5-Year-Old Dead 2 Hours Before She Arrived At ER; Wesley & Catherine Lowe Arrested

[Dakota Valkyrie]

http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/-dd-2245.jpg http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/-dd-1965.jpg
Two people face charges in connection with Thursday’s death of 5-year-old Celeste Lowe. (other articles refer to her as "Anna Celeste Lowe" but the family seems to call her Celeste)

The child's father, Wesley Lowe, 32, and step-mother Catherine Lowe, 34, are charged with negligent homicide and were taken into custody at 2 a.m. today.

Sheriff's deputies also revealed the child died from internal injuries and internal bleeding. She was dead for two hours before her father and step-mother brought her to a local hospital on Thursday morning.

She also had bruising and trauma over her entire body, authorities said.

The father and step-mother also face charges connected with the possession of oxycodone and darvacet.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20110114/NEWS03/110114012/Deputies-arrest-2-people-in-connection-5-year-old-s-death

A West Monroe mother is blaming the system for failing her in a child custody battle, and now her 5-year-old daughter is dead.
[...]

"She received serious injuries to the abdominal cavity," said Bossier Parish Coroner John Chandler during a news conference. "The child's body did have multiple bruises of multiple stages."

The child's mother, Jamie Mercer, a West Monroe resident, said she met Lowe in Arcadia on Sept. 24 to drop off the child with her father for the weekend.

"I called him Sunday (Sept. 26) to find out when I needed to come pick her up," Mercer said. "He told me I couldn't and said Celeste couldn't come back with me."

Mercer learned Lowe had filed a temporary restraining order against her and said Lowe also contacted Child Protective Services on her. However, she said Lowe had no basis for his actions.

"He has contempt charges in Ouachita Parish," Mercer said. She said every time she tried to meet with Lowe in court in order to get custody of her daughter, Lowe would ask to extend the time period of the restraining order.

"And the judges just kept signing them," Mercer said. "They didn't even look into it or try to find out, 'Why?'"

Investigators still are trying to determine how the injuries occurred. The couple gave contradictory statements and said they thought her continuous vomiting and extreme abdominal pain were the result of a common stomach virus.

Anna Celeste Lowe was pronounced dead upon arrival at Willis-Knighton Pierremont hospital in Shreveport. The couple took her to the emergency room about 9:30 a.m., and the staff determined the child had been dead about two hours, said Doyle Dempsey, Bossier undersheriff. The hospital staff noticed rigor mortis present in the victim's face and bruising and trauma over her entire body.

"There are two individuals that know what happened to this child, and they are not telling," Dempsey said. "We continue to investigate, and most likely the charges will be upgraded."

Based on information from the child's step-siblings, authorities believe Celeste was injured Wednesday afternoon. Catherine Lowe's children, now in state custody, were home at the time but don't know what happened, Dempsey said.

Catherine Lowe told investigators she contacted her husband about 1 a.m. Thursday expressing concern for the child and the need to get her medical attention. Wesley Lowe advised his wife not to take the child to the hospital because of his prior run-in with Child Protective Services related to a domestic battery arrest in Nebraska, Dempsey said.

Instead, Catherine Lowe took the victim to work with her about 7:30 a.m. Thursday, and the woman's co-workers told her the child needed immediate medical attention.

"We talked with the co-workers, and they said the child was mumbling and was responsive, but they could tell she was in pain," Dempsey said. "They could tell she needed to go to the hospital."

Chandler described the child's condition as critical and says she could have possibly survived her injuries with the proper medical attention.

Mercer said she was allowed to attend the State Fair of Louisiana with Celeste in Shreveport on Oct. 30.

"She asked me, 'Are you going to take me home, mommy?'" Mercer said. She said Lowe's restraining order prevented that.

"I asked my attorney what would happen if I took Celeste and just went home," Mercer said. "He told me police would be at my house."
[...]

Mercer said Lowe rarely paid the child support he owed her.

"He's only ever been an every-other-weekend dad," Mercer said. She said Friday's date, Jan. 14, was ironic because she expected to get back custody of her daughter that day.
[...]

Mercer said the child custody system in Louisiana failed her and her daughter.

