Nixzmary Brown's Stepdad is a Bastard

[impqueen]

Thanks, Ruby - this case needed its own thread.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/02/08/child.slain.ap/index.html

NEW YORK (AP) -- After police discovered the frail, battered body of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown in her home in 2006, authorities say her stepfather was quick to admit he had bound her to a chair with duct tape and beat her on a daily basis.

Videotaped and written statements by Cesar Rodriguez -- combined with grim crime scene photos from the room where the victim was tortured, starved and forced to urinate in a litter box -- have brought jurors to tears at his high-profile murder trial in Brooklyn.
But the emotion in the jury box hasn't discouraged Rodriguez's attorney from forging ahead with a brazen strategy: effectively putting Nixzmary and her mother on trial.
The aggressive former prosecutor, Jeffrey Schwartz, has portrayed the mother as the real killer, calling her a "monster" and mocking her as "Mommy Dearest."

He has also labeled Nixzmary a violent and uncontrollable "little Houdini" -- a reference to her supposed knack at slipping out of the makeshift restraints devised by her parents to keep her from attacking her younger siblings.....

(more at the link)

[ThreeOnAMeathook]

That's pretty fucked up. He'll get life, She'll get 10-20. That's my speculation.

[impqueen]

That's pretty fucked up. He'll get life, She'll get 10-20. That's my speculation.

You're probably right. And the "little Houdini" got the death penalty.

[Unamused Cat]

The jury has totally blown it. WTF were they thinking???? They should have their asses kicked for being incompetent human beings. bah...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/nyregion/18cnd-nixzmary.html?ref=nyregion


A jury in Brooklyn acquitted Cesar Rodriguez, the stepfather of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown, of second-degree murder Tuesday, but convicted him of a lesser charge, first-degree manslaughter, for fatally beating her as punishment for stealing a snack and jamming his computer printer with toys.

[skeptical]

OMFG! Was the defense allowed to hand pick the jury? Is there hidden money to pay people of there somewhere? What is up with this shit? Those are the only two reasons I can come up with for a verdict like that.

[Unamused Cat]

OMFG! Was the defense allowed to hand pick the jury? Is there hidden money to pay people of there somewhere? What is up with this shit? Those are the only two reasons I can come up with for a verdict like that.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg107/snarkyphotos/nixmary.jpg

I am totally outraged about this. This guy deserved the death penalty in my opinion... or at least life with no parole. A horrific death of a child only gets manslaughter??? What a travesty of justice. Those jurors are total morons or something else is going on. bah...

[netty1172]

:mad:

I have read quite a lot on this story since the POS step-asshat's trial started in January. I read his hand written confession, read what he stated in his taped confession to the police after they were called to the apartment for a "non-responsive" child and she was found dead...she had been gone for HOURS prior to 911 being called...she was so badly bruised, so emaciated, so thin, so badly neglected.....but he DIDN'T murder her! I honestly do not know why I was so intent on reading everything I could about this case...possibly just so Nixzmary could somehow touch and change my life (which she has, in so many ways!)

I have litterally cried for this little angel, who NO ONE stepped up to help. NO ONE!! Not even her maternal Grandmother, whom she BEGGED to take her away with her after a visit at Christmas....just a few weeks prior to her death.

I (as I'm sure MANY others were) was hoping they would have convicted this waste of space of murder rather than manslaughter (oh ghee...I'm sorry, I didn't REALLY mean to kill her!) To make him pay more than just a few short years for what he ended up doing to Nixzmary...he will probably spend less time in prison than little Nixzmary was alive in this world. That is just absolutely disgusting and maddening!

I can only pray for Nixzmary now, her and ALL the other abused, molested and neglected children of this sick, sick world we live in. If I had the means to take them all in........I would!

Rest in peace, sweet angel, Nixzmary Brown

[Mom of 4]

I am speechless. Trust me that never happens either. WTF is wrong with this jury? That poor baby girl deserved so much better than that, she deserved justice and this verdict doesn't even come close to justice. :grrrrrr:

[Lizard]

Nixzmary Brown’s mother Nixzaliz Santiago is due in Brooklyn Supreme Court Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing.

The defense attorney who represented Cesar Rodriguez had pointed the finger at and painted a gruesome picture of Santiago. He labeled her “Mommy Dearest,” called her the real killer, and introduced evidence from a jailhouse snitch that corroborated his claims.

