And he is headed to a juvenile detention center because of his involvement with the death of fellow classmate, Dakota DeRemus (pictured). A classmate that is alleged Howard had been bullying for some time.
GARDNER, Kan. – Dakota DeRemus, 16, was found lying dead near a play area behind some apartments. An autopsy showed that DeRemus had a heart condition and that he had been involved in a fight. Gardner was later arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. Johnson County district attorney’s office is seeking to have Howard tried as an adult. Howard was ordered held in juvenile detention after a court hearing Wednesday. At the end of the hearing, DeRemus’ father yelled at Howard’s parents while being detained by police.
“Two years! Two years your son has been bullying my son.”
School officials admitted that they were aware of the DeRemus’ family’s complaints about bullying but also stated that the DeRemus family had asked that no other information be released and so they could not comment any further. However, DeRemus’ mother released a statement in which she states her son was beaten to death by people who bully others, and also talks about the school the students attended, and the numerous complaints and warnings they had filed in regards to Howard’s bullying of their son.
Howard’s next court appearance was scheduled for Feb. 19.
Now this family has to suffer through the loss of a child, they will also have to live with the frustration of knowing they tried everything legal to stop the actions that ultimately contributed to his death.
DeRemus’ family issued the following statement:
My family and I are in so much pain that just cant be described by the tragic and early loss of our Dakota. Our Dakota was only 16 years old.
He was the most loving and caring son a mother could ever imagine. This holds true as a brother, a grandson, nephew, and as a friend. As a single parent that has struggled, Dakota was my inspiration. He gave me hope and together we had envisioned a future for him.
Our Dakota had so much to live for and he was looking forward to many of the things that 16 year olds do: going to a dance with a girl; riding bikes with his friends; learning to drive; and going to the movies. He had such ambition to make a difference in this world by going to college and then attending law school.
I feel very blessed that as a family, we had the opportunity to spend our holiday break together with Dakota on vacation and our memories will forever be filled with Koty decorating the tree; being on the beach; and sitting down and laughing with his family during our Christmas Dinner.
However, for me, those memories will forever be shadowed by the dark cloud of my son being beaten to death by those that choose to bully an innocent teenager. Murder is the only way we can describe this incident with the facts that we are aware of. The fact that a group of four bullies joined together and apparently decided to videotape his beating and death, demonstrates to me that they knew that they were going to kill him.
Furthermore, their apparent actions of running away after he fell to the ground without calling for any help further shows not only their character, but their intentions all along. By lessoning the charges, this serves as no warning to any future person that decides to bully another.
My family and I are at a loss of words for the repeated warnings to the parents and The Gardner-Edgerton High School. They had been placed on notice many times by Dakota and myself. We would kindly as that the superintendent of the Gardner School District investigate this situation to ensure that no other child or family goes through what we are experiencing.
I continue to see everyone commenting on Dakotas heart condition and I am concerned that individuals are using this for their own personal agendas such as keeping their client out of jail. Instead, what really should be focused on is the manner in which these cowards treated my son, especially if they did indeed videotape his beating and/or his death.
I would also like to thank friends, family, neighbors and the community for the out-pouring of love and support. It has meant so much to us. We are also very grateful for all of the efforts of the Gardner Police Department and Johnson County Sherriffs Office for the handling of Dakotas murder investigation in such a professional and compassionate manner. We hope that immediate charges will be filed against all individuals involved in this case.
impqueen
Wacked
Morbid
majaka
testpattern
AnotherMother
RACECITYUSA
MadmamainNC
85 responses so far ↓
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51
nuberius
Feb 7, 2008 at 1:47 pm -We aren’t poor, but we aren’t “filthy rich” either. We live paycheck to paycheck like most of the working class, but I have to tell ya, poor, well off or stinking ass rich, I’d still buy Ramen Noodles!!!!! I love those. Quick, easy, quite tasty, and CHEAP.:)
52
thepooh5
Feb 7, 2008 at 1:47 pm -Very good point.
Thank you for saying you were a bully and WHAT would have stopped you. Maybe others will acknowledge, that a previous bully and a previous victim have cited the same cure for the bully problem. When both sides agree on what would stop them, it just seems to give it more validity.
The cure for the common bully - just stand up to them - win, lose or draw. You have to take up for yourself - no one else will. And furthermore, if you aren’t willing to fight for yourself (and your kids), why should you expect someone else to do it for you?