"The system didn't do its job," Mercer said, holding back tears. "They just kept letting (Wesley) extend the time of the restraining order and took his word for everything."
http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20110115/NEWS01/101150321

Co-workers later told Bossier Sheriff's investigators that the child was a pale blue color and unable to walk or stand on her own. Deputies say that the co-workers allegedly told Catherine to get the child some medical attention.

Deputies say instead, Catherine allegedly left work and drove back to Elm Grove, Louisiana before getting back to her home, Catherine allegedly stopped at a grocery store in Bossier City, left the dying child alone in the vehicle as she went inside to buy Gatorade.

Authorities say Catherine reportedly passed several hospitals on the way back to their Elm Grove home and made no attempt to get the child any medical help. Instead, as soon as Catherine arrived back home, deputies say Wesley, the biological father and Catherine drove Celeste back to W. K. Pierremont where she was pronounced dead.http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=13839995

http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/-dd-1967.jpg http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/-dd-2246.jpg http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/-dd-367.jpg

[Rockin Ma]

ELM GROVE, LA (KSLA) – In the trailer park where five-year-old Anna Celeste Lowe lived with her siblings before her death on Thursday, neighbors told say it's a quiet street, and the Lowe's had only been there about six months.

Brooke Reeves, who lived just down the street from the Lowe's, says her 8-year-old daughter played with Anna Celeste and her older sister.

"They were always covered up," said Reeves "I've never seen 'em without sleeves or something to cover them up."

She also said the girls were very quiet, even when they waited at the bus stop in her car.

Though she thought their behavior was strange, she didn't think it could be a sign of abuse; even after what her daughter told her earlier in the week.

"It was either Monday or Tuesday, my daughter said that Anna was sick, didn't feel good, and she didn't know why," said Reeves. "We just thought maybe it way because of the flu that was going around."

Then just two days later, the Lowe's were a no-show to Reeves' house.

"They were always at my house about 7 o'clock, stood in the driveway, waiting for my daughter to come out," said Reeves. "That morning they didn't show up. I knew something bad must've happened because it wasn't like them to not be there on time."

It wasn't until another classmate's mom called that Reeves knew what happened.

"I wish I would have known that something was going on," said Reeves "Because if I would've known, I would've helped her. I would've done something to help her."

We're still working to find out as much as we can about this family and the case, so stay with KSLA News 12 as we keep you up to date throughout the investigation.

http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=13853814

[Rockin Ma]

Mercer says if the joint custody agreement between her and her ex had been enforced, she would have had Celeste Wednesday night - and she'd still be alive.

You can have a protective order on a parent and still have joint custody. In those cases usually there is an in between to handle pick up and drop off or the meeting is in a public place. Did this restraining order extend to the child?

[TheMeaningOfItAll]

How the hell someone can beat a child to near death and then ignore the obvious signs of failing health is beyond me. Yet, we see it time and time again on here. I just imagine that poor little girl in extreme pain, trying to get people to help her but being unable to speak coherently. I picture that ugly cunt going to the grocery store, leaving that dying girl in the car, slumped over, probably whimpering in pain wanting her mother. Unbelievable. May both of these fuckers rot in jail for the rest of their days.

[Darsa]

How can *anyone* obey the "other half" and NOT get medical attention for a child who is OBVIOUSLY in desperate need of it, whether or not they are the bio parent??!?!?!? Oh, that just KILLS me, I am SO angry at these morons; what, he wanted custody of her so he wouldn't have to pay child support? Fucker!!! And that stupid fucking bitch he lives with; where are these people BRAINS?!~?!!? FOr Chrissake...
I absolutely know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if there was the barest hint that my child was being neglected or abused at the "other parent's" house, that child and I would be in hiding until the truth came out; there's NO way that I would put my child's life at risk over the possibility that I'd have to talk to the police. My husband would never, ever do anything to hurt our child, I know that, but I also know that if I *was* with someone who seemed to be abusive that it would be extremely short-lived. No one touches my daughter; even her friends know better than to mess with her on the chance that her mom might find out. Which is cool; it has earned their respect and they actually like me for it. :thumbsup:

That poor sweet lil' girl, so very sad!! I wish that she had been able to say something to someone about what was going on... :(

[Farce scape]

Wait, wait, wait....

