Amir Jennings -- Missing 11/24/11

Motion for Mistrial in Zinah Jennings Trial Denied

9:18 AM, Sep 4, 2012


Video - Click to play

Written by
Tony Santaella

~Snipped~

It was also announced in court Tuesday that Jennings has actually not seen her daughter since giving birth.

The lead investigator in the case spent most of Tuesday on the witness stand. Investigator Colin Bailey talked about several different pieces of surveillance video from stores they gathered from December that showed Zinah Jennings without Amir. Police say the last time Amir was seen on any of these videos was November 29, 2011 at the South Carolina Federal Credit Union. Bailey also said that was the last day any family or friends reported seeing Amir.

Read more:

http://www.wltx.com/news/article/200358/2/Motion-for-Mistrial-in-Zinah-Jennings-Trial-Denied-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Cbc%7Clarge

Thanks for the updates Alessandra


Snipped from above link:

When Jennings’ attorney, Hemphill Pride II, asked Bailey – since Amir’s body hasn’t been found – wouldn’t it be possible for Amir to be alive and well somewhere being cared for by someone who just doesn’t care to tell police?

To believe that, replied Bailey, “you would have to also acknowledge that person does not care about Zinah Jennings, does not care about the Jennings family, which has been suffering for months now wondering about the location of Amir, ... that this person is putting this family under an intense amount of pressure and misery.”

Bailey went on: “You would have to take into account that this person doesn’t care about the time and expense and emotion this case has cost.”

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/09/04/2425396/judge-denies-mistrial-in-jennings.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

Common sense dictates that since Zinah had no good reason - other than she had grown tired of parenting - to give away away Amir, that if she could tell the court where he was, she would.

It wasn't as if she feared Amir would be harmed (by anyone other than herself) and she certainly doesn't strike me as the type of person who would be willing to spend 10-years in prison just to protect his whereabouts.

I'm guessing that the only reason that she cannot disclose where he is, is due to the fact that she knows Amir is dead.

For example, cellphone pings of Zinah Jennings’ phone allowed investigators to discover that she made an unusual trip to a wooded area of northern Richland County last Nov. 29, hours after she had emptied her savings account at South Carolina Federal Credit Union.

That day, Nov. 29, was also remarkable because it was the last time Amir was seen by anyone, Bailey testified. Credit union surveillance cameras captured Amir playing and running out the bank’s front doors while his mother was busy getting her money. On the next day, Nov. 30, Zinah Jennings was in Augusta, meeting with a man. Amir wasn’t with her, Bailey testified. Until, then, Zinah Jennings was Amir’s primary caregiver.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/09/04/2425396/judge-denies-mistrial-in-jennings.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

IMO the above says it all. I just hope and pray that his remains are found so that she can be charged with murder as well.

In calls, grandmother of missing SC boy told daughter she thought police believed boy was dead

MEG KINNARD Associated Press
September 05, 2012 - 10:44 am EDT

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The grandmother of a missing South Carolina toddler expressed worry and confusion about the boy's whereabouts during jailhouse phone calls with her daughter.

Prosecutors on Wednesday played phone calls between Jocelyn Jennings Nelson and her daughter, Zinah Jennings.

Nelson said in the calls she thought police believed the boy was dead but that she didn't think her daughter would have harmed him.

Read more:

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/1360d710020d439d928e6bc33a75a346/SC--SC-Missing-Boy

Grandmother worried about Amir but didn’t think daughter would hurt him

Wednesday, Sep. 05, 2012
By JOHN MONK - jmonk@thestate.com

Amir Jennings’ grandmother said in court Wednesday she worried about her grandson’s whereabouts but didn’t think her daughter would hurt him.

Jocelyn Jennings, at times crying and wiping tears from her face, testified in a Richland County courtroom that her daughter had once been a child with a bright future. Good academically and athletically, she was a Girl Scout and well-rounded student at Columbia’s Dreher High School, where she was on the color guard squad and girl’s basketball team.