If you’re gonna get your ass kicked either way, why not at least get one or two good shots in. Throw the first punch, if you have to, but go down fighting. Most bullies find you aren’t worth the effort.
53
thepooh5
Feb 7, 2008 at 2:10 pm -You have talked about 20 years ago and the 70’s, I’m not being mean, but what is your point to that? Are you saying that he was just standing up to a bully, when he slapped the girl for name calling? Are you saying he was an asshat for slapping the girl? Or what? I don’t get the point relevant to this thread.
Bullying and name calling between teen boys and girls are different things. All teens have their moments.
Bullies feed on fear and intimidation and keep on and on and on, until someone stands up to them - whether it was in the 70’s, the 90’s or present 2008.
The one thing, a previous bully stated that would have been “what would have stopped him dead in his tracks” - you associate with your 70’s comment and slapping a girl, because she wasn’t a lady. I just don’t get it.
If you are so against bullies, why don’t you want to acknowledge what stops them? I can understand, maybe when I, the previous victim, stated an answer, but when a past bully says the exact same thing would have stopped him - then why don’t you want to accept THAT is the answer to bullies? You almost seem not to want the bully to face any type of stoppage, other than have someone else handle it for you. Correct me where I’m wrong or explain what you mean, cause I missed it.
54
Morbid
Feb 7, 2008 at 2:18 pm -Wow, ThePooh5. I think the previous poster was just saying that their brother did the same thing I said, and it worked for him.
55
ashdavus
Feb 7, 2008 at 2:21 pm -Yes, Morbid. However, I see my comment was a little confusing. My brother had 2 bullies. One, a guy, who he punched (actually knocked out the kid’s tooth). The other a girl. Since he would never actually have punched a girl, he chose to slap her as hard as he could instead.
56
thepooh5
Feb 7, 2008 at 2:46 pm -I totally misread, misunderstood, all together. Apologies for my stupidness. And, a direct apology to ASHDAVUS - sorry.
57
ashdavus
Feb 7, 2008 at 3:00 pm -Tis ok…my comment did seem very confusing when I read it again.
58
Unamused
Feb 7, 2008 at 3:05 pm -You can’t slap, hit or punch a bully in the Texas Spring School District. You will get filed on by the police, and victim will end up in alternative school, where there are more bullies. You can’t even defend yourself. If you hit back, you still end up in alternative school. There is no winning for losing and no sympathy for the victims if they complain. They are the ones that are moved to a new class while the bully still lords over his class. Bah…
59
thepooh5
Feb 7, 2008 at 3:13 pm -This is in Texas? Wow!!!
If their rules are so strict, how does the bully keep from going to an alternative school?
60
Morbid
Feb 7, 2008 at 3:26 pm -DeRemus’ family issued the following statement:
My family and I are in so much pain that just cant be described by the tragic and early loss of our Dakota. Our Dakota was only 16 years old.
He was the most loving and caring son a mother could ever imagine. This holds true as a brother, a grandson, nephew, and as a friend. As a single parent that has struggled, Dakota was my inspiration. He gave me hope and together we had envisioned a future for him.
Our Dakota had so much to live for and he was looking forward to many of the things that 16 year olds do: going to a dance with a girl; riding bikes with his friends; learning to drive; and going to the movies. He had such ambition to make a difference in this world by going to college and then attending law school.
I feel very blessed that as a family, we had the opportunity to spend our holiday break together with Dakota on vacation and our memories will forever be filled with Koty decorating the tree; being on the beach; and sitting down and laughing with his family during our Christmas Dinner.
However, for me, those memories will forever be shadowed by the dark cloud of my son being beaten to death by those that choose to bully an innocent teenager. Murder is the only way we can describe this incident with the facts that we are aware of. The fact that a group of four bullies joined together and apparently decided to videotape his beating and death, demonstrates to me that they knew that they were going to kill him.
Furthermore, their apparent actions of running away after he fell to the ground without calling for any help further shows not only their character, but their intentions all along. By lessoning the charges, this serves as no warning to any future person that decides to bully another.
My family and I are at a loss of words for the repeated warnings to the parents and The Gardner-Edgerton High School. They had been placed on notice many times by Dakota and myself. We would kindly as that the superintendent of the Gardner School District investigate this situation to ensure that no other child or family goes through what we are experiencing.
I continue to see everyone commenting on Dakotas heart condition and I am concerned that individuals are using this for their own personal agendas such as keeping their client out of jail. Instead, what really should be focused on is the manner in which these cowards treated my son, especially if they did indeed videotape his beating and/or his death.
