Police: Gary Hickerson Knew His Wife Beat The Baby, Sabrina Hickerson Arrested Too

[LadyCygnet]

I'm a "squire" and Ladycygnet is a "Toilet-cleaning ninja". Pretty serious posting here I bet.

Because I am a bold member, I can customize my title. Just in case you couldn't make out what was in my avatar, I am a ninja holding a bottle of Lysol toilet cleaner. It's a very, very old joke. My uncustomized title is "Great Knight," if I remember correctly.

That being said, while we do have fun, we do take crimes against children very, VERY seriously around these parts. Many of us have been victims of child abuse and/or domestic violence, and we despise seeing it happen to the next generation. If you've got a problem with that, you probably shouldn't be here or be googling your sister's name.

ETA: I find it interesting that you chose to pick on me in particular, considering I was one of the more understanding posters in this thread. I get where your sister's coming from, but I don't think it should excuse her actions. She had options.

[AngelFire]

Hi al. Just going to start by saying I am Sabrina’s slightly older brother, nick’s brother in-law. I’m the least insane person in my family. I’m also a City of Memphis police officer.

My condolences to the City of Memphis for having such a douche as part of their police department.

If the story wasn't exciting enough, no one would care this much

Exciting? Did you just write that shit? I, and I am sure I speak for many here, don’t find the MURDER of a small child exciting. Just as I don’t find your post exciting or amusing. But you hit the nail on the head when you wrote:

But I'm sure you've heard all this before, siblings of the accused, attempting to justify them.

Yeah, we have had our share of idiots thinking they can stop the sun from shining if they put one hand up to the sky…Fail!!!

[Aena]

Also, in a case like this, all the grand jury needs is for the prosecutor to say "There's plenty of probable cause" and it's going to trial. It's all in the evidence when it makes it to trial, and the evidence is going to set we free. Watch and wait. All I came here to do was to reply to you Internet tough guys and girls, I'm done. This website is far beyond that of any form of maturity.

I do agree with you there, the grand jury is usually just a rubber stamp for the DA. What I don't agree with though is people like you who claim to have all this knowledge about what happened, yet have no knowledge about what happened. Were you there? We weren't either, we can only go by the reports, and the reports are that your sister either watched someone beat her child or beat her child. Regardless of who beat the baby BOTH are responsible for this baby's death. The first thing you hear from neighbors, relatives etc. is how there is no way this or that person could have committed the crime, they were so nice, respectable, oh I always seen them with the baby and they were so gentle etc. The problem is NO ONE knows what happens behind closed doors, not even you, even though she is your sister. A child is dead, someone beat the child, unless there is evidence otherwise they are both guilty.

I don't blame you for wanting to stick up for your sister, I would too if I was in your position. Only difference in me is I would face reality that there is a chance my sibling did this crime, but I would still love them anyway.

[Droberson]

"Toilet cleaning ninja", I wasn't actually talking about YOU, just your title... Calm down turbo.

[Droberson]

I spoke with the doctors the day my nephew went into the hospital. I know at LEAST more than you do about it, not only that, but the report is still saved in my PDA and never says the word "beating." so the stories you hear on the news, it's stretched truth to excite you people. Why else would you be posting here if it didn't get you going? Because you want e-justice or something? Get real.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Why do people post that they're done and then continue to post?

Obviously poor impulse control runs in this family pecan tree.

[Nell]

I spoke with the doctors the day my nephew went into the hospital. I know at LEAST more than you do about it, not only that, but the report is still saved in my PDA and never says the word "beating." so the stories you hear on the news, it's stretched truth to excite you people. Why else would you be posting here if it didn't get you going? Because you want e-justice or something? Get real.

The media stretched the truth ya'll! The baby died, sure, but it wasn't because of a "beating!" Just look at the report i neglected to link or post here to back me up! Now where is the exit, cause i said i was gonna leave but i haven't. I am lost.

Pssst. Officer......

[Whisper]

Hi al. Just going to start by saying I am Sabrina’s slightly older brother, nick’s brother in-law. I’m the least insane person in my family. I’m also a City of Memphis police officer.

Unless hes addressing someone named Al that I dont see
this cop cant spell either

[jroberson76]

I know this much: I don't know what happened. I wasn't there.