But, the mother testified, her daughter dropped out of Winthrop University and had a baby. Relations between the two became strained in the months before the 18-month-old disappeared in November, Jocelyn Jennings testified.

Still, she replied, “No, sir,” when asked by her daughter’s attorney, Hemphill Pride II, if Zinah Jennings would have killed Amir.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/09/05/2426866/fbi-agent-listened-to-39-calls.html#storylink=cpy

Gia, thank you so much for the flowers. :)

Defense rests in Zinah Jennings case

MEG KINNARD
Associated Press
September 6, 2012


COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Attorneys have wrapped up their case in defense of a South Carolina mother charged in the case of her missing son.

Zinah Jennings' attorneys rested their case Thursday. The 23-year-old mother told a judge she did not want to testify in her own defense.

Jennings is on trial on a charge of unlawful conduct toward a child. Police say she won't tell them where the boy is.

http://www.wistv.com/story/19472812/defense-to-continue-presenting-sc-missing-boy-case

Defense Rests in Zinah Jennings Trial Without Her Testimony

10:46 AM, Sep 6, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP, WLTX) - The defense has rested in the trial of Zinah Jennings without her testifying in her own defense.

Jennings, 23, was asked by the judge if she wanted to go before the court and ask questions. After a 15 minute break while her attorney and prosecutors thought about the request, Jennings came back into court and told the judge "no."

The defense then rested its case.

http://www.wltx.com/news/article/200679/2/Storeowner-Claims-He-Saw-Missing-Child-Last-December

Jury deliberations set to begin in Zinah Jennings trial

Posted: Sep 06, 2012 5:11 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 06, 2012 5:25 PM CDT
By Jeremy Turnage

The jury in the unlawful conduct towards a child case against Zinah Jennings is expected to begin deliberations on Friday morning after the day was spent with closing arguments.

Zinah, the mother of toddler Amir Jennings, who has been missing since November 2011, was almost put on the stand on Thursday, but she told the judge that she did not want to testify.

The defense spent most of Thursday trying to put reasonable doubt in the jury's minds.

One witness called by the defense, an owner of a consignment store in Lexington, testified that she saw the toddler with his mother a month after Amir allegedly went missing.

Read more:

http://www.wistv.com/story/19477888/jury-deliberations-set-to-begin-in-zinah-jennings-trial

Closing statements made in Jennings trial after star witness testifies

by Zoheb Hassanali
Posted: 09.06.2012 at 10:06 AMUpdated: 09.06.2012 at 6:40 PM



~Snipped~

On Thursday,the owner of a Lexington consignment store testified she saw Zinah with her son nearly a month after the boy was reported missing.

Laura Beaver said she saw Amir Jennings with his mother at her store in late December 2011.

Police have said Amir was last seen in late November when he went to a bank with his mother, Zinah Jennings. But Beaver says she saw the boy just before Christmas 2011.

The investigator who testified for the prosecution said the last time Amir Jennings was seen was on November 29.

Because the witness comments contradict each other, Jennings' attorney requested a mistrial.

The judge denied the mistrial.

http://www.midlandsconnect.com/news/story.aspx?id=797631

Thanks for the updates Alessandra.

I'm really hoping for two victories in a row.

And despite a witness coming forward to say she saw Amir with Zinah, I still highly doubt that Amir is alive. It's preposterous to believe that Zinah would subject herself to a possible 10-year prison term in an effort to hide a child that had become a hindrance to her.

Thank you Alessandra for all the updates!

Gia wrote:It wasn't as if she feared Amir would be harmed (by anyone other than herself) and she certainly doesn't strike me as the type of person who would be willing to spend 10-years in prison just to protect his whereabouts.

I'm guessing that the only reason that she cannot disclose where he is, is due to the fact that she knows Amir is dead.

BINGO...Exactly! It doesn't appear Zinah had any reason to hide Amir for protection of being harmed by someone other than herself. I do believe Amir needed protected from her!

