Natalie Hill found dead in crib with over 100 rodent bites

[buggysmommy]

Fuck me, that sucks for that poor little baby. Would have been better for her, if she had died prior to the bites...

God please let this have been as quick as possible for her...

[buggysmommy]

I am compelled to ask...

Has anyone here ever been so poor, that you felt like waking up in the morning was pointless? I have. I can openly admit to anyone here-I have been so fucking broke that I have written bad checks just to keep my utilities on. It bought me time. I have gone without food and literally survived off of Top Ramen. And there were plenty of times where I struggled to pay my rent...There were times where I would literally eat at my sister's house - for days - and even then-she would give me gas money to get there. Oh and let me say-I often left her house with a roll of toilet paper, leftovers, snacks and drinks in my hand. I was single at the time, and I struggled...

Now, even today, I can't tell you I am financially stable. In this economy, I don't know if any common person such as you or I, is financially stable. I can tell you I make a decent income, as does my husband. We are not always comfortable, we try to be frugal. But I can say that without hesitation, we can prioritize our outgoing to a point where shit gets paid and my child is taken care of. This is done on 2 incomes-which are considerably substantial in the scheme of things today. Take all of this into consideration...

These parents were good parents. I believe that wholeheartedly. They loved their children and if they were shitty parents, then the 14 month old would have been in despair long before 14 months. I can't imagine what it would be like to have no choice but to live in a run down house and try to make it the best I can for my daughter. I lived in an old apartment and it had it's issues. It was always clean and well kept though. I am a firm believer that you can be poor-but you do not have to live like trash. It seems to me that these two did not live like trash. They kept a modest cleanliness around them. Clutter is clutter and it happens to everyone. We would all be lieing if we said we didn't have some clutter somewhere. Could they have really moved out any sooner? Probably not. Everyone is elaborating on family...they should have moved in with family sooner. Maybe they would have-but maybe family wasn't offering that option. Mind you, I could eat a meal at my sister's house every day, all day if I needed to-but she wasn't offering to move me in. And let's not forget-the house was being rented from his stepfather. That is family involvement. What kind of a "step father" feels kind enough to rent the house, but not make it a decent environment for 2 babies to live in? The kind that is selfish and greedy. His negligence cost that baby her life and it is my opinion that he should be brought up on theft charges by the government-he didn't do his part when they did. The flip to that is-they would have to bring a whole shitload of people up on charges.

Clearly these two did what they needed to do-to take care of their kids. They are poor. Bottom line. Poverty is no fucking joke and when you live in a severley damaged, poverty soaked place like New Orleans, LA ( and surrounding areas)...Poverty probably never really goes away. People are just happy to have a minimum wage job-because they are lucky to even get that. It would have to be depressing, and devastating to wake up with the same plight every day...living in a shithole that you are just proud to call home because unlike the majority in the shithole town-you have a home.

As a parent, I would feel like a failure, if I woke up one day and found my baby lying in crib-dead from a rodent knawing on her. It's inconceivable. Fuck, you do what you do every fucking day-to make sure your babies are surviving. I brought her into this world, it's my responsibility. It's like a fucking brick wall-the ultimate loss to find an end to such madness.


Everyone seems to be elaborating on the fact that they ignored her cries so that they could accustom her to sleeping in her own bed. I don't recall reading or hearing that. The 14 month old was in the same room with her-if she were screaming in pain to that degree-then he likely would have woken up. Furthermore, that 14 month old lived in the house his whole life-he was not eaten by rats. He did not show signs of any sort of abuse or mistreatment. By all accounts, I gather he was clean, well fed, and well taken care. He didn't perrish after 3 months. Taking their only child from them is a blow that need not be administered.

So, again I say, they were and are good parents. Fate fucked them over and this poor baby was taken in a most horrific way. They will have to live the rest of their lives knowing and recalling that they lived in a shithole, and were poor then. Perhaps in time they will improve their financial status-but they will always feel poor in their hearts - as being poor is where the memories of their beautiful daughter lies. I would almost bet, they will never live under those circumstances again. I know I won't-and for any of you who have been there-would you ever find yourself there again? You and I, we had our pride wounded, and may have even lost respect for ourselves at some point-but they lost their baby to poverty in one of it's ugliest forms - no matter where they are in life - that will never leave them...