"...Wesley Lowe advised his wife not to take the child to the hospital because of his prior run-in with Child Protective Services related to a domestic battery arrest in Nebraska..."

This douche-bag was able to pull off this (allegedly baseless) temporary restraining order charade, against the girl's mother--- FOR MONTHS ON END--- meanwhile, HE had a criminal record that included arrest for domestic violence!? The court didn't put him under a microscope and have DCF checking on this child?!
WTF???

[evervigilant]

If only a co worker had rang 911 for an ambulance, instead of expecting this cunt to do what any right thinking person would do.

[Tundratot]

Mercer said she was allowed to attend the State Fair of Louisiana with Celeste in Shreveport on Oct. 30.

"She asked me, 'Are you going to take me home, mommy?'" Mercer said. She said Lowe's restraining order prevented that.


This just breaks my heart.

[sgr1966]

this is a digusting story.wtf

[impqueen]

I can't tell you all the times I prayed, while my daughter was at a visit, that I would get her home safe and unharmed.

I was very young, and very scared. I knew what my child's father was, but nobody else seemed to. I felt incredibly small in a big system, and very alone.

It took until she was five to get "supervised" visits. There was evidence of abuse - but no proof that her biodad did it. He'd deny and eventually admit that maybe one of his friends shouldn't have been left alone with her. For whatever reason her testimony wasn't enough. Her therapist's testimony wasn't enough - there wasn't physical evidence that linked him to the abuses, so he went free, with court ordered supervised visitation.

The court ordered supervisors? His parents. Who let him take her out. Alone. So I denied visits, and when she was nine the police came to my house and dragged my little girl out of it. Crying. Begging not to be sent. But the supervising Grandma was there, and I was threatened with jail, and they physically removed my child. The contempt case against me was dropped when the judge talked to my child, but the damage was done.

Back to court we went. There is a reason I still do not own a home at my age. The bastard sued my daughter's therapist. He lost. He sued me for custody - not once, but four times between the time my child was four and eleven. FOUR times. He lost every time - eventually he got annoying enough for the judge that his child support was quadrupled and his visits ended. But my girl was eleven years old before it was done, because he was great with a continuance. Every time he sued, he'd continue the case for a year. Every time. Usually, he sued on my birthday, or hers.

It took until my girl was sixteen, but finally the child support got behind enough that she got up her courage, called him, and asked him to sever parental rights, and he agreed because he was facing years in prison for nonsupport. TJ adopted our girl within days, as he had wanted to do since she was born. Now she's 21, has a bachelor's degree and a career and her own apartment and her own dog and her own life. She's brilliant and beautiful, and she still has scars, physical and emotional. She has no contact with her father or any of the people who she says "knew and did nothing". Including her paternal grandparents. As for her ex-father, he is five times divorced and has a warrant for domestic abuse right now. I don't know where he is, and I don't care - as long as he's well away from my baby.

When it gets dark for my girl (and it does, sometimes, when the nightmares happen), she calls. Even if it's three in the morning, we talk about it. I always tell her how much I love her, how sorry I am that she went through such things, how much I wish I had been better able to protect her. She always tells me that she knows I did everything I could do. But you know, I always think (and sometimes even say), "Nope. I could have killed him before he hurt you, baby. I could have. I wanted to. I even planned it, but I was too scared to get it done. But if I had it to do again, I would."

I bet Celeste's mom feels the very same way.

[Rockin Ma]

Sometimes people say "well you should've just taken her and not given her back" or "they won't actually put you in jail"

Truth though, even if they don't put you in jail on a contempt, that act will get your visitation/custody taken away.

[impqueen]

Sometimes people say "well you should've just taken her and not given her back" or "they won't actually put you in jail"

Truth though, even if they don't put you in jail on a contempt, that act will get your visitation/custody taken away.

Yep. They will take your child, and they will give her to the other parent regardless of any domestic violence history on that parent's part, and regardless of any restraining order between that parent and another person, and regardless of abuse allegations or civil cases. I showed police my custody papers and they showed me handcuffs and asked my little girl if she wanted Mommy to go to jail.

I had a new lawyer the next week - but for parents without resources or generous relatives, I can't imagine.