The jailhouse informant testified at Rodriguez’ trial that Santiago, who was haunted by recurring dreams of the murder while the two of them were locked up in Rikers Island together, confessed to beating and killing her daughter. She testified that Santiago told her that she became enraged with jealousy when she discovered Rodriguez molesting Nixzmary. The two parents killed Nixzmary together, she said.

According to the jailhouse snitch, whose claims were never confirmed nor deemed credible, Santiago thought Nixzmary was so evil that she nicknamed her “Diablo,” meaning “devil” in Spanish.

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=27&id=19433

[aspartame]

A jury in Brooklyn acquitted Cesar Rodriguez, the stepfather of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown, of second-degree murder Tuesday, but convicted him of a lesser charge, first-degree manslaughter, for fatally beating her as punishment for stealing a snack and jamming his computer printer with toys.

so with this logic it would be okay for me to beat the living hell out of my neice for putting her peanutbutter and jelly sammach in the VCR?

true story. she said she wanted to see pb&j on the tv.

stupid me all i did was make her another one and kept a better eye on her while she ate it.

[rubylou]

The jury has totally blown it. WTF were they thinking???? They should have their asses kicked for being incompetent human beings. bah...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/nyregion/18cnd-nixzmary.html?ref=nyregion

From article, emphasis added:

"A law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said with a shrug of the shoulders, 'It could be worse.'

One juror, Terrence Cobwell, said afterward, 'We would have liked to have upped the charges but the prosecution didn’t really give us enough.'

Mr. Cobwell said the verdict had been 'sort of' a compromise. 'We just wanted justice for the little girl,' he said.

Nixzmary lived and died in a two-bedroom apartment on Greene Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant with her mother, her stepfather and five half-siblings.


SO- stepdad beats and starves little girl because she isn't his. He uses a defense of "I didn't know beatings could be dangerous to children." He is acquitted of murder, what, because the jury believed he was stupid enough not to understand the dangers of constant abuse? AND THEN all the adults, charged with the responsibility of at least honoring this child in death SHRUG and say they did their best?

While I never considered myself naive about our justice system and it's flaws, even I am SICKENED. This is beyond fucked up, this needs it's own new word for fucked up.
I'm thinking ultramegabullshittasticwithasideofstupid. it just makes me angry and sad at the same time. :mad:

[Lizard]

As Nixzaliz Santiago rode in the back of the prisoner-transportation vehicle the other day on her way into Brooklyn Supreme Court, her fellow inmates spit on her and called her a “baby killer,” according to her defense attorney.

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=4&id=19538

[nurseronda]

As Nixzaliz Santiago rode in the back of the prisoner-transportation vehicle the other day on her way into Brooklyn Supreme Court, her fellow inmates spit on her and called her a “baby killer,” according to her defense attorney.

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=4&id=19538
She should be glad they only spit on her.....I could think of about a hundred things they could have done to this little witch.
:)

[Angel]

so with this logic it would be okay for me to beat the living hell out of my neice for putting her peanutbutter and jelly sammach in the VCR?



I don't know about okay, but at least you wouldn't tote a murder charge.:rolleyes:

[Angel]

From article, emphasis added:

This is beyond fucked up, this needs it's own new word for fucked up.
I'm thinking ultramegabullshittasticwithasideofstupid. it just makes me angry and sad at the same time. :mad:

Or, y'know, we could employ the new favorite word of many here at D'D - fucktardery. Not as fancy or precise, but a helluva lot easier to spell!:p

[nurseronda]

Nixzaliz Santiago went on trial in Brooklyn state court on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter and reckless endangerment in the death of her daughter, Nixzmary Brown. She has pleaded not guilty.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/18/AR2008091802360.html

[Unamused Cat]

update: Mother found guilty


A state Supreme Court jury has found the mother of the 7-year-old Brooklyn girl who died a torturous death inside her apartment guilty of first-degree manslaughter, CBS 2 has learned.

http://wcbstv.com/local/nixzmary.brown.verdict.2.841019.html

[Just my luck sucks]

"The last words of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown, moaning in pain and gasping for air, were, 'Mommy, mommy, mommy,"' Dwimoh said. "She didn't love or comfort, and she didn't stop the beatings, and she didn't get any help."

Absolutely heartbreaking. Rest in peace little angel.

Your Mother didn't deserve your love and I'm glad she was found guilty.

