Former foster mom admits to tossing 2-year-old

Former foster mom admits to tossing 2-year-old

February 05, 2010 4:11 PM
JOHN C. ENSSLIN
Jules Lynn Cuneo admitted throwing a 2-year-old foster child across her living room out of anger because the child would not talk to her.

Jurors in Cuneo’s first-degree murder trial Friday watched a video of an intense two-hour interview in which the 36-year-old former foster mom gradually changed her story about how Alizé Vick sustained what prosecutors contend was a fatal brain injury.

The interview occurred on Oct. 9, 2007 while the little girl was still clinging to life at Memorial Hospital. She would die the next day of a closed head injury. Cuneo’s lawyer has suggested that the fall may have aggravated an injury that others were responsible for.

At first, Cuneo told Sheriff’s Investigator Cliff Porter that Alizé fell out of her lap while they were playing “horsey” and hit her head and neck on the edge of a table in the living room of her southern El Paso County home on Oct. 9, 2007.

But after Porter confronted her with evidence that a two-foot fall could not have caused such severe damage, Cuneo broke down and gave a different explanation.

“I pushed her like that and she hit the floor,” Cuneo said, demonstrating with her arms.

“To be honest, I didn’t think that would have harmed her,” Cuneo added. “I remember pushing her because she wouldn’t talk to me…It had been a week that she hadn’t talked to me.”

Alizé and her 9-month-old brother had been placed with Cuneo after El Paso County Human Services took them away from her biological parents, both of whom previously had been jailed.

Both biological parents, Christopher Vick and Ashley Lindenberger, have been sitting in the courtroom since testimony began on Thursday. They listened as Porter wore down Cuneo’s initial explanation of an innocent fall.

Cuneo had just brought her twin daughters plus the two foster children back to her home at 11580 Calle Corvo after a trip to Target. Initially, Cuneo claimed that Alizé had tumbled out of a Ford Expedition and landed face first in the parking lot.

When they got home, Alizé undressed and got ready to put her pajamas on, Cuneo said.

“I was giving her a pony ride,” she told Porter. “Yes she did hit the table and when she didn’t talk to me, I pushed her.”

“I think that is when I went ahead and threw her off my lap. I didn’t think I pushed her that hard.”

“OK, when you threw her what happened to her?” Porter asked.

“She hit the table again,” Cuneo said, explaining that Alizé landed on the other side of the coffee table and hit the floor. She picked her up.

“That’s when I did see her roll her eyes back.”

After trying to revive the girl in the shower, Cuneo said she called 911.

“Are you going to take my kids away?” she asked the detective.

“Way cart before the horse,” Porter replied before going outside to get Cuneo some soda. While he was gone, the video showed Cuneo sitting in a corner with her head in one hand, sobbing.

Investigators then arrested Cuneo and initiated proceedings that did lead to Human Services taking custody of her twin daughters.

The trial had recessed Thursday after a juror fainted during testimony. That juror returned to the panel on Friday. Testimony resumes on Tuesday.



For more on this story, go to the Sidebar blog at Gazette.com

http://www.gazette.com/articles/cuneo-93740-foster-year.html

CPS Admits Filling Home Studies With Rumors And Stories With No Regard To Truth (To Nashua NH DCYF-Is this where the lies came from for my home study?

A Note from unhappygrammy To Nashua, NH DCYF-Is this where all the lies came from in my home study for the custody and adoption of my grandson, Austin Knightly? Your office is no better than the rest. The fraud is Nationwide!

Thursday, February 4, 2010
CPS Admits Filling Home Studies With Rumors And Stories With No Regard To Truth
Yesterday, my aide Brian along with one of my government watchdog friends met with Children's Adm. people regarding the Willard Case (the grandparents of "Lilly") for a little more than 3 hours.

The subject was the second in-home study that had just as many lies as the first one done over a year ago.

Turns out CPS believes it is their responsibility to contact individuals who know the family and ask questions. These people are the "collateral" informers.
It was an 85 year-old "collateral informer" with dementia who told the department that Mrs. Willard had breast cancer...or maybe she was the one who told CPS that Mrs. Willard was minus one kidney and on dialysis twice weekly. I get my informers mixed up. In any event, you will recall that Mrs. Willard (at 45) had never had a mammogram at that point and so it would have been IMPOSSIBLE to know she had breast cancer. (She then spent lots of money to get the screening and prove she did not have cancer! If she had not done that... then her supposed affliction would stay in the report. But, it stayed there anyway!!!!Even after she turned in the negative breast screening test it remained in the report. CPS did not believe the report!!!) And, of course, she has both kidneys and no bi-weekly machine hook-ups.