[Nell]

I still believe that the baby was dying of SIDS or had just died when the rat got to her. That is why she didn't cry and why blood was everywhere. Maybe she could have been saved, maybe not. I don't know. But i wholeheartedly agree with what Buggysmommys said.

[Silvahalo]

Good points buggy. Your compassion compels me. I'd thank you but I'm out of thanks.

I am compelled to ask...

Has anyone here ever been so poor, that you felt like waking up in the morning was pointless? I have. I can openly admit to anyone here-I have been so fucking broke that I have written bad checks just to keep my utilities on. It bought me time. I have gone without food and literally survived off of Top Ramen. And I even had times where I struggled to pay my rent...There were times where I would literally eat at my sister's house - for days - and even then-she would give me gas money to get there. Oh and let me say-I often left her house with a roll of toilet paper, leftovers, snacks and drinks in my hand. I was single at the time, and I struggled...
>Yes, as a child I lived in a single wide trailer that was sinking into the sewage below the trailer. We had rodent and roach problems....big time. Me and my siblings often went to bed hungry. Oh, and beds for some of us was the closet floor as there was not enough room for 7 people.
When I first left home from the chaos and decided to start my life away from that. I was alone very young in a new city. No money but for a bit I saved, no where to stay and didn't know a damn soul. I lived in a van with two other students before my financial aid came in, then in a roach infested home after that. I lost 25 lbs because I was NOT eating enough. I can say with all honesty I know poor very well.

Now, even today, I can't tell you I am financially stable. In this economy, I don't know if any common person such as you or I, is financially stable. I can tell you I make a descent income, as does my husband. We are not always comfortable, we try to be frugal. But I can say that without hesitation, we can prioritize our outgoing to a point where shit gets paid and my child is taken care of. This is done on 2 incomes-which are considerably substantial in the scheme of things today. Take all of this into consideration...

These parents were good parents. I believe that wholeheartedly. They loved their children and if they were shitty parents, then the 14 month old would have been in despair long before 14 months. I can't imagine what it would be like to have no choice but to live in a run down house and try to make it the best I can for my daughter. I lived in an old apartment and it had it's issues. It was always clean and well kept though. I am a firm believer that you can be poor-but you do not have to live like trash. It seems to me that these two did not live like trash. They kept a modest cleanliness around them. Clutter is
Clearly these two did what they needed to do-to take care of their kids. They are poor. Bottom line. Poverty is no fucking joke and when you live in a severley damaged, poverty soaked place like New Orleans, LA ( and surrounding areas)...Poverty probably never really goes away. People are just happy to have a minimum wage job-because they are lucky to even get that. It would have to be depressing, and devastating to wake up with the same plight every day...living in a shithole that you are just proud to call home because unlike the majority in the shithole town-you have a home.
[...]
As a perent, I would feel like a failure, if I woke up one day and found my baby lyeing in crib-dead from a rodent knawing on her. It's inconceivable. Fuck, you do what you do every fucking day-to make sure your babies are surviving. I brought her into this world, it's my responsibility. It's like a fucking brick wall-the ultimate loss to find an end to such madness.

Everyone seems to be elaborating on the fact that they ignored her cries so that they could accustom her to sleeping in her own bed. I don't recall reading or hearing that. The 14 month old was in the same room with her-if she were screaming in pain to that degree-then he likely would have woken up. Furthermore, that 14 month old lived in the house his whole life-he was not eaten by rats. He did not show signs of any sort of abuse or mistreatment. By all accounts, I gather he was clean, well fed, and well taken care. He didn't perrish after 3 months. Taking their only child from them is a blow that need not be administered.

Hill said the infant was not sleeping in the same room as the parents, but was instead in another bedroom with the 14-month-old boy.