[Sister Iroz]

"The last words of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown, moaning in pain and gasping for air, were, 'Mommy, mommy, mommy,"' Dwimoh said. "She didn't love or comfort, and she didn't stop the beatings, and she didn't get any help."


This made me cry! May she rest in peace.

A state Supreme Court jury has found the mother of the 7-year-old Brooklyn girl who died a torturous death inside her apartment guilty of first-degree manslaughter, CBS 2 has learned.

Best news I heard all day!

[crickett]

The jury has totally blown it. WTF were they thinking???? They should have their asses kicked for being incompetent human beings. bah...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/nyregion/18cnd-nixzmary.html?ref=nyregion


A jury in Brooklyn acquitted Cesar Rodriguez, the stepfather of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown, of second-degree murder Tuesday, but convicted him of a lesser charge, first-degree manslaughter, for fatally beating her as punishment for stealing a snack and jamming his computer printer with toys.

She probably stole food because she was hungry. My younger daughter once put a PB and J sandwhich into my VCR (back in the day when they were expensive)....she got time out and some toys taken away for a few days. She and her sister (2 & 3 years old at the time) also poured a whole bottle of whiteout over a term paper for a nursing project (back in the day when it was all typed out on a typewriter and I didn't have another copy). And what did they get?
A fucking thorough exam (mouth, etc) and an immediate bath! I was afraid that the white out might be toxic....
Oh....wait, those were my precious kids...more valuable than a class paper...so I must be a NORMAL parent....
Hard to believe that the jury was SO pathetically stupid and blind that they let the blame for her own death be placed on the 7 year old victim. Pathetic stupid ass poor excuses for human beings.
MAY THIS PRICK, THE SO-CALLED MOTHER AND HIS ATTORNEY ALL ROT IN HELL!!!!

[crickett]

As Nixzaliz Santiago rode in the back of the prisoner-transportation vehicle the other day on her way into Brooklyn Supreme Court, her fellow inmates spit on her and called her a “baby killer,” according to her defense attorney.

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=4&id=19538

GOOD! Hint of what is to come!
She said she was JEALOUS because she caught Rodriguez molesting the girl??? WTF?????????
OMG...they BOTH deserve life without parole..........fucking stupid worthless jury.

[Pixie]

The mother of Nixzmary Brown, the 7-year-old whose death stunned a city and influenced a new law named for her, was found guilty of manslaughter but cleared of second-degree murder in State Supreme Court in Brooklyn on Friday.

Nixzaliz Santiago, 30, appeared unresponsive as the jury also found her guilty of second-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child.

"The journey for justice for Nixzmary is almost over," said prosecutor Ama Dwimoh. She went on to praise the jury of 10 women and two men for ruling on the case "professionally and stoically."

"Today is a good day for the children because this jury said loud and clear that parents have a duty - it's not just what you do, it's what you don't do," Dwimoh said.

Santiago faces 25 years in prison on the manslaughter charge alone. She is to be sentenced Nov. 5.

Nixzmary's stepfather, Cesar Rodriguez, was convicted of manslaughter in March and sentenced to 26 1/3 to 29 years.

Defense attorney Sammy Sanchez told The Associated Press after the verdict that Santiago should not have been looked at in the same light as Rodriguez. "Cesar was the true criminal," Sanchez said.

Outside the courthouse, Santiago's mother, Maria Gonzalez, avoided reporters as she hustled to a nearby garage.

The nearly monthlong trial brought back to the public's memory the grisly details of Nixzmary's death, including the chair to which she was often violently bound and the litter box she was forced to use as a bathroom.

Nixzmary was beaten by Rodriguez after she took yogurt from a fridge and messed up Rodriguez's printer. Rodriguez slammed her head against a bathtub as she was being doused with cold water. Nixzmary weighed only 36 pounds when she died Jan. 11, 2006.

Her death brought swift and comprehensive changes to New York City's Administration for Children's Services and helped influence "Nixzmary's Law," which charges parents of children who have died as a result of abuse with first-degree murder.

During the trial, Santiago sometimes broke down into tears when prosecutors showed photos of Nixzmary's bruised corpse, even remarking, "This is messed up."

The jurors also heard testimony from an ACS worker how Santiago kept the remains of a miscarriage of hers in a jar. Santiago told Child Welfare Specialist Vanessa Rhoden that she kept the remains because "once she saw the baby's eyes, she couldn't let it go."

