The outcome could have been the same and I would blame stupid carelessness just as harshly as murder. It’s not as if the girl wouldn’t have been quite so dead because her relatives didn’t intentionally treat her as expendable. And if I were her parents I’d sure see something as bad as malicious intent in their careless failure to take good care of my daughter when she visits them.

I have to agree with Wry on this one. Although I’m sure it was not an intentional act to leave the child in the minivan, they chose to be neglectful. That is a HUGE mistake to make, that isn’t something that happens to the average human being (oops, didnt notice that a kid Im taking care of was missing for an entire night). This is a freaking FIVE year old. My son is 7 and he still requires my concern and attention at least once an hour (dinner, bedtime, etc.) How do TWO people not notice that one of the kids in their care is missing at bedtime? Really put yourself in that situation, think how that could be possible for a normal human being to do. Even if it’s not your kids, how do you forget about a little five year old? Something is wrong with these folks, and if the parents even THINK of letting them take care of kids again, I think they should have their kids taken from them immediately and permanently.

All I was saying was, I feel that Jason’s parents were looking for some “tragic accident” to happen and made one. I think this particular case, falls in the top 3 things of stupid things that people do. I just don’t think they planned it or intended for it to happen. They should have been more vigilant in their babysitting duties, by all means. The are accountable and responsible, just not intentionally motivated.

I just don’t see the usual evil, maliciousness that we usually see in the stories featured here, on the DD. I think these people were slack. I think the couple that let poor Jason die, were tired of taking care of him. I think there is a difference between the two cases – not an excuse, but different reasons that it occurred.

The outcome could have been the same and I would blame stupid carelessness just as harshly as murder. It’s not as if the girl wouldn’t have been quite so dead because her relatives didn’t intentionally treat her as expendable. And if I were her parents I’d sure see something as bad as malicious intent in their careless failure to take good care of my daughter when she visits them.

These people are not forgetful “oops!” only bought four ice cream cones types — they are no better than the couple that left their retarded kid in the van to die. Just luckier. The fact that they were used to only four kids in what must be an unregulated deluge of a homelife does not excuse them for not noticing that they were supposed to have five that night.

I agree, they are not excused. I’m just saying, I don’t see any intent or malicious behavior. Sure, they were as dumb as a box of rocks, but I can see HOW this could occur without there being criminal intent. Damn right, they should have known there were 5 instead of 4 kids that evening. They do not get a pass or an excuse.

I just don’t see the usual evil, maliciousness that we usually see in the stories featured here, on the DD. I think these people were slack. I think the couple that let poor Jason die, were tired of taking care of him. I think there is a difference between the two cases – not an excuse, but different reasons that it occurred.

These people are not forgetful “oops!” only bought four ice cream cones types — they are no better than the couple that left their retarded kid in the van to die. Just luckier. The fact that they were used to only four kids in what must be an unregulated deluge of a homelife does not excuse them for not noticing that they were supposed to have five that night.

It’s hard for me to imagine how you take your kids out of a vehicle and forget one, but I also CAN imagine that she wasn’t part of their bedtime rituals, and they could have overlooked it. Stupid, but not necessarily criminal.

I don’t agree…I don’t care if you have 12 kiddos your or not, come bedtime you count heads and say goodnight. They are adults and should have known better. The ending could have been fare worse…they got off easy. Maybe not criminal but really, really stupid. ..they won’t make this mistake again.

It’s hard for me to imagine how you take your kids out of a vehicle and forget one, but I also CAN imagine that she wasn’t part of their bedtime rituals, and they could have overlooked it. Stupid, but not necessarily criminal.

I’m with you, Ruby on this one. I can see how they may have missed the “extra” child. I don’t see this as criminal or intentional – they very well could have just “forgot”, in this particular situation. I’m thankful the child was safe and only scared, instead of the usual outcome.

I feel sorry for those kids, but they obviously shouldn’t be allowed to stay with their parents. They’re lucky this story didn’t have a worse ending…

You all are talking about parental neglect. This wasn’t the parents. This said she was the NIECE and staying with them. She’s visiting.

It’s hard for me to imagine how you take your kids out of a vehicle and forget one, but I also CAN imagine that she wasn’t part of their bedtime rituals, and they could have overlooked it. Stupid, but not necessarily criminal.