So, again I say, they were and are good parents. Fate fucked them over and this poor baby was taken in a most horrific way. They will have to live the rest of their lives knowing and recalling that they lived in a shithole, and were poor then. Perhaps in time they will improve their financial status-but they will always feel poor in their hearts - as being poor is where the memories of their beautiful daughter lies. I would almost bet, they will never live under those circumstances again. I know I won't-and for any of you who have been there-would you ever find yourself there again? You and I, we had our pride wounded, and may have even lost respect for ourselves at some point-but they lost their baby to poverty in one of it's ugliest forms - no matter where they are in life - that will never leave them...

There is no denying much of what you say likely applies to these two parents and their particular situation. Of course, we can never really know all truths as we do not know them personally or been in their home and walked about it or held their children. I will give them this tho. These parents seem devastated and are truly grieving the loss of their baby. Any parent who has loved and loss like this truly deserves compassion. I give them all I have. However, we still have the question of neglect. Was it?

We must ask questions even when we dare not want to believe this really happened to a baby. That she was alive when the rats attacked....I cannot fathom.....
Did they really have no idea that the rat issue was that bad? did they really have no way of leaving this infestation? did they really never see a rat in the home? did they try? did they care? we can speculate all we want, and I hope the investigation will be true and fair. For the price they paid is more than any charge they can bring on them. I leave with my thoughts, that I can do no more but trust that they did all they can do. Only they know, in their heart of hearts. At the end, all is said and done and we still have a dead baby that we all grieve and hope she knows nothing of the nightmare that took her.

Rest in peace sweetest Natalie...you little one, were a treasure.

[theskyisfalling]

This story is still big in all the papers right now. It was on the front page as a headline in the NOLA paper. CPS is coming down hard on these parents. The family is starting to blame the landlord for it all.
People at work have been talking a lot about it. Everyone just wants to tear these people down and I don't know what to think.

[buggysmommy]

This story is still big in all the papers right now. It was on the front page as a headline in the NOLA paper. CPS is coming down hard on these parents. The family is starting to blame the landlord for it all.
People at work have been talking a lot about it. Everyone just wants to tear these people down and I don't know what to think.

I think it is despicable... These people are being chastised for being poor. That is what it boils down to. The property owner should be in question and being that he is family-he should be shot in my opinion. What's it been since Katrina-3, 4 years? He couldn't make that place habitable by then? I think it is just horrifying that these people are being burned at the stake for a vicious actof nature...

[buggysmommy]

Oh Silva, I knew you could feel me and where I was coming from. From your plight, I derive it took some time for you to find your footing and do it for yourself. And when you experienced those living arrangements as a child-did you feel like your parents should have been charged or chastised for the fact that they had a whole bunch of mouths to feed and were poor? I knew you would understand where I was coming from...

As for the fact that she was sharing a room with the 14 month old-I understand that, but I still never read or heard where they admitted to listening to their baby cry because they were trying to get her to sleep in her own bed, thus ignoring her the night she died...

I don't know...this is truly a story that has divided us all here on DD. It is nice to be able to express views with a whole bunch of intelligent people who can understand some of the experiences others are dealing with.

(((Hugs))) girl!

[sleepinwithangels]

Buggy,

I can totally relate to your story and agree that these people were the VICTIMS of a horrible tragedy.

I am now still poor. My husband is in the Army and people think that means were set up for life, but we in fact struggle to make ends meet week to week just like everyone else! (We ARE fortunate enough to have healthcare and some extra benefits, but with two kids..its gone in a minute!)

I have many times gone without food, besides a bite from whatever my kids leftover, to make sure that they had plenty to eat. I have had to dig in the couch for change for diapers and wipes.