Zinah Jennings Found Guilty of Unlawful Conduct Toward Child

12:33 PM, Sep 7, 2012

Columbia, SC (WLTX, AP) - A jury has found Zinah Jennings guilty in connection with the disappearance of her son, Amir Jennings.

The jury deliberated for just under three hours Friday before rendering their decision against the Columbia woman.

Jennings was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child. Police say Amir was last seen during a visit to a bank with his mother back in November of last year.

During the trial, prosecutors brought over three dozen witnesses to testify. The defense called just two, including Zinah Jennings's mother.

http://www.wltx.com/news/article/200789/2/Zinah-Jennings-Found-Guilty

Zinah Jennings

GUILTY!!!

"Zinah Jennings never took the stand in her own defense.

During deliberations, the judge received two notes from the jury: one requested a copy of the statute, the other asked for 12 copies of Jennings's statements to police, and state and defense consented.

She faces up to 10 years in prison during sentencing."

Wahoo!

Yes!!

Woo Hoo!!! ... and thank you Alessandra for the good news.



This week just keeps on getting better and better.

Would it be seen as being too greedy if I add Jerice Hunter as the next one on my wish list?

Alessandra_Deux wrote:Zinah Jennings

GUILTY!!!

"Zinah Jennings never took the stand in her own defense.

During deliberations, the judge received two notes from the jury: one requested a copy of the statute, the other asked for 12 copies of Jennings's statements to police, and state and defense consented.

She faces up to 10 years in prison during sentencing."

This is great news that she is convicted but sadly Amir is probably deceased and how much time is she really going to serve? She will still be young enough when is released to have more children, a terrible thought.

Take note, Pinellas 12.

Excellent news! Now the new baby has a chance to actually live and grow up. 10 years of chances, hopefully-- with no credit for time served.

More chance than little Amir had, sadly.

art tart wrote:

Alessandra_Deux wrote:Zinah Jennings

GUILTY!!!

"Zinah Jennings never took the stand in her own defense.

During deliberations, the judge received two notes from the jury: one requested a copy of the statute, the other asked for 12 copies of Jennings's statements to police, and state and defense consented.

She faces up to 10 years in prison during sentencing."

This is great news that she is convicted but sadly Amir is probably deceased and how much time is she really going to serve? She will still be young enough when is released to have more children, a terrible thought.

BBM.

Jennings gave birth to a daughter last week.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57508473-504083/zinah-jennings-south-carolina-mother-found-guilty-of-unlawful-conduct-in-missing-toddler-case/

I read that her mother plans to care for this child and raise it. I hope Zinah's parental rights are stripped, but I doubt they will be.

KZ,
She already gave birth. Here is the link/post from Lash about it.

Lash wrote:Zinah Jennings, Mother of Amir Jennings, Gives Birth to Second Child

1:08 PM, Aug 31, 2012 | Written by Tony Santaella

Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Zinah Jennings, the mother of missing Columbia toddler Amir Jennings, has given birth to a second child.

Sources confirmed to News19 that the woman had a baby girl at 3 a.m. at Palmetto Richland. The judge in her trial later confirmed the birth, and said that the mother and child are healthy. They are expected to leave the hospital Sunday.

http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=199827

Jury finds Zinah Jennings guilty, sentenced to 10 years

Posted: Sep 07, 2012 11:15 AM CDT
Updated: Sep 07, 2012 2:13 PM CDT
By Jeremy Turnage

(VIDEO)

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - After the delivery of a unanimous guilty verdict in the charge of unlawful conduct toward a child, the judge has sentenced Zinah Jennings to 10 years in prison.

Jennings has been held for several months while Columbia Police Department investigators searched for her son, Amir Jennings, who has been missing since November 2011.

Jocelyn Jennings, Zinah's mother, stood behind her and pleaded to the judge for mercy. She told the judge that she sincerely believes that her daughter would never harm Amir.

