruises on their bodies, and sometimes just the words they say may be signs of abuse.  We don't know what goes on in the homes of many families, but we do know that many, many children are being abused and mistreated in their homes.   If we are aware of the signs, we may be able to save one little child from further abuse, or as in Jennifer's case, from death.  For more information on how you can help, please click below.

Thank you.

~ StinaLisa ~

"My Prayer"

Jennifer Rose, I can only say
Our system shamefully let you down
We were not there in your time of need
And the suitable answers I’ve not found.

I think of you as I cry my tears
And cannot conceive of your dreadful fright
As you suffered alone without the strength
Of a mother’s arms throughout the night.

Our system proclaimed your length of life
As they continued to look the other way
And allowed the suffering and abuse to go on
Throughout the length of your very short days.

Jennifer Rose, please hear my prayers
And forgive us for what we denied
A world of love and protection from harm
As this assurance we did not provide.

Now you are safe and free from harm
As you reside in heaven above
Where I know you’ll receive comforting peace
In your Mother’s arms and God’s almighty love.

~ StinaLisa ~
©Copyright 2000

Since publishing this page, I received an e-mail from Jennifer's great-aunt; her mother's aunt.  She sent me the photo above of Jennifer and her mother.  It had been placed on the mother's casket during the funeral.

The aunt said that Jennifer had been such a happy little girl when her mother was alive.  Jennifer loved pretty rocks, and the aunt remembers Jennifer pulling her little wagon around the yard picking up rocks.  These rocks became Jennifer's  valued possessions.  Following is a touching story written in memory of Jennifer by her great-aunt:

“See all my pretty rocks, Mommy? That nice man helped me find them. Do you know him mommy, that man that has holes in his hands?  Look at this one mommy, and this one…”

Jennifer would chatter away endlessly as she played with all her “pretty rocks.”  She sat in the shade of a large tree, an old tree standing beside the river from which it nourished itself; it’s roots reaching into the life giving waters.  Upon the gentle slope of the hill sat a house, a mansion, with many rooms, enough rooms for all who wish to dwell in His house.  A gentle breeze played with Jennifer’s hair, the sun dancing off the silky strands.

“Do you have a favorite one, Jennifer?” asked Becky, her mother.

“Oh no, mommy, they are all so pretty, I couldn’t choose just one.” she said as she emptied the wagon, placing them one by one in her mother’s hands then began once again to count them as she returned them to the wagon.

Becky had been waiting there for her daughter to come be with her since little Jennifer was just a baby, not even a year old when they were separated for a time.  She could see Jennifer as she grew but could not help her when she was neglected or suffered at the hands of Jennifer’s Daddy, or “her”.  She did not like her enough to call her anything else. “Her” would treat Jennifer so badly, hitting, spanking, once even burning Jennifer with “Her” cigarette.  Then one day it got really bad. Jennifer doesn’t think about it much anymore, the day “Her” put her in the bathtub.  She doesn’t really remember too much about that day, but that was ok, she was now with Mommy, grandma, and those other nice ladies who watch her as she plays with her rocks.

Becky and Jennifer sat on the cool, green, sweet smelling grass under the tree while from the porch the others watch them, smiling.  On the steps sat Becky’s mother, Alice.  Behind Alice stood two women, the ones Mommy had told Jennifer were her great-grandmothers. In the doorway stood her great, great grandmother, the one that was known as “Grandma Honey” to another little girl many years ago.