I would also like to thank friends, family, neighbors and the community for the out-pouring of love and support. It has meant so much to us. We are also very grateful for all of the efforts of the Gardner Police Department and Johnson County Sherriffs Office for the handling of Dakotas murder investigation in such a professional and compassionate manner. We hope that immediate charges will be filed against all individuals involved in this case.
61
Unamused
Feb 7, 2008 at 3:36 pm -Yes, this is in Texas. The bully goes if he hits anyone, that is if there are witnesses that are willing to tell the truth, which usually doesn’t happen. Their friends lie for them. But for verbal abuse, it is always open season.
62
thepooh5
Feb 7, 2008 at 4:00 pm -Wow that is such a sad statement from his family. I hope they can find some justice.
Are you telling me that someone has to actually witness the bully hit the other kid? Always rules to protect the offenders instead of the victims.
63
crunchieapple
Feb 7, 2008 at 4:25 pm -When I was 9, I was being harassed by the Class Bully.
One day, after school , I went to the park to catch minnows…after spending an hour with a bucket full of minnows, the Class Bully rode up on his bike and started to harass me. He grabbed my bucket and wouldn’t let go. I swung the lake water full of minnows on him…minnows were flopping all over the parking lot. I ran to the lake to get more water.
When I came back trying to save the lives of the litttle minnows, the Bully laughed about the minnows dying. That’s it…I grabbed my bucket, threw the remaining lake water on him floating with 1/2 dead minnows, and started hitting him with the bucket & screaming at the top of my lungs like a crazy person, as he tried to get on his bike and ride away…he never bothered me ever again.
As a mom of 3–I always tell them “don’t EVER back down if another kid harasses you, no matter if you get in trouble with the school for fighting back…we’ll deal with that later”…
64
michelle
Feb 7, 2008 at 4:26 pm -Iwant to know what the bullying murdering little bastards family is saying? Lawyered up and trying to get their kid off the hook??
Ranting “he would never hurt anyone on purpose” “it was an accident”.
I will say put shoe on other foot and as parents you really fucked this up. It had been going on for 2 years. Damn it, they didn’t even try to get help. Tell your kid to come clean and let him take the responsibility for his actions. Thats how you parent. That 16 year old boy who was ganged up on is no longer walking around.
65
Hippiepoet
Feb 7, 2008 at 4:28 pm -Wow, the statement from the family was simply heart-wrenching to read. Dakota was a beautiful young man, I am so sorry for this family’s loss.
66
Unamused
Feb 7, 2008 at 4:41 pm -Yes. Is the victim’s word against the bully. And of course when questioned, nobody saw anything. It is disgusting.
67
thepooh5
Feb 7, 2008 at 4:53 pm -So why does the bully’s word carry more weight? Or do you mean the school won’t act without a witness?
And, if that’ss true, a good piece of info to have if you are the one being bullied - the bully needs a witness, too - just in the event someone gets even with the bully…………………………
68
ashdavus
Feb 7, 2008 at 5:01 pm -Now that you mentioned the minnows…
I was 7 and it was a boy in our apartment complex. I think he was 11. Always chasing me around and threatening to have his snake bite me. One day he cornered me and dropped the dang garter snake on my head. I remember grabbing it and throwing it on the ground as hard as I could and him running away crying that I killed his pet snake.
69
thepooh5
Feb 7, 2008 at 5:05 pm -hahahhahahahaha - too bad you didn’t have time to stomp on it, too.
70
Morbid
Feb 7, 2008 at 5:12 pm -I think someone had a crush on you. Well, before you killed his pet snake.
71
ashdavus
Feb 7, 2008 at 5:21 pm -damn pre-pubescent boys!
72
WryBread
Feb 7, 2008 at 10:18 pm -Another heartbreaking story. I think I would have liked to have met this young man. Now he’s gone forever and all his plans for life are laid in the dust.
73
Unamused
Feb 8, 2008 at 2:10 am -Exactly. They refused to do anything. No witnesses, no crime. They would sometimes offer to remove the victim from the class, but it was never the bully who was kicked out. This was a few years back. I am hoping things are better now.
74
Unamused
Feb 8, 2008 at 2:14 am -*These were high school kids.
These were high school kids.
75
Unamused
Feb 8, 2008 at 2:16 am -I wonder….. why do the bully’s parents rarely do anything about the problem. Is it because they were bullies at one time, or were they victims?
