Jennifer Meacham and Jason Anderson neglected the baby to death

[Dakota Valkyrie]

A 20-year-old Farmington woman charged with murdering her 11-week-old son last year by neglecting him until he died pleaded guilty to a lesser felony charge.

Under the terms of her plea agreement, Jennifer Meacham is expected to testify later this month against Jason Anderson, 19, the infant boy’s father.

Their baby — Jason Clay Clark Anderson — died June 23, 2007 on a urine-soaked foam pad, police have said. He was born April 8, 2007.

“I didn’t take him to the doctor like I should have. I fed him 2 percent milk instead of formula,” Meacham told the judge.

The prosecutor said it appears the baby “was never taken back to the doctor” after it was born.

“It was not properly fed or nurtured,” he said, citing evidence the state had prepared to try Meacham.

His skin, from his stomach to his groin “was ulcerated,” a detective testified at a preliminary hearing for the father last August.

The infant had bruising around his right eye and open, bleeding sores on his scrotum, penis and stomach.

Meacham pleaded guilty to the lesser included charge of child neglect resulting in death. The lesser felony charge lacks the element of malicious intent, something which is part of the charge of murder of a child by a parent.

http://www.timeswv.com/intodayspaper...215004413.html

Being too poor to afford checkups in no excuse for being a poor parent. They gave their son a longer name than they gave him time to live.

[w8ng4msrgt]

What ever happened to the speedy trial?

[Gilbrit]

Since it didn't say she gave birth at home, Medicaid, WIC, and foodstamps would have been signed up for at the hopital before the release of mom and the baby.

If the family was in such dire straits how could the hospital SW sign off. They are usually the ones who start the papaerwork for mom and child.

If there was no transportation, poorer counties offer transportation for medical appts and is paid through Medicaid.

The story is not adding up and it is through no one's fault except the parents are not being forthright with the information.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Not all hospitals have social services information available. And if a parent declines, there is not much they can do. Suprisingly, some are just too proud to "take charity".

They may have justified it by claiming poverty on the dr. checkups, but there is no excuse for the other conditions of the baby.

I think these parents just never cared.

[Gilbrit]

And if a parent declines, there is not much they can do.

Yes, you are correct.
It just galls me to hear mama saying she was too poor. Too poor to clean your baby??

I just don't see mama passing herself off as knowing how to care for her child or able to construct a detailed enough lie to get a social worker to release a baby to her.

Having said that - Yeah, I can be a real Dodo. Had all of that not happened, the baby might still be alive.

[ImmortalOne]

IF she was too poor to visit a doctor, then why was she giving that baby 2% milk? Surely she should've been trying to breastfeed. Especially if she participated in WIC (which has lower guidelines than the state for assitance), since they really push for breastfeeding. I agree, nothing adds up, they just had to have decided taking care of a baby was too much "work" and being parents was something they should never have been blessed with.

[Gilbrit]

ImmortalOne,
I think you're right. When I had my daughters, the hospitals were encouraging breast feeding over formula.
I have a question,
Ulcerated from groin to stomach, was that just from urine or a circumcision gone bad?

[Aelwynn]

My hospital doesn't provide information on WIC, Foodstamps etc. Even though we are in the range to receive it. Military hospital though. However, in WA the WIC guildlines are easier than the foodstamps though. I'm not sure why it's harder to get foodstamps than it is to get WIC. I know I can get both, but I only use WIC myself for the first 4 months or so before I start introducing mushies and take myself off of WIC (personal preference not to use WIC even though it makes life easier).

Too poor to clean your baby...too poor to take the bus? Come on now...

[ImmortalOne]

My hospital doesn't provide information on WIC, Foodstamps etc. Even though we are in the range to receive it. Military hospital though. However, in WA the WIC guildlines are easier than the foodstamps though. I'm not sure why it's harder to get foodstamps than it is to get WIC. I know I can get both, but I only use WIC myself for the first 4 months or so before I start introducing mushies and take myself off of WIC (personal preference not to use WIC even though it makes life easier).

Too poor to clean your baby...too poor to take the bus? Come on now...

I know how you feel, having been a teen mother I was on and off state "aid" for years. I am so proud of myself now that I haven't needed assistance since my pregnancy (because I was still employed by on bedrest). I feel there are other people who need it more than I do, like I did when I was young.

[Piper]

Breastfeeding=free
water=usually included in the rent
neglect leading to a child's death=mandatory sterilization

Stupid parents (and I use the term "parents" loosely)