The department admitted that they take unverified "stories" and put them as fact into their reports. In my own life, I am very familiar with star chambers and make believe dossiers written by people with agendas. And written because they have the power to do so. They enjoy the hurt and harm they cause others. It actually makes them feel good. Can you imagine getting off on harming people? It is a form of sadism that shows itself when evil people have unrestrained power.

So...in the room yesterday..it was decided that there was no proof Mrs. Willard was on dialysis or had breast cancer. This whole process has taken months. It takes months because the department desires that. They want to be able to tell the judge that there is more bonding now with the adoptive family. It is part of the game, a game that is repeated over and over all over the state.

The department does not care about the truth, apparently. Nor, do they care that a little girl has been wrenched from her home a year ago now.

There is more to the story.
Posted by State Senator Pam Roach at 9:40 PM
http://pamroachreport.blogspot.com/2010/02/cps-admits-filling-home-studies-with.html

Laura Timoney fumes after son Patrick, 9, is busted for bringing 2-inch-long toy gun to school

Laura Timoney fumes after son Patrick, 9, is busted for bringing 2-inch-long toy gun to school
BY Matthew Lysiak, Kate Nocera and Larry Mcshane
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

Originally Published:Wednesday, February 3rd 2010, 10:06 PM
Updated: Thursday, February 4th 2010, 7:10 PM

Fevelo for NewsThe actual size of the toy gun Patrick Timoney brought to PS 52.
Fevelo for NewsPatrick Timoney, 9, with plastic gun - barely 2 inches long - that nearly got him suspended after PS 52 Principal Evelyn Mastroianni (below) took action.
Fevelo for NewsTake our PollGun crazy
Do you believe officials at Public School 52 overreacted to Patrick Timoney's 2-inch-long toy gun?

Yes. It was only 2 inches long!
No. Size does not matter in this case.

Related NewsArticles
Editorial: Gun nutPols rip educrats who held up homeless student's graduationSchool principal apologizes to boy's mom for tiny toy gun bust
An irate Staten Island mom blasted a grade school principal Wednesday for treating her son like a pint-sized Plaxico Burress after he brought a 2-inch-long toy gun to school.

"This principal is a bully and a coward, and needs to be held accountable," said Laura Timoney, 44, after her teary fourth-grader was nearly suspended for playing with the tiny toy at lunch.

"The school should be embarrassed. This is a common-sense issue."

Patrick Timoney, 9, was terrified when he was yanked into the principal's office to discuss the teeny-weeny plastic "weapon."

"The gun was so little," the boy said. "I don't understand why the principal got so upset. I was a little nervous. They made me sign a statement."

Patrick and a friend were playing with Lego figures in the school cafeteria on Tuesday when he pulled out the faux machine gun and stuck it in the hands of his plastic police officer.

Boom! Trouble ensued, with Patrick's mom getting a phone call from Public School 52 Principal Evelyn Mastroianni saying her son had somehow gone from straight A's to the NRA.

"I was in disbelief," the still-fuming mother said. "Why didn't anyone step up with an ounce of common sense and put an end to the harassment of my child?"

Timoney said her boy loved the toy figure because her husband is a retired police officer.

The elder Patrick Timoney, a former 72nd Precinct cop, couldn't believe his son was nearly busted over something so obviously inauthentic.

"It's a 2-inch gun," he said. "She went overboard. She should have said, 'Put the toys away,' and that would have been the end of it."

After a meeting between the principal and the parents, the boy was spared any disciplinary action. City school officials said Patrick agreed to leave the "gun" at home.

"I'm never bringing a toy to school again," said Patrick, whose favorite subject is math.

Laura Timoney remained upset. Her son, a typically eager student, asked to stay home yesterday because he thought the principal was mad at him.

The mother said she expects an apology and may sue.

"The toy gun is not the issue," she said. "A lack of common sense is the issue."

Several parents at the school felt the principal overreacted, including Kim O'Rieley - whose son was playing with Patrick in the cafeteria.

Her boy's Lego man was toting a tiny ax, which the principal deemed less threatening.

"It's ridiculous," said O'Rieley, 36. "He felt so bad for his friend. They're taking things way too far ... No one is saying guns are okay.

"Come on, it's a Lego."

mlysiak@nydailynews.com

With Rachel Monahan


http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2010/02/04/2010-02-04_big_trouble_over_this_tiny_toy_mom_fuming_at_a_lack_of_common_sense_as_son_buste.html

The Anatomy of Child Welfare Fraud: Part 1 Targeted Case Management

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNTa7BksGkg

The Anatomy of Child Welfare Fraud: Part 1 Targeted Case Management

A look at Targeted Case Management in Child Welfare.