Some people do not have the option to just say "Well, this is a crappy place to live so I'll find something better" in my experience, generally people who live in crappy places live there because they cant afford anything else!! (common sense right?). and not everyone has a huge family willing to help or better yet able to help. Im sure my mom would have LOVED to give me a few bucks for groceries or diapers or whatever to help my situation...but she is in the same situation as I am!

the child was 14 months old! well old enough to be sleeping in a room by herself (or with a sibling) and if these parents (not to speak for them but im sure they were) are like me, until reading this story, I would NEVER have thought that rats could get into the crib! They did not hear her cries and ignore them (no evidence as of yet points to this conclusion)..



in my opinion, they were doing what they could do, and something so tragic and unexpected happened to them..Hindsight is ALWAYS 20/20, I have no doubt that if they could have forseen this they would have taken measures to protect their angel! There is no evidene that these people were coldhearted and uncaring enough to know that their child was in danger of being eaten by rats, and still leave her to dfend for herself. Until I see any evidence of such neglect..im with the parents on this one!

My guess on cause of death... Like cats are known to do, a rat or rats smelled the milk in the babies mouth, and were gnawing to get to the source of the food. (Cats accidentally smother, not gnaw) It doesnt necassarily mean she had to have been already dead when the rats got to her. they smelled food and went for it.

[Chaindrive]

but I still never read or heard where they admitted to listening to their baby cry because they were trying to get her to sleep in her own bed, thus ignoring her the night she died...

(((Hugs))) girl!

I never read or heard them say that either.

Poor is poor. Sometimes you don't have a lot to work with, if you're poor. You take what's been offered, as bad as it might be, and you try to do the best you can with it.

I have no kids, but I took care of my sister's kids when she was having issues. It was scary, because we didn't have a lot, but we had to make do. I was trying to pay a house payment all by myself, and I had kids to deal with. Our house wasn't the Shang-ri-la by any means, but we made it. Luckily for me the oldest was extremely responsible, which helped since I worked three jobs at a time to pay our bills. She, at 14, would make dinner and leave me the leftovers to eat when I got home from my swing shift job.

I could have been arrested for leaving her in charge while I was working, but she's always been responsible...still is.

I'm not poor anymore, but I sure remember how it feels to be poor and helpless, no matter what you do.

[Silvahalo]

...
As for the fact that she was sharing a room with the 14 month old-I understand that, but I still never read or heard where they admitted to listening to their baby cry because they were trying to get her to sleep in her own bed, thus ignoring her the night she died...

(((Hugs))) girl!

I didn't read that anywhere. Where did you hear/read that?

[Rawrehz]

remind me not to move to westwego ..

i didnt read everyones comment just the story (oops) but i think this story is very tragic for the family + ... why wouldt you check on ur fucking kid though!? like what the helll........... this story just pisses me off in all honesty.

" oh we didnt hear her screaming, so um, we let rats eat her to death WHEN WE KNEW it was a problem in our neighborhood. OOPS "

ughghghhghghg. i didnt read comments, again, so if i am missing any details i apoligize but the story alone just is .... gr. stupid. parents. once. again.

WHO DONT DESERVE THEM.

[buggysmommy]

I didn't read that anywhere. Where did you hear/read that?

It's in all the responses after the autopsy came out...many speculated or eluded that since hse was alive while being attacked-her cries were ignored. A couple people even speak on moving the baby to her own bed...I am crappy at getting the quotes-but they are there...

[Silvahalo]

It's in all the responses after the autopsy came out...many speculated or eluded that since hse was alive while being attacked-her cries were ignored. A couple people even speak on moving the baby to her own bed...I am crappy at getting the quotes-but they are there...

No, I thought you were talking about actual facts printed in articles not posters here on DD. Speculation and opinions are one thing but I'm more interested in the actual facts at this point. Like when I asked why the baby's cries were not heard especially since it is fact that the 14 mo. was asleep in the same room. I still have a question on that and haven't seen it answered in any article by the parents.

[thebooblady]

It's in all the responses after the autopsy came out...many speculated or eluded that since hse was alive while being attacked-her cries were ignored. A couple people even speak on moving the baby to her own bed...I am crappy at getting the quotes-but they are there...