[Rockin Ma]

That's right. And the parents without the resources have a hard time because they are repping themselves, in emotionally hard and complicated court proceedings and it's not easy to say the right thing, be properly prepared, or tell your story in an understandable, legal, stick to the facts way when your emotions are visible. It's very easy to look like a looney bird, when you represent yourself.

[AngelFire]

So sad when parents have no choice but to obey the laws all the while having the knowledge that their little one is not safe. To all the single mothers and fathers that have to see their children go back to their home grown abusers, keep fighting don't give it up. The kids are the ones that my make my heart ache, they sometimes don't understand why momma or daddy have to send them back to the scary place. Arrrg this story hurts my mom heart.

[Silvahalo]

I read the article and then saw little Anna Celeste's face as I reached the end....took my breath away. She was so precious. Can't imagine what lies in person's heart as they beat on their own child and see their own likeness looking back at them crying in agony.

For parents like impqueen who have gone through such hell, I can't tell you for certain what I do in the same place and scares me to think what I might do. I wouldn't be able to eat or breath right if I had to go through that and have the law thrown in my face and do nothing for me....feel so helpless, so utterly desperate. I think I'd camp out under the window for every visit....call continuously. Worse I might do as imp said....if she had to do it again. My heart goes out to you.

This child was failed seemingly by everyone one on some level. Not speaking on any one person although her killer I reserves a special hate for. Had my baby asked me '...are you going to take me home mommy', I don't think I would have the strength to take her back, to leave her behind. I know---I know, there is reality to contend with but my weakness would overcome me in holding my child in my arms.

One thing I will say and haven worked with people who do this, child advocate groups. People who work tirelessly to help those who have no one and need guidance. Always turn to a local group and beg, plead your case. You might be surprised what they can do for you.

Little Celeste deserved to be loved and championed. A small voice that wasn't heard, a voice now forever silenced. You will be missed by those who cannot escape your face as it shown so bright. You deserved a father who's day didn't begin until seeing that very brilliance.
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s341/silvahalo68/Fallen%20angels/FallenAngels2/AnnaCelesteLowe.jpg

[impqueen]

I was fortunate - my case was different than Jamie Mercer's in that I had sole custody, not joint. I had filed for it early and had an attorney who was able to show enough instability on the biodad's part that I won it, even though I was barely 20 at the time. Sole custody is harder to overturn than joint custody, and it's a little harder to prosecute a sole custodial parent who refuses to release a child (although it can be done if visitation is court ordered.) Those years were hell on wheels for my little girl. And I was fortunate that TJ, who I married at 21, was stable and a good man who was fine with using any and all assets we had or could borrow to keep our kiddo safe. I will always be grateful to him for being her real father, even though she was not his child by birth.

I did pick up my girl one time, at a shopping mall, and take her home. She was little and TJ and I were there, and the biodad and his 16 year old GF were there, and my girl was very ill with a high fever and they had no coat on her and nothing to cover her ears, which I had warned him were infected. They did not have her medicine. I picked her up and I took her home, and TJ was nearly jailed on assault charges. Those mall security guards had no idea how to handle the hellcat that was me that day. That kind of thing did happen from time to time. I simply wasn't able to look my baby in the face and walk away, but I understand why Jamie felt she had to do exactly that, and I feel for her.


Our system is not designed to protect children, but to allow for warfare between parents at a child's expense. I feel so bad for Jamie - but even worse for little Celeste, who only wanted to be safe, and no doubt wanted her Mommy.

[Countess Olenska]

Damn Impy. I understand how hard it is, first hand.

This story is everything I was afraid my ex would do to my now 11yr old. The only reason I had a good lawyer was because I was smart enough to document everything. Stalking is domestic violence and my ex was laughed out of court, giving a life long injunction and allowed visitation under my terms.

He's lucky I am fair and only care about my kid's happiness.

[THX]

Sometimes people say "well you should've just taken her and not given her back" or "they won't actually put you in jail"

Truth though, even if they don't put you in jail on a contempt, that act will get your visitation/custody taken away.

Whenever a parent absconds with a child, they're automatically considered the guilty party in any parental issues. They have to hide so the news never gets their side of the story, so we're usually left with the impression that the running parent was the only bad guy. I'm sure there are plenty of times where this is true but I've wondered how many times the abducting parent was facing a situation like this and felt they had no other way to protect their child.

