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State To Seek Death Penalty For Parents Charged With Toddler’s Death
October 22, 2014
State Attorney Bill Eddins said Tuesday that the State intends to seek the death penalty against against Christopher L. Redd and Jennifer Gail Perry for first degree murder in the death of their two-year old child.
Pensacola Police said Redd and Perry failed to seek medical treatment for their son after he was severely burned by boiling water. He suffered second and third degree burns over more than 40 percent of his body.
The parents told police that the child, Bryson, managed to spill boiling water that was on the stove. They said Bryson acted like a typical two-year old and they did not seek medical treatment until until days later. In the meantime, they had searched burn treatments on the internet and had applied products purchased at local retailers, according to an arrest report. Additional, Perry had received prescription medication for a burn she suffered on her finger, and she said she applied the leftovers to the child.
Bryson died after being taken to Baptist Hospital.
Both told police they delayed medical treatment because they would not know what story to tell the hospital about the burns, and they were concerned Bryson and their two other children would be removed from the home by the Department of Children and Families.
Comments
17 Responses to “State To Seek Death Penalty For Parents Charged With Toddler’s Death”
I knew Chris a long time ago. He was a sweet and caring person. I think they were scared. I’m sorry this little boy had to suffer. I do not think the death penalty should be brought into this. Jail yes.
Unless the state proves far more than just stupidity and selfishness, they will lose.
The Green River Killer avoided the death penalty by agreeing to tell where he left all the bodies of the women he killed and raped (in that order). The fact that he was spared what he earned really has nothing to do with whether or not all other murderers should get away with it.
David for justice
A summary of sincere concerns;
1. From a societal perspective these people pose no risk to anyone else other than perhaps their own children. This could easily be remedied by removing them from the home. Thus, there is no argument for protecting society.
2. The seriousness and lethality of a burn is very counterintuitive even to physicians – even less obvious to a layman. These folks probably had no intention of letting their child die.
3. Poor people in this county are genuinely terrified of losing their children to the state. Their children are all they have.
4. Seeking the death penalty for negligent care of the child is grossly disproportionate to the crime. This falls so far out of civilized behaviour that it risks placing us in the same category as the Taliban and courts that would stone a woman for divorce or some such minor thing.
5. If we lay aside our concern for these people and only look at the consequences of her own actions, it will become evident that this will only exacerbate this type of problem. If people were afraid of taking the children to the doctor before, the death penalty will ensure everyone’s terrified of seeking aid.
6. I certainly hope that this death penalty rhetoric is just pre-election manoeuvring; pandering to the emotionality of this case. This does not however, absolve the prosecutor’s office from the solemn responsibility to do the right thing.
There but for the grace of God goes every parent. But to the electric chair? lethal injection? The worst murderer in American history, the Green River killer, got life in prison – not the death penalty!
I’m a advocate of the death penalty. In fact I normally think most criminals get off too light when it comes to sentencing, but death penalty in this case??? I think we all agree that their actions as parents are completely ireprehensible and they should go to prison for making terrible judgement that caused a child to lose his life, but just because people are stupid doesn’t mean they should be put to death. I really think the state attorney is making a bad decision. Prayers for the youngster who is now in a place where his burns can’t hurt him anymore.
REGARDING:
“Unless they intentionally threw boiling water on the child, the death penalty seems a little strange.”
I think it’s based on the fact they let him suffer without medical help for two weeks (?) that is their main thought.
David for better parents
less suffering
This seems like a stretch to me, I can see them being convicted on some other charge that carries life without parole maybe, but the 1st degree murder charge has to prove they intended to kill this kid. As a parent, i just don’t get why they didn’t get help for thier baby. Whether my child is injured from a bad choice on my part or an accident, I would never allow them to suffer any longer than it takes to get them whatever relief the power of mankind can provide. Thier excuse makes me angry, but i still dont think they intended to kill thier child and I may be wrong about the law but don’t you have to show intent for 1st degree murder?
Unless they intentionally threw boiling water on the child, the death penalty seems a little strange. They may have, just don’t know. Otherwise, it sounds like depraved indifference, which I think is 2nd degree murder.
I’m not a lawyer, I just play one on the internet.