I was one of the people that commented about her cries being ignored. I have read through many articles and comments regarding this incident. One of the things that led me to that conclusion was the autopsy findings. I have read that the coroner can determine whether the child was alive based on the compostion of the blood and also the way the blood splattered. I trust that more than family and friends accounts of what they believe happened.

[buggysmommy]

remind me not to move to westwego ..

i didnt read everyones comment just the story (oops) but i think this story is very tragic for the family + ... why wouldt you check on ur fucking kid though!? like what the helll........... this story just pisses me off in all honesty.

" oh we didnt hear her screaming, so um, we let rats eat her to death WHEN WE KNEW it was a problem in our neighborhood. OOPS "

ughghghhghghg. i didnt read comments, again, so if i am missing any details i apoligize but the story alone just is .... gr. stupid. parents. once. again.

WHO DONT DESERVE THEM.

The mother had just fed her around 3 am...They found her around 7 am. Four hours straight is not uncommon for a 3 month old...They did as much as they could to address the rat situation-laying traps around the perimeter and such. They, and several others in support, claimed to have never seen a rat in the house. Commonly rats don't come out around a whole bunch of folks-unless it is just a bold motherfucker. So how would they really know rats were in the actual house-if they are only coming out when all are sleeping?

The house was clean for the most part-with the exception of some clutter in areas-so what more should they have done? The whole area was over run with rats-neighbors attested to that. The city was even handing out traps and pesticides, etc. The landlord, who was also the husbands stepfather, did nothing to correct the issues-yet he continued to take their money.

Again, poor, young, mouths to feed-trapped in an endless situation with nowhere to get to and no positive support from family... What more should they have done?

I was pissed off initially too...but I read everything and now I feel terribly for these people. Fucking sucks being poor and it sucks to be poor and live in a place that is devastated on so many levels...

Go back and read everything...if you have time-you can derive a better perspective for yourself. Clearly we are all divided on this one-so every man for himself I guess...

[buggysmommy]

I was one of the people that commented about her cries being ignored. I have read through many articles and comments regarding this incident. One of the things that led me to that conclusion was the autopsy findings. I have read that the coroner can determine whether the child was alive based on the compostion of the blood and also the way the blood splattered. I trust that more than family and friends accounts of what they believe happened.

I think we all have conclusions...No one wants to believe that she screamed out in agony and no one cared to check on that...You or I certainly wouldn't. That's why I am hoping that it was so quick that she didn't get a chance to scream loud enough.

[buggysmommy]

No, I thought you were talking about actual facts printed in articles not posters here on DD. Speculation and opinions are one thing but I'm more interested in the actual facts at this point. Like when I asked why the baby's cries were not heard especially since it is fact that the 14 mo. was asleep in the same room. I still have a question on that and haven't seen it answered in any article by the parents.

I agree...If she was screaming out loud-how could no one hear her.

[coffee achiever]

I'm withholding speculation and judgment at this point. There's just too little information.

But if they ignored her because they were letting her "cry it out" and that 14 month old witnessed the whole thing... may God have mercy on all their souls.

[thebooblady]

About the 14 month old....My first would sleep through ANYTHING. He was sleeping 12 hours at night by 8 weeks old. You could detonate a bomb and he wouldn't wake up. I'm not convinced that the 14 month old would have woken up during the attack. Even if he did, if the parents were ignoring the cries of the 3 month old, they could have ignored his.

[Silvahalo]

I agree...If she was screaming out loud-how could no one hear her.

I commented at one point before we actually knew she was alive when the rats got to her, it is possible she was smothered with a rat covering her mouth...lord, god, I just hate even thinking of that. But I'd rather it be that she died this way than eaten alive. Still, I would like the facts on this but somehow I do not think we will ever know every thing we want to know.

I don't think we are so much divided here. We all care what happened to baby Natalie, we just have diff. opinions on why and how something like this could happen. That's expected being how horrific the dying of baby girl was, people are having a hard time accepting this even happened. Wanting answers is even more important to those of us who see how much these parents did love baby Natalie. Asking questions is absolutely necessary doesn't mean we lack compassion just that we need to put some understanding to this terrible death in hopes that we see how it all came to play. Even in a perfect scenario, which there are none, we would ask questions. This situation was less than ideal for various reasons some in the parents control others out of their control. We just want to make sense of it. At least I do. So far I think we have accomplished that on some level. I hope we continue to learn more.