76
Kebaj
Feb 8, 2008 at 4:13 am -The problem is the school knew there was a problem and decided not to act. As a teacher we are suppose to report if our student’s are being bullied and the principal is suppose to call in the parent’s and something be done. Now I haven’t taught in a while cause of the kid’s now a day’s and it seems that teacher’s and staff are afraid to do anything cause of sue happy parent’s.
I even saw where some staff blamed the bullied kid and their parent’s cause their child chose to be a snitch rather then stand up to the bully.
I am almost to the point where I am for kid’s to be home schooled…cause you never know what is going to happen at school…
77
ashdavus
Feb 8, 2008 at 8:19 am -That seems to be a widespread problem. My son and I have worn these shoes. Incidentally, the 2 teachers attacking us fit the profile of a serial bully. VERY interesting, huh?
The worst bully that has picked on my son is a boy who is homeschooled. My son no longer attends boy scouts because of this kid. Proof positive that parents are at least partly to blame for the behavior of a bully.
78
warrman69
Feb 8, 2008 at 10:58 am -I have come to find out in my life that most bullys have bullys for parents. O’doul rules! My nephews were being bullied by these asshole kids down the road, my sister tried everything to get them to stop, she and her husband even went to their house to talk to their parents and guess what? The parents were just as bad as the kids, the mom and dad started a fight with them and told them that is was not their fault that their kids were wimps and my nephew are not wimps, they would just get them alone and gang up on them, they never messed with them when they were togther. The big problem was that there were 5 bully boys in this family. One day 3 of them came up to our hill, yes I know we have our own hill and that sounds really back woods, but we really do. My mom, my dad, my sister, my brother and myself all bought land right next to each other. I was out working on my land when they came driving down the road yelling Nick and Lance are pussys they stop in front of my sisters house and kept yelling this over and over again. So I walk over there and tell them to get the fuck off our land and they say “fuck you, you don’t own the road” I told them yes I did own the road and that they needed leave. They told me to fuck off and the two on the passenger side of the car started to get out. I kicked the door shut and started to punch to of them in the face, they started yelling GO GO GO and I was being dragged down the road, because I was half in the car, one of them kicked me in the face and I fell, they kept driving yelling shit as they drove off. The word was that they were going to get their brothers and come back up, but it never happened I guess because there were 5 guys on our hill and they could not gang up on us. After that they did not mess with my nephews and the word got around that Nick and Lance’s Uncle was crazy, I thought that was funny, because I am really tame and never start anything. I was just pissed because they came on my land and started shit.
I guess these kids were beating up everybody at school and the school could not do much about it because they would only beat them up off of school grounds and their parents did not care how many times the school called them. The kids were always in trouble with the police but never enough to get them put away. DCFS was called on these people a bunch of times and one day they were just gone. They packed up and left, guess they needed to get out of McDonald county before they got tarred and feathered but who knows.
79
TheTrenchcoat Chronicles
Feb 8, 2008 at 11:53 am -[...] prayers condolences go out to the friends and family of Dakota DeRemus. Special thanks to Morbid. Posted by Trench in Think of the Children at 10:51 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) Defined tags [...]
80
solange822001
Feb 8, 2008 at 12:22 pm -Holy crap! I cant believe that Keba. That is unreal
81
solange822001
Feb 8, 2008 at 12:27 pm -Nice Warman! Good job lol.
82
WryBread
Feb 8, 2008 at 12:51 pm -Yes, where do they learn this from? Unless they are “bad seed,” they see that it works in their family and they take it outside and finds it works better with others.
I am reading “In Broad Daylight” by Harry N. MacLean, which is about the bully who was finally shot in his truck in the main street of his town and allowed to bleed out while everyone watched. He made his living stealing the farmer’s goods and bullied everyone he could. One wonders how the town put up with him as long as it did.
I’ve worked with bullies and the only way to handle them is to attack back. But it’s hell to be under the supervision of a bully, they back off and then they come at you again eventually. It’s their nature.
83
Blogger News Network / Should this bully be charged as an adult?
Feb 8, 2008 at 8:10 pm -[...] Special thanks to Morbid . [...]
84
Unamused
Feb 8, 2008 at 11:59 pm -Yes…that is so true cos the victim rocks the boat.
85
Unamused
Feb 9, 2008 at 12:24 am -It is my hope that Dustin Howard will be tried as an adult and go to prison. Soon he will know how it is to be bullied as big Bruno makes him his bitch again and again.
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