"She is not well and at this point without her, Amir could be anywhere," said Jocelyn.

Zinah's attorney, Hemphill Pride, also pleaded with the judge.

"Where I'm going is please don't give this girl 10 years," Pride said. "This is a young lady who has no prior criminal record."

The judge credited Jennings with time served so far and will make sure she receives appropriate mental health counseling while in prison.

Jennings appeared emotionless as the judge sentenced her.

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/19484234/jury-reaches-verdict-in-zinah-jennings-trial

Mother sentenced to 10 years in prison for refusing to tell police where toddler son is 10 months after he disappeared

Amir Jennings disappeared in November 2011, aged 18 months
Mother Zinah Jennings, 23, says he is safe but refuses to give details

By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 16:48 EST, 7 September 2012 | UPDATED: 16:48 EST, 7 September 2012

Convicted: A jury in Columbia, South Carolina found Jennings guilty of unlawful conduct over the disappearance

Sentenced: Jennings, pictured being led away from court on Friday, will spend 10 years in prison.

Police say Jennings repeatedly lied to them about where the boy is, telling false tales that led them to search places from Atlanta to Charlotte.

Jennings, who did not testify in her defence, has said she left the boy somewhere safe but would not give details when questioned by police.

Prosecutors played a lengthy police interview in which Jennings cried as she said her son was safe but that she could not prove to detectives that the boy was alive.

Read more:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2200017/Zinah-Jennings-sentenced-10-years-prison-refusing-tell-police-son-Amir-is.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Thank you, Alessandra, for the pictures, and for all of your updates in this (and other) cases. Much appreciated!

Zinah's attorney, Hemphill Pride, also pleaded with the judge.

"Where I'm going is please don't give this girl 10 years," Pride said. "This is a young lady who has no prior criminal record."

Not exactly true, Hemphill Pride.

Columbia, SC (WXIA)-- WXIA-TV in Atlanta has learned that the mother of a missing toddler was arrested for prostitution and drug possession less than a month before her son's disappearance.

According to the police report obtained by 11Alive News, East Point, Georgia police arrested Zinah Jennings on November 9 after she agreed to have sex with an undercover officer in exchange for $40.

BBM.

http://www.wltx.com/news/article/167930/2/Missing-Boys-Mom-Arrested-for-Prostitution-in-November?odyssey=tab|topnews|bc|large

Alessandra_Deux wrote:Jury finds Zinah Jennings guilty, sentenced to 10 years

Posted: Sep 07, 2012 11:15 AM CDT
Updated: Sep 07, 2012 2:13 PM CDT
By Jeremy Turnage

(VIDEO)

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - After the delivery of a unanimous guilty verdict in the charge of unlawful conduct toward a child, the judge has sentenced Zinah Jennings to 10 years in prison.

Jennings has been held for several months while Columbia Police Department investigators searched for her son, Amir Jennings, who has been missing since November 2011.

Jocelyn Jennings, Zinah's mother, stood behind her and pleaded to the judge for mercy. She told the judge that she sincerely believes that her daughter would never harm Amir.

"She is not well and at this point without her, Amir could be anywhere," said Jocelyn.
Zinah's attorney, Hemphill Pride, also pleaded with the judge.

"Where I'm going is please don't give this girl 10 years," Pride said. "This is a young lady who has no prior criminal record."

The judge credited Jennings with time served so far and will make sure she receives appropriate mental health counseling while in prison.

Jennings appeared emotionless as the judge sentenced her.

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/19484234/jury-reaches-verdict-in-zinah-jennings-trial

With regards the red highlight ... this is very sad but one can only wonder how many years will pass before Jocelyn J realises that Amir is most likely never coming home. I understand that no parent wants to admit that their child is capable of killing their own grandchild, but there was testimony that Zinah kicked Amir, a 18-month old toddler, in the back. Surely that alone would give Jocelyn good reason to doubt Zinah ... but I suppose we believe what we choose to as a means of avoiding what we cannot face.

snipped from above :

"Where I'm going is please don't give this girl 10 years," Pride said. "This is a young lady who has no prior criminal record."