Santiago has five other children. Gonzalez is seeking their custody.


http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/saturday/news/ny-nynixz185888799oct18,0,4247075.story

[TheLittleFriend]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-nynixz1015,0,629913.story


Bullshit.

[crickett]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-nynixz1015,0,629913.story


Bullshit.

You're right, absolute BULLSHIT!!!! She knew about the beatings....she KNEW that the child was being beaten to death. And, she did NOTHING to protect this child....RIP little angel.

[Etoile]

Stepfather got 29 years. Mom got 40 years. (source) (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27682767/)

[Etoile]

A friend of mine wrote a blog post (http://sisterstalk.tblog.com/post/1970029398) about this. She feels the increased punishment for what the judge called "an act of omission" was justified - that the mom had a responsibility to protect her daughter.

I'm not sure I agree. In this case, it may be correct. But let's assume that a mom fears for her life, and that intervening will get her killed as well as her child. Is it appropriate to stand back in that case? I don't have the answer, it's a multi-faceted issue. But I'm not sure that additional punishment is justified.

Again, this apparently wasn't the case with Nixzmary's mother. But just thinking hypothetically...I dunno.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Gov. Paterson yesterday signed a new child-protection measure into law named for Nixzmary Brown, the 7-year-old girl who died of abuse and malnourishment.

The law increases the sentences for an adult convicted of torturing a child, changing the maximum sentence to life in prison.
[...]

The law amends the murder statute to add a section for the murder of a child under 14 in an "especially cruel and wanton manner," eliminating the chance of parole.

The previous maximum for the crime, a charge of first-degree manslaughter, was 25 years, with the chance of parole.http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/gov_signs_nixzmary_law_6ilH907iItYusqmo4PogkO

[skeptik]

Too little. Too late.

[curethispain]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The last words of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown, moaning in pain and gasping for air, were, 'Mommy, mommy, mommy,"' Dwimoh said. "She didn't love or comfort, and she didn't stop the beatings, and she didn't get any help."


NO NO NO NO NO! I don't want to hear that. I get so frustrated with my kids sometimes...and all they have to say is "Mommy?" and I'm done. How could someone allow that to happen?

[Echo]

My heart broke for that poor little girl. Her "parents" should never see the light of day again.

When are crimes against women and children actually going to be taken SERIOUSLY? That sentence is wayyy too light and does not fit the crime. It shouldn't have taken poor Nixmary's death for Paterson to pass that law.

Remember Lisa Steinberg? That was like 25 years ago.

[Just my luck sucks]

I just googled her image. An image of her in her casket, among others came up. So sad, she was so beautiful.

[badfish76]

She was a beautiful little girl and I would have opened my home to her if I had that chance.

This is a heartbreaking case and it touched me in many ways. When Nixmarie's birthday rolled around this past summer, I took my daughter for a Happy Meal and bought her a balloon. And I hugged her so tight.

There is a really nice memorial page on Myspace by a lady from NY named Dovesblood that you can check out.

[Roy]

*shoots the parents* I don't fucking care if I go to jail for it.

[thequeenofsorrow]

This is the story that has touched me the most ever. She was so beautiful and the only one singled out for torture. I hope she is so happy today in heaven that she will never be forgotten!

[Bay]

My heart broke for that poor little girl. Her "parents" should never see the light of day again.

When are crimes against women and children actually going to be taken SERIOUSLY? That sentence is wayyy too light and does not fit the crime. It shouldn't have taken poor Nixmary's death for Paterson to pass that law.

Remember Lisa Steinberg? That was like 25 years ago.

OMG! I always think of that case.

[luvmy82vette]

Sorry Y'all. But SHIT!! you can see the damn bruises from a distance and thru the makeup

DAMMIT!! That little girl should have been prancing around playing bride with those pink roses :bawling::bawling::bawling::bawling::bawling:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/01/17/nyregion/girl.span.jpg

[Silvahalo]

Nixzmary Brown,'s death not in vain.

Gov. Paterson yesterday signed a new child-protection measure into law named for Nixzmary Brown, the 7-year-old girl who died of abuse and malnourishment.

The law increases the sentences for an adult convicted of torturing a child, changing the maximum sentence to life in prison.