For more information on Child Welfare Fraud, visit:
http://www.BeverlyTran.com

For all the latest dirt on the Child Protective Industry, visit:
http://www.LegallyKidnapped.blogspot.com

L.A. County will no longer strive to reunite families(Looks like L.A.want's to take lesson's from N.H. now)

L.A. County will no longer strive to reunite families
The Department of Children and Family Services will suspend its effort to reduce the number of children in foster care in the wake of the deaths of several children formerly in its care.




Related
As L.A. County spun its wheels, children died
With time and help, a mom may learn to conquer anger
Computer calls the shots for L.A. County children in peril
Stories
Social workers protest perceived role in children's deaths
By Garrett Therolf

February 5, 2010


Los Angeles County has suspended a long-standing effort to reduce the number of children in foster homes because keeping more of the children with their birth families could be unsafe, the county's top child-welfare official said.

The decision marks a turnaround for the Department of Children and Family Services, which for many years has sought to cut the foster care rolls, in part by trying to mend troubled families. The department's leaders have cited the decline in foster children -- from a high of 52,000 in 1997 to a low of 19,900 last year -- as one of their proudest achievements.

"I do want these numbers to start going down again but only when I can assure everyone that the work we are doing results in safety for that child who is going home," said Trish Ploehn, the department's director.

"I don't know how much more we can go down in the numbers, though," she said. "We are a very large county, and it's possible that we are already at the level where we are supposed to be."

The decision is the most significant of several reforms made by the department after a series of high-profile child deaths last year, some of which involved the department putting too much faith in its ability to rehabilitate families. In 2009, The Times reported that reunifications led to some children's further injuries and even deaths. Isabel Garcia, for instance, starved to death two months after child-welfare officials deemed that she, her five siblings and their parents were all doing well.

Toddler Angel Montiel and his siblings were reunited with their parents after the couple enrolled in parenting classes, drug testing and other "family preservation" services.

He subsequently was beaten to death. An autopsy found dozens of injuries, some fresh and some healed, including broken bones and burns. Originally charged with murder, his mother pleaded no contest to manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

"These cases had a very deep effect on the department," Ploehn said.

Under the department's policies, social workers had been encouraged to keep children in their original homes by helping parents deal with problems believed to underlie abuse, including addiction, anger, unemployment and mental illness. At the same time, the county increased the number of child-parent reunions, reduced the time such reunifications take and -- for children who couldn't go home -- doubled the number of adoptions.

In 2007, the department wagered that it could drive the numbers down further. It entered an experimental federal program that pays the county a limited sum for foster care services. If it exceeded that amount, the county had to pay the difference. If it spent less, the county could use the savings to reduce child abuse and neglect as it saw fit.

The policy pivot by Ploehn is likely to be controversial. Foster care has many critics who say children often are dispatched to one place after another without any sense of permanence or normal family life, and end up homeless and unemployed in adulthood.

A group called DCFS Give Us Back Our Children often demonstrates outside Edelman Children's Court in Monterey Park, saying that too many children are removed from families unnecessarily.

One member, Sabreen Shabazz, 56, of Los Angeles, cares for her 11-month-old granddaughter, who was removed from her daughter's custody.

Shabazz worries that her granddaughter might be unnecessarily sent to foster care because the family lives on only $845 a month and sometimes struggles to pay for apartment repairs ordered by the department.

"DCFS has a family preservation unit and they need to focus on that work more, not less," said Janet Mitchell, a friend who attends the group's monthly meetings. "Look at Sabreen: She's a loving grandmother who just needs help. They live in poverty, but the child is happy because she is loved."

In 2009, at least 17 children died of abuse or neglect even though child-welfare officials were well aware of their troubled family histories. Fourteen youngsters suffered such deaths in 2008.

Among the other reforms under way:

* Three hundred workers are being redeployed to the child abuse investigations unit at a cost of $37.5 million, reducing the average investigator's caseload from 25 to 18.

* An improved computer system is being developed to provide child-abuse investigators with more information from other county agencies -- mental health, for example, or law enforcement -- about troubled families.

* An additional layer of review is being added to child-abuse investigations before they can be declared "unfounded."

* Dozens of workers are being disciplined for their poor handling of cases that ended in death.

By some key measures, however, the county is falling behind schedule on reform efforts, especially the computer system.

That project is overseen by County Chief Executive William T Fujioka because it requires coordination with many county departments.

The need for such a system has been repeated in more than a dozen reports over almost two decades. Each concluded that county agencies were not exchanging vital information that could prevent death and injury to abused children. None inspired significant change.