---

IMO this is exceedingly fair sentencing.

Zina alsofor the moment enjoys the benefit of doubt that she is innocent of her child's possible death.

She is very young and still has a life ahead of her upon release which her son most likely does not.

I understand the task of Defense Counsel but seriously.

I agree. She should have gotten more than just 10 years. Although I'd be pretty happy if Casey would have gotten a mere 10 years. 10 years would have been more fair than a not guilty verdict!

Despite detectives' pleas to national media, the disappearance of an 18-month-old black boy with the wide smile has yet to grab the widespread attention given to other missing children's cases. Some advocates say the reason why may be as simple as the toddler's gender – and his race.

From the still-unsolved slaying of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey more than 15 years ago to the disappearance and killing of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony, the public has watched with rapt attention as many cases involving young children unfolded, often over many months. Yet Amir Jennings, the little boy who hasn't been seen since he was captured on surveillance video with his mother in South Carolina nearly a year ago, has registered as scarcely a blip on the nation's consciousness.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120908/us-sc-missing-boy/

KZ wrote:

Despite detectives' pleas to national media, the disappearance of an 18-month-old black boy with the wide smile has yet to grab the widespread attention given to other missing children's cases. Some advocates say the reason why may be as simple as the toddler's gender – and his race.

From the still-unsolved slaying of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey more than 15 years ago to the disappearance and killing of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony, the public has watched with rapt attention as many cases involving young children unfolded, often over many months. Yet Amir Jennings, the little boy who hasn't been seen since he was captured on surveillance video with his mother in South Carolina nearly a year ago, has registered as scarcely a blip on the nation's consciousness.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120908/us-sc-missing-boy/

KZ, It has been stated many times that Caylee's case drew national attention because the Defense team and GA/CA/their attorney's worked the media incessantly. The Sunshine Laws contributed to the publics interest in the case also. Parent's make a big difference imo in some of the cases that barely make a blip, this case is a good example. It seems, imo, IF a parent isn't willing to be honest w/LE, help establish a credible time line, take a poly and pass it, plead incessantly in the media for their child to be found and LE has exhausted all tips/leads, the cases fall from the MEDIA. imo, it's not that the public doesn't care, it's that there is nothing to report on the case and sometimes, LE doesn't even know where to look. Zinah doesn't want Amir found, it's just that simple, did Zinah learn from BABY Gabriels mother, it seems imo, she did. Zinah is uncooperative for a reason, imo, if Amir is recovered deceased she is going to go to jail a hell of a lot longer than 10 years. There is no incentive for her to do the right thing, the consequences in her mind are too great.

BABY Lisa is no longer in the news, no one crying and begging for her return, no searches by LE, all leads exhausted. The fact is, imo, the parent's aren't interested in assisting LE in finding Baby Lisa. Most parent's would walk through fire and glass to get to their child if they saw them on the other side or give their life to save their child, but it is uncomfortably common to see parent's move on, unwilling to even assist LE. I have no problem w/families having attorney's, it's the unwillingness to assist LE and the lack of searches even by family members that drives me crazy.

Little Ayla, bless her heart, her mom, Trista has done everything she can but the sorry POS baby daddy, his girlfriend and his sister are blatant freaking liars. LE doesn't know the answer as to where little Alya has been dumped or buried, it lies w/the 3 that were in the house that night imo. Boy, that idiot Justin couldn't wait to claim he ''smoked the polygraph,'' but most of us think he just smoked weed. No leads, basically a cold case, not enough for an arrest and imo, the 3 in the house are thankful no one is searching for Alya but her mother.