If either have an nth of a conscience, It is my wish that they suffer mentally for what they inflicted on their own flesh and blood. God almighty blesses us with the gift of children and expects us to do right by those children. The punishment they receive here on this earth will be nothing compared to what is in store for them come judgement time…
REGARDING:
“And how do we seek the death penalty in this case when we have so many other areas of society, including some in Law Enforcement, with instances of people and/or corporation being neglectful and stupid, cause the deaths or suffering of others and hardly ever get charged much less convicted?”
Which is to say, How can we change anyone with a crime unless we charge all suspects with all crimes?
This is the equivalent of saying we should never try to enforce any law or punish any crimes. Anarchy.
Sometimes it seems the charges and trial are the closest to punishment we have. OJ beat the charges but was broke by the effort’s expense. (Not that a competent prosecutor couldn’t have done more.)
David for better parents
I am rarely with Henry, but I am with him on this. They ARE guilty of stupidity and poor parenting and judgment, but the death penalty? That’s a bit extreme. I think both should have a nice long stretch in prison – say about 45 years, so that they are too old to reproduce – but the death penalty for something that wasn’t intentional – just stupid – is too much.
I am a supporter of the death penalty – but only for those who premeditate or perform murder with malice and aforethought.
I do feel for the poor baby. We don’t get to choose our parents – stupid or smart. At least he’s in Heaven now and whole and suffering no more.
@Lynn, I don’t disagree.
Obviously in this scenario these people have a list of character defects and there is a bunch of information we don’t have. i.e. was the mother stuck in an controlling and/or abusive relationship where she did whatever this guy told her she needed to do or vice versa?
It’s difficult to grasp that at least one of these parents did call for help. Were they on drugs? Are they on anti-depressants? Are they part of some Snake Oil Fundamentalist religious Cult?
There is much we don’t know.
Sorry but my opinion is they both should be tortured to death just like this baby was.
Although your comments Mr. Coe seem reasonable and you do make some good points, that being said, any Mother worth her salt would not care if she lost everything she has in the world. SHE WOULD HELP HER CHILD AND WORRY ABOUT THE OUT COME LATER. Any Mother who is more worried about herself is not a Mother at all. I with Mary on this one.
I think the state is going to lose this case being that they are charging Murder in the 1st and the Death Penalty. For a Murder in the 1st conviction I’d think the state would need to be able to prove Malice and Intent?
While these young parents were neglectful and stupid, I hardly think that qualifies as Malice?
I’m interested to see what other evidence the state brings forward in the trial that they think will get a conviction for Murder in the 1st.
Short of that evidence existing and these people making a horrific choice as parents that left their kid in enough pain to suffer a heart attack, I think we need to consider the entire picture in this and not just take a knee jerk reaction to “getting them back”.
While they qualify as being stupid and neglectful parents in regard to this child and the burns, does that make them enough of a danger to society to warrant the Death Penalty? And how do we seek the death penalty in this case when we have so many other areas of society, including some in Law Enforcement, with instances of people and/or corporation being neglectful and stupid, cause the deaths or suffering of others and hardly ever get charged much less convicted?
All that being considered, it’s a shame that our DCF is set up as a place young parents fear instead of being a resource of hope for young parents needing help or answers.
There isn’t anything that makes them not taking their kid to the doctor ok, but I think it is a shame that their fear of having DCF ripping their lives apart has a plausible part in their decision making. Btw, that doesn’t mean I blame DCF, but how they function does seem to have a part in this and we should look into this if we want DCF to be place of help for those in need instead of a heavy thumb punishing the poor and creating fear in those they help instead of hope.
they were worried about the other 2 kids and the hospital might report them. that poor kid suffered and now they are getting what they deserve!! Now they have not just lost the kids they have lost the right to say anything about how the kids they have left raised. I do not have any pity for them.
Thank You Father that little Bryson is in no more pain & suffers no more!!
If that woman could seek treatment for herself for a burn on the finger because it hurt her, WHY, could she not comprehend how much it hurt little Bryson to be burned over 40% of his little body?!!!!
Father God, You are the only One Who can have mercy on them because I can’t, & the justice system should not either. I ask that Your will be done in this situation, & I thank You for it, in Jesus’ Name, AMEN!!
Contraceptives seem never to reach the hands of those who need them the most.