I know that my brothers and sisters are pretty much decent people, even after consideration of this fantastical development regarding my little red-headed, freckle-faced sister. None of them so much as ever even shoplifted, and sure, my parents are, were abusive and cold, selfish people, but as far as the law goes, none of my full siblings have ever done much to warrant any interaction with law enforcement.

Now, I've had my relatively minor run-ins with the boys in blue, surely, but not them, which is again why I'm so shocked and dismayed with respect to this...news. It feels like I've gone to sleep watching a lurid re-run of Law and Order after eating two whole pepperoni pizzas.

This is stuff of nightmares, or at least some very unpleasant lucid dreams.

I don't blame you for wanting to stick up for your sister, I would too if I was in your position. Only difference in me is I would face reality that there is a chance my sibling did this crime, but I would still love them anyway.

I guess I'm of the latter, because I've always felt the need to face the various potential 'truths' of a given situation, whether good or bad, whether it involved me or another person.

I mean, I understand hope, the concept and the practice, but I also understand that fortune favors the prepared mind, and the only preparation you can entertain in this situation is to accept the possibility something happened for which Sabrina bears some responsibility.

But I don't know. I hope so. I hope she's found not guilty. I hope she gets to come back home. I hope. And I know that we're passing over the deceased child, in our discussions and arguments, which I think isn't entirely fair to the memory of that child, all things considered.

But again, I hope Sabrina isn't guilty. I don't know if I can fully accept the situation otherwise, because the headaches and the dizziness and the entire unsettling feeling throughout my body and mind aren't the sort of things I want to carry around for how ever many years I have left in this world. And I feel like I'm in there with her, so there's that. But I guess that sounds selfish. I just know how I feel and I don't like it much.

Anyway, please, my brother is only doing what a good brother should do, what you would do if you were in his position, I think.



(pause)



Back when I was a child, back in the eighth decade of the previous century, when I was perhaps eleven or so, my loving mother and I engaged in an argument. Over what, I can't tell you because I don't recall, nor do I want to remember, but I do remember that I was sitting on my bed, and my mother, standing in my room, threw a coffee cup, which she was holding, at me, hitting me in my mouth, breaking two of my front teeth. I know, I still remember, crying 'you broke my teeth', several times. I know, I remember, being hurried off immediately to a dentist, who cemented the rather large missing section of my teeth, and I will never forget the two things my mother said that day. She first told me, in a clear dry matter of fact tone, that I shouldn't have been running my big mouth, and two, that it was my fault because I had such protruding front teeth.

Some things are never forgotten, but to my mother's credit, she did say it was an 'accident'...

And sitting here, thinking of all the ill in this world, all the misery, I was thinking of this part of Yeats' famous poem, The Second Coming.

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

[Kindly One]

I spoke with the doctors the day my nephew went into the hospital. I know at LEAST more than you do about it, not only that, but the report is still saved in my PDA and never says the word "beating." so the stories you hear on the news, it's stretched truth to excite you people. Why else would you be posting here if it didn't get you going? Because you want e-justice or something? Get real.

Oh my goodness. I'm a "you people"? I'd be ashamed, if I wasn't so darn proud.

The reports never say "beating". They say things like "blunt force trauma". Wasn't there a big ole discussion on that point right here on this very thread?

[Nell]

I remember once, when i was about 8, my mother waking up mad at me. I was supposed to be keeping my little sister quiet while she slept. I had spilled some milk on the table trying to feed her cereal. I remember her just flying at me, hitting me over and over till I fell. Kicking me in the ribs, the head, wherever while screaming that i had ruined her life, why couldn't i be a help to her instead of a burden!




Child abuse sucks.


If my sister had either battered her child to death or let her man do it, I wouldn't, I couldn't stick up for her. She chose her path. Nobody can or should use a bad childhood as an excuse to perpetuate the same violence you endured. If anything you should know better. Be better.

[jroberson76]

Well, I've never been accused of killing anyone either, and I was probably one of the most physically abused, along with my brother Kenneth, but then I'm not my sister, and it would be unfair of me to superimpose my thought rationale and thinking patterns on her.

Regardless, yes, the DA received an indictment, but those are notoriously easy to get. A grand jury's burden of proof is far less than that of the reasonable doubt found in trials, so the district attorney will have some work to do to secure a conviction, for sure.

And even if they present a convincing case, the DA is going to have to understand that the trial judge will likely instruct the jury to consider a lesser charge, i.e., voluntary manslaughter, which would of course carry a far lighter sentence. So nothing is for sure at this point.