[Nell]

You are all fortunate beyond belief that you had a lawyer. I didn't and i haven't seen my boys in almost 2 years.


Believe me when i say that i sometimes wish i had ran.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/-dd-1989.jpg
In his 2006 petition for custody of Anna Celeste Lowe, Wesley Lowe, the girl's father, claims the biological mother, Jamie Mercer refused to take Anna Celeste to the doctor when she was sick. When she went to the hospital, Lowe claims she was there for two days. In July of 2006, Mercer filed an answer, denying all of the allegations.

One month later, a judge grants the pair joint custody of Anna, splitting holidays and trading weeks. Mercer says she kept Anna Celeste while Lowe went to North Platte, Nebraska. It was in North Platte in 2008 that Lowe was arrested and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor domestic assault charge involving another girlfriend.

Then, in September 2009, Wesley Lowe filed a protective order on Anna's behalf against Jamie Mercer. In it, he claims Anna told him that Mercer sexually assaulted her. Mercer denies all accusations.

A judge temporarily gave Lowe custody while the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office investigated the case. Deputies reported Anna told them that her mother hit her, resulting in a bump on her forehead. In the end, case workers said the case was "unfounded pending any new developments."

There were three more protective orders against Mercer. The last of them, filed on the 16th of December, gave Lowe full custody until January 25th. The two were supposed to meet in court on that date to decide who would have custody.
http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=13865943

[impqueen]

Oh sheez. This guy was tormenting his ex with their kid. I'm not saying it's okay to cause a bump on your kid's forehead - that's not okay, ever. But it's a damn sight better than killing her.

By the by, pic of Jamie Mercer (http://www.myspace.com/jamie_mh78) and another one of Anna Celeste (http://www.facebook.com/search.php?q=jamie+mercer&init=quick&tas=search_preload#%21/jmercer78):

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/100/m_f72a00edc38c4d2791183dfdc2a01e07.jpg http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/hs1326.snc4/161663_1230984521_2853368_n.jpg

[Dakota Valkyrie]

By the by, pic of Jamie Mercer (http://www.myspace.com/jamie_mh78) and another one of Anna Celeste (http://www.facebook.com/search.php?q=jamie+mercer&init=quick&tas=search_preload#%21/jmercer78) (bigger at links):
Pssst @impqueen (http://www.dreamindemon.com/forums/member.php?u=160) . Just an FYI. New changes with the last damned upgrade. They show up as attachements so clicking 'em here in your post will embiggen them. To show full size when inserting pics, select "From URL" and make sure "Retrieve remote file and reference locally" is NOT checked. (Or manually insert IMG tags instead of the Insert Image button)

[impqueen]

Ohhh, better idea. Thanks - editing now :)

ETA: Pffft @me. I think I have it now, but now it's a pain in my ass so I'm not fixing shit. Those attached thumbnails can just sit there.

Yes, I am lazy like that.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Stepmonster's charges upgraded to first-degree murder


Catherine Lowe, 34, who is already being held in the Bossier Maximum Security Facility on a charge of negligence homicide stemming from the 5 year old girl's death, is being held without bond.

Bossier Undersheriff Doyle Dempsey said Anna Celeste's father, Wesley Dwayne Lowe, 32, will continue to be held on one count of negligent homicide. His bail has been set at just over $1 million.

Anna Celeste was pronounced dead Jan. 13 at WK Pierremont Health Center . Following an autopsy, Bossier Parish Coroner Dr. John Chandler determined the cause of death to be the result of internal injuries and bleeding into the body cavity.

"The injury itself from the coroner's report shows that the abuse of the child was so great that it caused her stomach to be severed from her intestines," Dempsey said. "We don't know what caused that injury but we do know that it is the type of blow you normally see from say a car accident or something of that force."http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20110125/NEWS03/110125019/Stepmother-s-charges-upgraded-to-first-degree-murder-


In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Bossier deputies say upon investigating events that led up to the child's death it was learned that Catherine Lowe was the only guardian with Anna Celeste at the time of her death.

Bossier investigators say they learned this new information through interviews with Catherine's other children. From those interviews, investigators learned that Murray-Lowe's two biological children were present sometime the day before Anna Celeste died.