[cubby]

Buggysmommy,
Been there, done that, ate the ramen and rice and hotdogs and bologna. Lived in a very old house with very big rats, never saw them inside but certainly heard them. Luckily my children were older 2-7 years old. Some of them were big as cats, scary, ugly suckers.

I certainly understand being so tired and beaten down from life that you can't hardly even think. Cried one night all night long because the electricity was going to be cut the next day and there wasn't nothing I could do about it.

so I'm trying to hold judgement until we know more.

Thanks for your post it was so moving.

[thequeenofsorrow]

Casey Laine's myspace says they are getting their older child back on Tuesday
I hope they do everything to keep him safe!

[scorpiogirl]

Westwego City, LA. The Westwego City Council collectively ordered today that the home that 3-month-old Natalie Hill was killed, because of rat bites, to be demolished. The home is owned by Charles Dufrene, who rented it out to his stepson Robby Hill and his wife Casey Laine, father and mother of the Natalie Hill. Dufrene claimed to be very upset about the decision, especially since a report from the city’s engineering consultant claimed that the house was structurally sound.

Ironically, after the hearing, Dufrene claimed, “I want to redo the whole home… I asked (the contractor) to tear out all the walls so they could see there ain't no rat problem in my house.”

Is this Dufrene guy serious? “There ain’t no rat problem.” I believe having a baby die because she was literally bitten by rats to death sounds like a severe rat problem to me. If that’s not a rat problem, then what the hell is a rat problem? Considering that two negatives equal a positive in the English language then perhaps his double negative “ain’t no” should be taking by its literal meaning, that there is a rat problem.

http://www.examiner.com/x-19826-New-...-be-demolished

[scorpiogirl]

It has been more than two months since a baby girl in Westwego was bitten to death by rats. The Jefferson Parish District Attorney will soon get the case.

The infant's death shocked the metro area: how could a rat have killed a human being? The coroner found the girl had bled to death. Since then, the Westwego council has ordered the home condemned, and the courts are deciding who should have custody of the parents other child.

Westwego Police Chief Dwayne Munch says his detectives have spent the last two months conducting interviews and going over the physical evidence:

"Now being submitted to the D.A.'a office, and it'll be submitted to them, completed and submitted to them, before Friday of next week," said Munch "It's kind of in the hands of the screening department at the D.A.'s office."

Westwego Police Chief Dwayne Munch:
He says the D.A. will either press charges, take the case to a grand jury, or decide the evidence just isn't there.

Toxicology tests on the baby's body came back negative. Toxicology tests on the parents aren't being released at this time.

http://www.wwl.com/Westwego-police-t...o-D-A-/5263475

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Toxicology tests on the parents aren't being released at this time.

Filing this under "Things that make me go 'Hmmm...'"

[thequeenofsorrow]

omg i check out this mom's myspace all the time just look her up under her name Casey Laine. She's livin life like nothing ever happened. If you look less than a month after little one died they're havin piercing parties (her and the dad got matching piercings lame) and she looked totally fucked up in every picture but having fun as hell. Her status and moods are lame too.

I HATE BOTH OF THEM.

Thanks I was waiting on an update.

[koochie]

they're havin piercing parties (her and the dad got matching piercings lame) and she looked totally fucked up in every picture but having fun as hell. Her status and moods are lame too.

I HATE BOTH OF THEM.

dont they have another child they should be taking care of?. and where the hell are they living throwing piercing parties? they have enough money to pay for that i see....

[carolinablue]

could you direct me to the mom's my space page?

[thequeenofsorrow]

certainly

http://www.myspace.com/cutemom51108

[sleepinwithangels]

Quick Question..how do U know those pictures were taken a few weeks after the baby died!? I cant find anything on Myspace that says when those pictures were posted..