I only wish I had the fifty grand to bond her out.

[DamagedGoods]

You know, even if I don't agree with you, say it politely and I thank you. Say it like an asshole and I will be an asshole back.

[HeatherHabilatory]

Bail her out??? BAIL HER OUT?

If my baby brother (he's 26 but still a baby to me) beat his own kid to death, I'd be praying he stayed in jail, WHERE HE WOULD BE SAFE FROM ME. Lord, I wouldn't be able to help myself.

So yeah. I might be a little violent, leftovers from a traumatic upbringing. But I have kids that I have not beaten so I think I can sit in judgment on this one.

jroberson, I was with you until you said you wanted to bond her out. Sorry.

[jroberson76]

I knew that when I said that I wanted to pay her bond, some would disagree, but that's entirely natural and expected, and I don't fault you for that, either.

But she is my sister, and of equal importance, she is innocent, per our Constitution, until proven otherwise by a court and a jury of her peers, and I fully respect the wisdom of my nation's founding fathers.

Also, I haven't passed an ironclad judgement, as that's not my duty, nor would I want it, and it's not like she'd run or not show up for court.

All I am allowed is my humble opinion. Nothing more.

P.S. That white running cat is insane. I'd have to torture it with love.

[HeatherHabilatory]

And I am allowed to think you're a nutter for it. But I respect you a hell of a lot more than the police officer brother, or the sister.

For your sake, I really do wish she was innocent. And also for Adrien's sake, because it would mean his mother hadn't failed him in the most egregious way.

But the facts remain: Adrien is dead, and his mother was the only one home with him at the time.

I understand being a young mother, and being a product of a violent home life.

But it was up to ME stop the cycle of abuse, and it was up to Sabrina to end that cycle as well. At some point, you no longer can blame your actions on someone else. At some point you have to own up to it. She didn't do that, and it cost Adrien his life.

[LadyCygnet]

I knew that when I said that I wanted to pay her bond, some would disagree, but that's entirely natural and expected, and I don't fault you for that, either.

But she is my sister, and of equal importance, she is innocent, per our Constitution, until proven otherwise by a court and a jury of her peers, and I fully respect the wisdom of my nation's founding fathers.

Also, I haven't passed an ironclad judgement, as that's not my duty, nor would I want it, and it's not like she'd run or not show up for court.

All I am allowed is my humble opinion. Nothing more.

P.S. That white running cat is insane. I'd have to torture it with love.

Thank you for being so respectful and civil. While I may or may not agree with your posts, I understand and respect your reasons for posting them.

[jroberson76]

And I am allowed to think you're a nutter for it.

I can respect that opinion, absolutely, and if that was the only thing I ever did to make someone think I'm crazy, I'd be in pretty good shape. Sadly, that's not the reality of my situation, but I digress.

But the facts remain: Adrien is dead, and his mother was the only one home with him at the time.

Those pesky facts are a problem, aren't they? And that's why I just can't say she's innocent, and I know that makes me look like a bad brother, on top of already actually being a bad brother, but I pride myself on not giving in to superstition and irrational thinking, you know, science and fact-based reasoning and all that, so I'm kind of caught between wanting to defend her unconditionally and, you know, the facts.

I'm also aware that it has been said that we don't know all the facts, and perhaps that's the case. Perhaps what I read from the various local news-grinders isn't accurate. I hope it isn't.

Thank you for being so respectful and civil. While I may or may not agree with your posts, I understand and respect your reasons for posting them.

Lol, well, in all honesty, people who know me know I have my mother's mouth, but it would do my sister, or me, or any of you, no good to come here just to start an argument, and my brother, Darren, well, you really can't blame him, or my sister, for doing what they're doing, because that's what family is for, because if you can't expect your family to defend you, well who will? But I do thank you.

And I haven't used the 'thanks' option with respect to any your replies because I'm not used to that function, not because I'm being rude.

[AngelFire]

I can understand his wanting to bail her out. I have 2 sisters that went through hell and back along with me by the time we were 11, 13 & 14. We were beaten and at many times, starved on purpose. To say I love my sisters would be an understatement. I would want to bail my sister out too....but I wouldn't.

My "feeliings" and what is right, contradict each other. Especially considering the fact that we all went through hell together. I couldn't go through with baling her out.