Even little Isabella Celis has fallen from the news, suspicious circumstances surround her disappearance, but more importantly, the unwillingness of Isa's mother to BEG for little Isa to come home is heartbreaking, she has made minimal media appearances. LE repeatedly ask this of her mother explaining the more publicity generated, the more national news, the more tips might be generated but she has refused to do so.

A case in which there is never going to be a blip is Kyron Horman's case. There is a good reason for this, he has 2 devoted parent's that have moved heaven and earth to keep his face in the media, raised money for searches, dad shows up at public event's handing out fliers, they give endless interviews to bring Kyron home, their pain is palpable and sometimes difficult to watch. Kyron's mom has called Terri out claiming she knows where Kyron is and has even filed a Civil Suit to apply pressure to TMH and friends, ANYTHING to try to find Kyron. Kyron's parent's aren't the typicial parent's we see, they are never going to let it go, it's this attitude the above cases I mentioned lack. As parent's, our children have no greater advocates that we are as parent's, why are some parent's not even willing to advocate for their children..........

If the system can't hold a parent responsible for their child, then children, imo, are going to continue to be disposable by unstable adults that are tired of parenting. Something has to change.

Heartfelt, and moving post, ArtTart. I agree wholeheartedly.

It almost seems our littlest ones, the most vulnerable, have become the most disposable. And I, too, struggle with how that can be, in a country as great as the one we live in.

God bless and keep them all.

I remember Sky Metalwala, Amir Jennings, Haleigh Cummings, Adji Desir, the ones you have named, and so many, many more little ones. It hurts my heart to type their names now, after so long. In some small way, I hope that remembering them matters, when it seems it is no longer possible to bring them home. Or when their own loved ones don't seem moved to want to bring them home.

It is heartbreaking and infuriating to see them shrouded in injustice-- the only shroud many of these children will ever have. Sometimes it seems all we strangers can do is remember them, cherish their brief lives, and hope that this is enough. Shroud them in remembrance, and unconditional love.

Sometimes all we can do is bear witness for them.

art tart wrote:

KZ wrote:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120908/us-sc-missing-boy/

KZ, It has been stated many times that Caylee's case drew national attention because the Defense team and GA/CA/their attorney's worked the media incessantly. The Sunshine Laws contributed to the publics interest in the case also. Parent's make a big difference imo in some of the cases that barely make a blip, this case is a good example. It seems, imo, IF a parent isn't willing to be honest w/LE, help establish a credible time line, take a poly and pass it, plead incessantly in the media for their child to be found and LE has exhausted all tips/leads, the cases fall from the MEDIA. imo, it's not that the public doesn't care, it's that there is nothing to report on the case and sometimes, LE doesn't even know where to look. Zinah doesn't want Amir found, it's just that simple, did Zinah learn from BABY Gabriels mother, it seems imo, she did. Zinah is uncooperative for a reason, imo, if Amir is recovered deceased she is going to go to jail a hell of a lot longer than 10 years. There is no incentive for her to do the right thing, the consequences in her mind are too great.

BABY Lisa is no longer in the news, no one crying and begging for her return, no searches by LE, all leads exhausted. The fact is, imo, the parent's aren't interested in assisting LE in finding Baby Lisa. Most parent's would walk through fire and glass to get to their child if they saw them on the other side or give their life to save their child, but it is uncomfortably common to see parent's move on, unwilling to even assist LE. I have no problem w/families having attorney's, it's the unwillingness to assist LE and the lack of searches even by family members that drives me crazy.

Little Ayla, bless her heart, her mom, Trista has done everything she can but the sorry POS baby daddy, his girlfriend and his sister are blatant freaking liars. LE doesn't know the answer as to where little Alya has been dumped or buried, it lies w/the 3 that were in the house that night imo. Boy, that idiot Justin couldn't wait to claim he ''smoked the polygraph,'' but most of us think he just smoked weed. No leads, basically a cold case, not enough for an arrest and imo, the 3 in the house are thankful no one is searching for Alya but her mother.