Once again, the deadline for many of the improvements -- such as adding data from county hospitals and local police departments -- has passed without action. Work on longer-term goals has barely begun.

Overall, the department's reform efforts also have been stymied by a 9% reduction in its $1.7-billion budget this year. That's not likely to improve any time soon: Ploehn has been ordered to plan an additional 9% cut for next year.

garrett.therolf@latimes.com
Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-foster-care5-2010feb05,0,201241.story

Local hospital settles federal case

Note from unhappygrammy-It's funny how the U.S. Attorney's office will go after the hospital for the federal government, but not for patients.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/594826-196/local-hospital-settles-federal-case.html

Local hospital settles federal case
NASHUA – Southern New Hampshire Medical Center paid a $33,400 settlement to close a federal investigation that alleged the hospital improperly paid an employee through federal health care programs.
The U.S. Attorney’s office announced Wednesday that Southern New Hampshire didn’t admit liability with the civil settlement, but paid $33,400 to resolve allegations it had violated the False Claims Act.
From February 2002 to September 2007, the hospital employed a licensed nursing assistant through various temporary employment agencies, the U.S. Attorney’s office charged.
The employee, who was not named, allegedly performed services at the hospital that were paid for, in part, by Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs.
Because the employee had been “excluded” from federal health care programs, Southern New Hampshire was not entitled to receive payments from them, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.
The nursing assistant was also employed by Premier Medical Staffing, a New Hampshire corporation, and allegedly conducted similar services. Premier also settled with the government – paying $90,000 – without admitting liability, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.
– Albert McKeon

BUSINESS IS BOOMING, BUY A TAX KID TODAY.

BUSINESS IS BOOMING, BUY A TAX KID TODAY.
February 3, 2010 – 11:42 am Free the FLDS Children - AKA The Freedom Liberty Defenders Society

The Fed’s have announced an increase to a total of $24,300.00 PER YEAR, PER CHILD, if you agree to buy a kid today. At this rate, which is expected to increase every tax year, your worries about inflation and foreclosure is gone. In fact, you can warehouse the kid’s and take in as many as you want up to a quarter of a million dollars worth before they start reducing your profits.

WAIT! There’s more.

If you act now, you’ll receive further incentives from the State, and the County. Free Medical for the kid’s if you want to take them to the doctors or dentists. Gas, mileage and road expenses if you take the kids out of their rooms (Optional). Up to $500.00 PER CHILD, PER MONTH, for Food Stamps whether you decide to feed them or not. A clothing allowance of up to $2,400.00 PER MONTH PER CHILD, if you decide to allow them to wear clothing.

All this, and you and your lover, partner or pimp can live the easy life. No pimp? NO PROBLEM! You can buy as many kids as you want even if your partner is off making a dope deal.

The initial ONE TIME charge to get started in building your business can be as little as $5,000.00 depending upon the quality of the product you wish to purchase. For those who wish to be able to take your merchandise into public places and your friends and neighbors homes, you have the option of obtaining a color acceptable to them without the hassle of having to clean up the burned crosses on your front lawn! This is a win-win situation for you and the lawyers, CPS, CASA, the the judges.

WAIT! THERE’S EVEN MORE!

If you’ve seen a piece of merchandise that your neighbors and you can accept in the neighborhood, simply call toll-free and let us know where we can find it and we’ll do the rest. Choose a kid that can be declared “Special needs” by medicating him or her, and you can reap additional rewards including the option of selling the drugs supplied rather than bothering to feed them to the kid! You get to pocket the proceeds, tax free!

Can I change the kids name, religion and ethnicity?

You betcha Bubba. If the kid is a Catholic, a Mormon or a Jew (God forbid), you can make it the religion of your choice including, but not limited to Santeria and Goth.

Don’t like the name?

Change it!

What about if it dresses funny, prayers strangely or has funny eating habits?

You’re free to change it’s clothing, or leave it naked, your choice. Make the kid pray, (Or not) as you prefer. Don’t like the way the kid eats or even what he/she eats? Stop feeding them and save even more!

What if I don’t like the model I get?

Send it back or trade it in for a newer/better model at no extra expense.

Suppose the ingrate doesn’t like me or my own children?

Knock a few teeth out and he’ll change his or her mind.

What if my children or I wanted a girl and we got a boy?

Slap a dress on him.

For more information, call your local CPS marketing and promotion department today. Operators are standing by to receive your calls and start the process of capturing the kid of your choice today, just give us the criteria and we”ll find the kid within 24 hours that fits the bill.

http://www.flds.ws/