Sabrina, as you stated, knew what it felt to live in fear, and she chose to walk the same path....She was also the recipient of your parents abuse...so why kill her child?

[HeatherHabilatory]

You are not a bad brother because you left a horrible home life to safe your life and sanity. Your sister, and other siblings, could have made the same choices.

[jroberson76]

so why kill her child?

A few years ago, back in Texas, while living with my brother Kenneth, my ex-girlfriend decided to move out, and I wasn't entirely upset by her decision. Anyway, she came over, started taking things, and while she thought I was asleep, which was what I wanted her to think, she tried to take a DVD played that she bought for me as a gift to replace my original player that broke during the commission of moving all her junk from her old apartment.

Long story short, she tried to sneak it out and I caught her and we got into it. She bear-hugged the player, and even still, as we tussled over this forty dollar piece of plastic and metal, I 'blacked-out'. I was angry. Why? I have no idea. It was just a DVD player, but I did go dark for a few minutes. And afterwards, all I recall was that I had the player, and she was calling the police, not because I hit her or committed any other sort of violence, but because she was pissed I took the player away.

Anyway, the entire point here is that I don't recall what happened when I blacked out for those few seconds, of course, but the ex-girlfriend told me I tried to hit her in the head.

Recently, I've been putting pieces of the puzzle together, and I think whatever made Sabrina do what she's accused of doing is probably in me, perhaps other family members as well. I know my brother Kenneth has approached that abyss as well, and not long after I read the news on Sabrina, I removed my utility belt knife and threw it into the garbage, because even though a knife is good protection in a crime-ridden cesspool like Memphis, I feared the possibility I might do something equally awful, and prison is not a place I want to go. Ever.

[HeatherHabilatory]

Ok so. If she had blackouts like this, she should have gotten help for them, as should you.

Still doesn't excuse the fact that Adrien is dead.

You keep focusing on your sister. This isn't about her, never has been.

If you or ANYONE cared half as much for Adrien as you all seem to care about his mother and why she did this, Adrien would still be alive.

[jroberson76]

If you or ANYONE cared half as much for Adrien as you all seem to care about his mother and why she did this, Adrien would still be alive.

That's not entirely true, because how ever could anyone have expected me, or Darren, to lord over my adult sister for every moment in her life? You can't blame me on that count, perhaps on others, but if you want to charge someone, charge Gary, because he lived with her, he was around her day and day out, and as the child's father, he has a silent customary oath to protect his son. That's not me passing blame, but it is a reflection of the facts before us.

Ok so. If she had blackouts like this, she should have gotten help for them, as should you.

Lol, well, I can agree to that, but that sort of therapy is expensive, and there's no scientific understanding of what makes people do the things they do, so whatever therapy I'd engage isn't likely to be effective because the psychology behind these kinds of behaviors is poorly understood at best. Even to this day, no one can say how the brain of someone like Ted Bundy differs from someone like Mister Rogers, either chemically or structurally, so I think it would be wasted money.

The best I can do is talk and understand the dangers, all of which doesn't cost a dime.

[Nell]

I had to step back for a minute, as you are almost too forgiving, and it was irritating me.

You are right, Gary should have protected his child better. You are right, bad child abuse can cause rages, blackouts, all sorts of bad things. But honey, Sabrina still chose to hurt her baby. She didn't black out one time and harm him, she did it over a period of time. That is a choice. Her choice. And now she has to live with it.

I wish I could help you get help. Sincerely. You seem so nice and genuine I think that if just anyone helped you you could become a wonderful husband and father, as you are self aware. Which is all we can ask of ourselves sometimes.

[HeatherHabilatory]

well, I can agree to that, but that sort of therapy is expensive, and there's no scientific understanding of what makes people do the things they do, so whatever therapy I'd engage isn't likely to be effective because the psychology behind these kinds of behaviors is poorly understood at best. Even to this day, no one can say how the brain of someone like Ted Bundy differs from someone like Mister Rogers, either chemically or structurally, so I think it would be wasted money.

It probably would have saved Adrien's life, so I wouldn't consider it wasted.

And help is available. All you have to do is ask. Try calling your local social services agency.

[Droberson]

Retards

[Nell]

That would be a disgrace. You don't subject a toddler to military training.