Even little Isabella Celis has fallen from the news, suspicious circumstances surround her disappearance, but more importantly, the unwillingness of Isa's mother to BEG for little Isa to come home is heartbreaking, she has made minimal media appearances. LE repeatedly ask this of her mother explaining the more publicity generated, the more national news, the more tips might be generated but she has refused to do so.

A case in which there is never going to be a blip is Kyron Horman's case. There is a good reason for this, he has 2 devoted parent's that have moved heaven and earth to keep his face in the media, raised money for searches, dad shows up at public event's handing out fliers, they give endless interviews to bring Kyron home, their pain is palpable and sometimes difficult to watch. Kyron's mom has called Terri out claiming she knows where Kyron is and has even filed a Civil Suit to apply pressure to TMH and friends, ANYTHING to try to find Kyron. Kyron's parent's aren't the typicial parent's we see, they are never going to let it go, it's this attitude the above cases I mentioned lack. As parent's, our children have no greater advocates that we are as parent's, why are some parent's not even willing to advocate for their children..........

If the system can't hold a parent responsible for their child, then children, imo, are going to continue to be disposable by unstable adults that are tired of parenting. Something has to change.

While I try to follow the huge number of missing children cases here at RC, Caylee's case drew my attention the most because quite honestly I never saw a more screwed up bunch of people. Everyday there was another twist to the story, and they all looked even more screwed up than the day before. They were all like a really bad reality soap opera. Liars, cheats, thieves, adulterers, bozos, incest accusations, cover ups, DNA paternity, etc. I mean who else did LE find it necessary to conduct a DNA paternity on the mother's own BROTHER???

I watched and waited for the whole truth to come out, which never happened.
I watched and waited for Caylee to get Justice, which also never happened.


I know they're not done. They can't help themselves. They're messed up! Something else will happen. What? I don't know. But it will, and I will be watching and waiting.

I hope & pray for all the other missing/murdered children that they will get their Justice. Children should not end up missing or murdered. Children should have reliable, mature adults in their lives who protect them and love them and nurture them and tell the truth for them.

Each child matters, just as much as Caylee.

Awesome posts Art Tart and KZ.

When I was a child, it was all about 'stranger danger'. Now as an adult, I see more children hurt by their so called parents and not strangers. My heart breaks when I am in a public place and I see a child with sad eyes. The parent is screaming at their child for no reason other than annoyance. The child is dirty and mom is high on drugs. Some times it is obvious the child is an inconvenience to their parent. I wonder how much worse their little life is at home. I wonder if this could be the next child to go missing or killed. I just want to grab the child and run. I want to protect them and keep them safe. Instead all I can do is smile, waive and say a silent prayer.

KZ wrote:Heartfelt, and moving post, ArtTart. I agree wholeheartedly.

It almost seems our littlest ones, the most vulnerable, have become the most disposable. And I, too, struggle with how that can be, in a country as great as the one we live in.

God bless and keep them all.

I remember Sky Metalwala, Amir Jennings, Haleigh Cummings, Adji Desir, the ones you have named, and so many, many more little ones. It hurts my heart to type their names now, after so long. In some small way, I hope that remembering them matters, when it seems it is no longer possible to bring them home. Or when their own loved ones don't seem moved to want to bring them home.

It is heartbreaking and infuriating to see them shrouded in injustice-- the only shroud many of these children will ever have. Sometimes it seems all we strangers can do is remember them, cherish their brief lives, and hope that this is enough. Shroud them in remembrance, and unconditional love.

Sometimes all we can do is bear witness for them.

A tad bit OT ...

With regards the highlight in red ... I realise that LE probably doesn't have enough evidence to charge Sky's "so called" mother, but I must say that I am taken aback that they have never charged her with negligence or abuse, as after all, she did abandon him in a "supposed" broken down car which I'm sure constitutes placing him in harms way and must be against the law.