Suffer not the little children.....Rest in peace little Nixzmary Brown...you deserved a life with love.
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s341/silvahalo68/Fallen%20angels/girlspan.jpg

[Dakota Valkyrie]

http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/20110825-10.jpg http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/20110825-11.jpg
The mother of Nixzmary Brown will see her 43-year sentence reduced by seven years today after an appeals court threw out one of her assault convictions.

Nixzaliz Santiago was convicted in 2008 in Brooklyn Supreme Court of manslaughter, unlawful imprisonment, child endangerment and two counts of felony assault stemming from the 2006 beating and torture of her 7-year-old daughter Nixzmary Brown.

Nixzmary’s horrific death at the hands of her mother and stepfather Cesar Rodriguez led to an overhaul of the city’s Administration for Children’s Services.

Santiago appealed her conviction and the decision of Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Patricia DiMango to run most of the sentences consecutively, giving Santiago a term of 40⅓ - 43 years in prison – a longer term than the 29 years Rodriguez got despite him striking the fatal blow.

The Appellate Division had no problem with the consecutive sentences and found plenty of evidence to support the manslaughter conviction and one of the assault raps.

But the panel tossed one of the assault convictions, saying the acts described in the conviction do not match the charges in the indictment, according to the Aug. 23 decision.

Santiago was found guilty of injuring Nixzmary by tying her to a chair with a bungee cord, but the indictment charged Santiago with causing injury with a ruler.

The appeals court threw out that conviction and quashed the accompanying seven-year stretch, leaving Santiago to serve 33⅓ to 36 years.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/nixmary_term_gets_seven_years_reduced_vn1oD9oWT04o E7Z2XCGmUM

http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/20110825-12.jpg

[Obsolete]

This story reminded me so much of Lisa Steinberg.

That pic DV just posted is haunting. She doesn't really look sad or scared to me...just broken. Like she's given up.

[AngelFire]

What picture are you referring to, Obs? Can't see a pic

[Obsolete]

What picture are you referring to, Obs? Can't see a pic

At the bottom of the update DV just posted.

[AngelFire]

Oh okay, for some reason I can't view it. I guess it's a good thing

[Obsolete]

Oh okay, for some reason I can't view it. I guess it's a good thing

It's a photo of her holding what appears to be a graduation certificate (maybe kindergarden graduation?). She isn't smiling, just staring at the camera blank faced.

[Tundratot]

Damn! The only update on this case that I really want to see is that they've been assaulted or even killed in prison. No such luck.

[AngelFire]

I saw it, and yes she looked like you described, she gave up. That poor baby

[Silvahalo]

This case haunted me for such a very long time...her eye's look so familiar not unlike the reflection of so many children that have followed her ending. You will live in my heart always Nixymary Brown. There was only one you.
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s341/silvahalo68/Fallen angels/FallenAngels2/NixzmaryBrown.jpg

[LadyCygnet]

Damn! The only update on this case that I really want to see is that they've been assaulted or even killed in prison. No such luck.

You and me both!

She was so, so beautiful. Poor little darling.

[TearCollector]

Sad fact is, the change to laws always come after a horrific situation. Why are they not changed BEFORE shit happens.

[LadyCygnet]

Sad fact is, the change to laws always come after a horrific situation. Why are they not changed BEFORE shit happens.

Because no one really expects human beings to be that evil until it actually happens?

[princessgrandma]

Nixzmary was a beautiful little girl. Those expressive brown eyes probably danced when she was happy and sparkled when she was being mischievous. I can only imagine the punishment she received for either, the poor little thing. As I look at her eyes in that picture, I see pain but I see an unbroken spirit. They broke her body but not her spirit. She dances with angels now, that one. She's safe and loved and well cared for.


The only update on this case that I really want to see is that they've been assaulted or even killed in prison.

Me too!! There are a few cases where I hold my breath when there's an update, hoping to read that the inhuman monsters got shanked or something even worse in prison.

As for changing laws and sentences, the only good thing is that it applies to all who come after now. Where I come from, for Nixzmary's case, it's called "closing the barn door after the horse is out." No one wants to read that another child was starved, beaten and tortured to death, but for the next one, the sentence will be longer. There's some consolation there, but nothing for little Nixzmary. She's beyond all that now. That pic of her in the coffin broke my heart. Her little face was misshapened and the bruises stand out in spite of the makeup. She looked nothing like the pic of her from Kindergarten graduation. I was surprised to see there were no bruises or marks in that picture, but they were probably very good at making sure what they did could not be seen with her clothes on, for the most part.