You all are so quick to forgive her, as if child neglect or manslaughter of a toddler is ok. Because she didn't set out with his death in mind it is ok and she should be forgiven and released. It makes me ill honestly.

[jroberson76]

Because she didn't set out with his death in mind it is ok and she should be forgiven and released.

If guilty, then she should be forgiven because even is she's guilty of everything of which she is charged, she's not evil. If guilty as charged, she still just made, imo, a horrible, horrible mistake, and I can't, won't, place her in the same category as those monsters roving America's interstates killing transients and prostitutes, the sort of people you hear of on a show like 48 Hours Mystery.

As for being released, again, if she's guilty as charged, then I feel that is for the courts to determine, but I do not for a moment believe the district attorney can secure a 'first degree murder charge'. There's simply no premeditation whatsoever in this case from what I know, which I admit isn't a great deal.

I do think though, that the problem, legally, is the aggravated child abuse charge, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence, so there's that.

As to what Darren has said, well, I hope he's correct.

You seem so nice and genuine I think that if just anyone helped you you could become a wonderful husband and father, as you are self aware.

I'm a mixed bag. I get angry, but I don't hit people. I've fought physically with my brother Kenneth, but I've never hit him, mostly wrestled, but never a child or girlfriend, and usually, the women do the bullying, which isn't to say I'm a flower, I just don't hit women, no matter how angry I may get, which is usually no more than cursing. And you can ask Darren, because he knows I've never hurt him or Priscilla or Sabrina, and I regret any fight I've had with Kenneth.

But you seem to think like it's too late for me to have a family, and I hope you're not right, because I would like to have one before I die. I'd love to have some kids to raise because I think that would be absolutely awesome. I'd love to have the chance to do things as different from my parents as possible.

[carolinablue]

If guilty, then she should be forgiven because even is she's guilty of everything of which she is charged, she's not evil. If guilty as charged, she still just made, imo, a horrible, horrible mistake, and I can't, won't, place her in the same category as those monsters roving America's interstates killing transients and prostitutes, the sort of people you hear of on a show like 48 Hours Mystery.

I was going to post a rare (for me) apology. Until I read that. She did not make a mistake; a mistake is not entering a check in your checkbook or going to the wrong address to deliver a package. Using physical violence is a choice. She chose, he died. You're busted. Just another family member being a polite tard. I give you props for spelling, grammar and being courteous; that's why I'm politely calling bull poop. I didn't cuss either. I deserve a rep for being a fucking LADY.

[Whisper]

If guilty, then she should be forgiven because even is she's guilty of everything of which she is charged, she's not evil. If guilty as charged, she still just made, imo, a horrible, horrible mistake, and I can't, won't, place her in the same category as those monsters roving America's interstates killing transients and prostitutes, the sort of people you hear of on a show like 48 Hours Mystery.

As for being released, again, if she's guilty as charged, then I feel that is for the courts to determine, but I do not for a moment believe the district attorney can secure a 'first degree murder charge'. There's simply no premeditation whatsoever in this case from what I know, which I admit isn't a great deal.

I do think though, that the problem, legally, is the aggravated child abuse charge, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence, so there's that.

As to what Darren has said, well, I hope he's correct.




I'm a mixed bag. I get angry, but I don't hit people. I've fought physically with my brother Kenneth, but I've never hit him, mostly wrestled, but never a child or girlfriend, and usually, the women do the bullying, which isn't to say I'm a flower, I just don't hit women, no matter how angry I may get, which is usually no more than cursing. And you can ask Darren, because he knows I've never hurt him or Priscilla or Sabrina, and I regret any fight I've had with Kenneth.

But you seem to think like it's too late for me to have a family, and I hope you're not right, because I would like to have one before I die. I'd love to have some kids to raise because I think that would be absolutely awesome. I'd love to have the chance to do things as different from my parents as possible.

K I have stayed out of this but you lost me at wanting to bail her out,
sorry my brother or sister ever killed a niece or nephew its lights out on them,
they dont exist
Now its time for JMHO you have had yours ,plus some
now its my turn
IF shes guilty then she is AS guilty as the guys that go up and down highways killing prostitutes
AND please dont degrade the protitutes out there that have been killed by killers/serial killers
Most times they also came to those circumstances same as you and your family ,child abuse
They are no less human then you or I
Some of our members have lost family members to those guys that you seem to give the green light to b/c they were prostitutes
Show a bit of respect if you want to be shown any