Snipped for relevance:

Julie wrote:

They were all like a really bad reality soap opera. Liars, cheats, thieves, adulterers, bozos, incest accusations, cover ups, DNA paternity, etc. I mean who else did LE find it necessary to conduct a DNA paternity on the mother's own BROTHER???

I watched and waited for the whole truth to come out, which never happened.
I watched and waited for Caylee to get Justice, which also never happened.


I know they're not done. They can't help themselves. They're messed up! Something else will happen. What? I don't know. But it will, and I will be watching and waiting.

I hope & pray for all the other missing/murdered children that they will get their Justice. Children should not end up missing or murdered. Children should have reliable, mature adults in their lives who protect them and love them and nurture them and tell the truth for them.

Each child matters, just as much as Caylee.

I'm once again OT ...

Julie, despite Baez's protests to the contrary, I'm sure that the only reason LE did the DNA tests for paternity was due to the rumours and speculation from the public. The whole thing was fueled by kc's strange behaviour, Caylee having a combination of kc and Lee's names, the fact that no one knew who the bio father was ... and of course the stories that kc told friends about Lee.

... and while I agree that the family is dysfunctional, I personally believe that Baez took anything and everything that could be used to create a reasonable doubt and used it as a defence. The only pity was that with the Pinellas bunch - who had no clue what "unreasonalbe doubt" actually meant - was willing to buy into any fantasy no matter that there was no evidence to support his ludicrous and bizarre claims.

Hi Gia - Sorry that I'm OT again on Amir's thread.

I agree with you. I agree with all your points of why LE might have felt it necessary to test Lee. But I think it was more than just rumors from the public. I think it was mostly due to the points you mentioned, and mostly what came from Casey's own mouth about Lee and implying she didn't know who the father was, even though I think that is a lie. The public's rumors spread to suggesting that George be tested too. And as far as I've ever seen, he never was tested. Val did a write up about the whole family's genes and how George couldn't be the father of Caylee, but there isn't a DNA test result within the mounds and mounds of doc dumps for George, but there is one for Lee.

I agree what you say about Baez too. He created reasonable doubt (lied) to the point that the Pinellas jury bought it hook, line and sinker. I pity the fools.

Such a cute smile!

Julie wrote:
Such a cute smile!

Well, gosh, what a cutie-pie! If his mama didn't want him, I sure would have taken him! That's one beautiful kid right there!

CPD on Zinah: "She has the key to this whole case."

Posted: Sep 10, 2012 4:11 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 10, 2012 5:51 PM CDT
By Tim Pulliam

(VIDEO)

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Columbia Police say Zinah Jennings is crucial in the investigation to find her missing son, Amir, but she's not talking.

Instead, investigators are relying on tips from ordinary citizens in hopes of finding the toddler who has been missing since November 2011.

Sgt. Arthur Thomas says the file on Amir grows daily from tips of possible sightings of the toddler as recent as today. He says they act on each one.

Read more:

http://www.wistv.com/story/19505654/cpd-on-zinah-she-has-the-key-to-this-whole-case

Does anyone know if they have done an "age progression" pic of Amir?

He was only 18 months when he disappeared, and he would be nearly 2 1/2 now, if he is still alive (which is unfortunately, not very likely).

This makes me so sad - we've been following his story since the beginning, so many children don't get the national attention needed to find them, Amir & many others, too many.

"COLUMBIA, S.C. — Despite detectives' pleas to national media, the disappearance of an 18-month-old black boy with the wide smile has yet to grab the widespread attention given to other missing children's cases. Some advocates say the reason why may be as simple as the toddler's gender — and his race."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48953999/ns/us_news-life/

@ Cubs Fan

ITO the media coverage and public interest, this is a contentious and sensitive subject ... but the sad reality is that cute little white kids from middle to upper class families, and typically families where one wouldn't expect a child to go missing, def generate more interest and sympathy.

So while I'm sure there are cases out there that prove otherwise, IMO race and social status do play a major role.