Murray-Lowe allegedly followed the 5-year-old into a bathroom at their home. Shortly after, investigators say the children report hearing a loud thump and when they went to see what was going on, they reportedly found Anna Celeste lying on the floor in the bathroom in obvious pain and vomiting.
[...]

Bossier Parish Sheriff's investigators say that based on the statements of Catherine's children and others they've concluded that Murray had specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm to Anna Celeste.http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=13905116

[Silvahalo]

...coroner's report shows that the abuse of the child was so great that it caused her stomach to be severed from her intestines,"... I cannot fathom how this child survived the time she did after the blow that did this to her. Baby girl suffered---nothing quick about her death.

In all fairness the bio-mom should get a chance to beat the living guts out of that whore, leave her to suffer slowly. She "intended" to kill or bring grave harm to Celeste? fuck, that is some wicked shit. Not even an aw fuck I lost my cool situation, but followed her with intent into that bathroom. AND stepmonsters kids have to live with the knowledge that their mom did this to a helpless child, that alone deserves severe and swift beatings to her ugly face.

She killed Celeste, a little angel I mean, look at her, she looks like an angel even more so in this picture. I don't think even blowing the devil will get her a break in hell. Rest in peace precious Anna Celeste.
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s341/silvahalo68/Fallen%20angels/abused%20children/c8fa653c.jpg

[Dakota Valkyrie]

"We know that the father was home between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. the night of the incident and he could have easily seen that his daughter was in serious need of medical attention," Dempsey said. "Because he failed to provide his daughter with the medical care she needed, we are continuing to charge Wesley Lowe with negligent homicide."
[...]

Catherine Lowe has given contradictory statements to investigators on the events that transpired, and Dempsey said she has remained uncooperative with investigators.

"This is a potential death-penalty case although a decision has not yet been made on whether to pursue the death penalty," he said. "Whenever you have the murder of a child that young, or any child, it's always a hard case and you want to get to the bottom of what happened to that child. We'll take it to the grand jury sometime in late March and decide what we want to do from there."

Dempsey said Catherine Lowe's children, ages 10 and 12, were key to learning the truth behind Anna Celeste's death.

"They have been very cooperative throughout this investigation," he said. "Our office has interviewed them several times, and they have maintained the same story."
http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20110126/NEWS01/101260327

[Silvahalo]

Because he failed to provide his daughter with the medical care she needed, we are continuing to charge Wesley Lowe with negligent homicide."I'm so glad to read this, thanks DV.
The "father" is guilty as sin for bringing this death bitch into his child's life, failed to protect her, failed to come to her aide when he had to know she was in extreme distress. Sickens me what he might have been doing, kicking back drinking a cold one watching some bullshit on TV---all the while his daughter is in tortures pain dying. Fuck him to hell.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

An Elm Grove woman charged with second-degree murder in the death of her stepdaughter rejected a plea deal Tuesday that would have reduced her charges to manslaughter.

Catherine Murray Lowe, 35, the stepmother of Anna Celeste, 5, is now scheduled to face trial in Bossier District Court on Feb. 13. Lowe faces a mandatory life in prison sentence if convicted.

A status conference is set to be held Jan. 6.

Jamie Mercer, Anna Celeste's mother who lives in West Monroe, sat in the courtroom Tuesday alongside her father surrounded my eight members of the River Cities chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse.

Mercer said she has attended every status conference to date and will continue to attend every court appearance.

"She can't be here," Mercer said of Anna Celeste. "They need to pay for what they did to her, and I'm going to be here every day to see that there is justice."
[...]

During her October court appearance, prosecutors offered Lowe a plea deal in which she could agree to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and be sentenced to 40 years in prison.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20111207/NEWS03/112070321/Lowe-rejects-plea-deal-opts-trial

[Tundratot]

During her October court appearance, prosecutors offered Lowe a plea deal in which she could agree to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and be sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Uh-oh, that's not good. It must mean they don't have enough evidence. And now she and her lawyer think they can beat the charge.

[Whisper]

Trial date pending on civil suit filed in child's death

A West Monroe woman whose 5-year-old daughter was beaten to death is suing the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the Louisiana Office of Risk Management and the two people accused of killing her child.
Jamie Mercer, the mother of Anna Celeste Lowe, filed the civil lawsuit in Bossier Parish District Court in January.
Charles Kincade, Mercer’s attorney, said a hearing date has not been scheduled yet.
“Ms. Mercer’s loss has been so staggering,” Kincade said Thursday. “Nothing can be gained from this suit that can replace what she has lost. She’s just hopeful what has happened to her won’t happen to anyone else.”
[...]
Catherine Lowe was charged with first-degree murder, and Wesley Lowe was charged with negligent homicide. Both are awaiting trial.
The suit claims DCFS “did nothing to investigate the adequacy or propriety of Anna Celeste being in the custody of Catherine Lowe and Wesley Lowe.”
The suit also alleges that DCFS failed to adequately investigate the credibility of Wesley Lowe after he made complaints against Mercer, failed to investigate the home in which the child was placed and failed to investigate suspected abuse reported by the child’s teacher.
Back in 2006, Mercer was awarded custody of her daughter and Wesley Lowe was allowed weekend and holiday visitation.
In September, 2010, Wesley Lowe informed Mercer he would not be returning their daughter following one of his weekend visitations.
He then gained temporary custody of his daughter when he filed for and was granted a protective order against Mercer. According to documents filed in the 26th Judicial Court, Mercer was accused of physically and sexually assaulting the girl.
The allegations made against Mercer were later determined to be unfounded by the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office.
[...]http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20120315/NEWS01/120315040

[Dakota Valkyrie]

After months of turning down plea offers, Catherine Lowe pleaded guilty this morning in Bossier parish district court to manslaughter in the January 2011 death of her 5-year-old step-daughter, Celeste.

Lowe faces a maxiumum 25 years in prison. She will be sentenced Dec. 18.

Her husband, Wesley Lowe, still faces charges of negligent homicide in his daughter's death. His trial also is slated for Dec. 18.

Bossier-Webster parish district Attorney Schuyler Marvin said plea was a good conclusion to a case that was "factually difficult to prove." While prosecutors were able to establish that Catherine Lowe was with Celeste at the time of her death, they couldn't prove exactly what caused the child's death, Marvin said.

There were no eye-witnesses, Marvin said.
[...]

Authorities subsequently arrested Catherine and Wesley Lowe charging them with negligent homicide. Charges against Catherine Lowe were later upgraded to first-degree murder but later dropped to second-degree murder.

Her trial was slated to being this morning.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20121112/NEWS01/121112012/Lowe-pleads-guilty-killing-step-daughter-

[Dakota Valkyrie]

he Bossier-Webster district attorney’s office has dropped the charge filed against an Elm Grove man in connection with the death of his 5-year-old daughter.

The charge of negligent homicide Wesley Lowe faced was dismissed last week, less than a month after his wife pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter for killing Anna Celeste Lowe. District Attorney Schuyler Marvin said there was no way to prove that Wesley Lowe, 35, did anything to contribute to his daughter’s death. “We knew all along that Wesley Lowe did not cause the child’s death. He had an alibi; he was at work.

“We needed him to testify and fill in where he was and what his wife told him on the phone about the child,” Marvin said. “It was never our intentions to go forward with a trial for him.”
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20121211/NEWS03/121211028/DA-drops-charge-against-slain-child-s-father

[ScribbleMuse]

Okay, so finally we have SOME "bystander" parents beginning to see punishments for doing absolutely jack-shit to help the helpless children in their site, but this is another example of how "innocent" of intentional murder is not nearly innocent of behavior that led directly to someone's death. There may be a fine line that needs to be followed when legally framing the codes and standards of our judicial system, and if there were not, I'd be howling that a one-brush-covers-all is not fair, not justice, and sometimes is the only crime in existance--i.e. to kill someone in true self-defense that is proven is thankfully not legally defined as murder.

THIS shit, however, is the flip side of taking everything too simply and dumbing it up so that people who ARE guilty are not event tried for crimes.

If it was difficult to charge him as any particular active assailant, I would understand shying away from such charges. But there are many examples in caselaw now where an adult who is given responsibility for a child's existence is charged by being a useless fucking moron who just as actively murdered the child by inaction as the person doing the obvious assaults.

Sigh.