True VERY Sad Story about false murder accusation

IM-MA

Fri, Sep 30 2005, 10:04 am

Someone sent me this email. I left out the last names.
x and x are a young couple that are presently experiencing a major trauma and crises. Their challenge is most extraordinary. Up until a few weeks ago they were happily living life and appreciating its many blessings. All it took was one moment, and there life has been turned upside down. It was Shabbos noon and they were present at the Sheva Brachos meal of Yosef Chaim's sister. Liba left her 17 year old sister, Chaya Esty, to baby sit her 2 year old daughter and 6 month old baby son at their grandmother's house. Liba put the baby to sleep and told Chaya Esty that he usually sleeps for approximately 2 hours. Chaya Esty and her 2 younger sisters were having the Shabbos meal with their grandparents. A little while later Chaya Esty went to check on the baby and found him blue in his crib. She lifted him out of the crib and ran up the stairs to the grandmother and "Hatzalah" was called. They tried hard to revive the baby, took him to the nearest hospital which was "Brooklyn Hospital." Hatzalah told Chaya Esty that the baby was dead. 5 minutes later they came back out and said that the hospital revived the baby..... but, the baby was already brain dead..... It was just the heart that was beating once again due to the baby being on the respirator. Liba and Yosef Chaim stood by their beloved baby day and night for almost a week. On Thursday around noon time they watched their baby return his soul to his Maker.

I am sure you would all agree that this is sad enough, but Hashem has given them a challenge that by far surpasses the original incident. The doctor in the hospital has claimed that this baby was murdered by what they call "shaken baby syndrome" meaning that the baby was violently shaken to death. They considered this a homicide and requested an autopsy. Both the mother and baby sitter were threatened that if the baby dies they will be arrested. We approached Rabbis and community leaders and we were advised that this is serious stuff and we should immediately hire a lawyer. We did, at the price of $400.00 an hour and $15,000.00 retainer.

So now you would think that this is plenty for a young couple to deal with, but the story is even more unbelievable. Due to this horrendous accusation, the "Child Protective Services" in Monsey, where the Fisher's reside stepped in on the case and took their sweet little 2 year old "Sarah Fradel" away from them into Foster Care. Liba was granted 4 hours a day of supervised visitation and was warned that if she over stays her time allotment she can receive a large fine and 6 months to 4 years in prison. So far there have been 3 court appearances and a trial date was set for the end of January and another court appearance for mid November. They had to hire another lawyer to fight the "Child protective services" case at the price of $375.00 an hour and $7,500.00. retainer.

Can you begin to imagine what it is like to suddenly be visited by "Hatzalah" in middle of a joyous Shabbos meal and brought to a hospital to find a Brain Dead baby that you just nursed less than 2 hours ago as he lovingly responded to your nurturing with a bright smile? Can you even begin to imagine standing by his bedside for almost a week watching his small little body wither and die?

Can you imagine a 24 year old father and a 20 year old mother looking down at a coffin, knowing that within it lies their own flesh and blood, their most beloved Neshamele, their sweet adorable baby who was so filled with chein and whom they hoped to raise and see alot of Yiddish Naches from? Can you imagine the fear of knowing that at any given moment there is a possibility of innocently being handcuffed and jailed? Can you imagine sitting Shiva and missing your 2 year old little girl that you didn't see for almost 2 weeks (due to being in the hospital and then sitting Shiva) and waiting for the comfort of hugging her and loving her, only to be subpoenaed by "Child protective services" and notified that your baby is not coming home? Can you possibly imagine what it feels like when your husband is at work all day, your 2 year old is in Foster Care, and your little tzadikel is in Gan Eden? Imagine the feeling in the house, with one crib gone, and the other one empty and toys neatly waiting on the shelf. Imagine the sound of joy and giggles and sweet little words replaced by the sound of deadly silence. Instead of bath time, bedtime and good night kisses there are tears, longing and heartache.

Liba Fisher is known not only to be a good mother, but an exemplary one. She treats her children with love, caring, kindness and patience. She delights in their every accomplishment. She is a normal stable and responsible mother. She mother's with delightful joy. Her family, friends and neighbors all attest to the fact that her children were always well dressed and well fed. She did all this with pride and joy. Now her nest is empty. She has accepted the loss of her little baby with unusual strength and abundant faith, as she is trying to deal with this terribly false accusation, but the daily separation from her beloved child is most unbearable.

Little "Sara Fradel" is being fostered by her loving great aunt and uncle Zeldy and Hershel Rosenberg. They are showering her with love and attention, yet they claim that she is definitely not the same child she was when she arrived (as the parents were in the hospital and then sat shiva). It is truly heart wrenching to watch her cry as her mother is forced to leave her. This trauma is unfortunately turning a happy, vivacious and unusually friendly girl into a sad, confused and mistrusting one. She has no idea why her stable and secure world suddenly vanished...

Can you imagine babysitting your beloved nephew and finding him blue? Can you imagine the trip to the hospital, alone with the baby, dreading to face your sister as she faces the reality of loosing her baby. Even more so, imagine discovering that you are actually suspected of "murdering him." Imagine being told by the police that you can be arrested at any time and the lawyer telling you your rights. Imagine a frum refined girl sitting in her 12th grade classroom and dreading the sound of any siren that drives by. Imagine her sitting in a full courtroom surrounded by Judges and Lawyers and being looked upon and treated as the potential murderer and being denied visitation to see her beloved niece that she is so strongly bonded with. This is a girl that is mature, kind and caring in an exemplary manner. A girl who has been volunteering her time to baby sit "special children" so that their parents can have a most needed brake. She is most beloved by all who know her.

As this horrific drama keeps unfolding it is putting a severe stress on the entire family. This defense will take a lot of time and a lot of money. This couple was barely making ends meet before this nightmare began. Though it is severely difficult to ask people for monetary assistance we do not see any other way out.This situation is enough agonizing and frustrating without the burden of "how are we going to pay the lawyers?" We therefore ask you to kindly open your hearts, your souls and your pockets.

One more request please: Daven with all your heart and soul for:

1- Rivka Braindel Liba bas Yitta Nechama......... mother

2-Chaya Esther bas Yitta Nechama.........Baby-sitter

3-Sarah Fradel bas Rivka Braindel Liba- 2 year old

That logical evidence is found to prove their innocence. That the case is dropped and that mother and child are reunited and that this living nightmare is gratefully behind us.

Measure for measure, may you have the merit to hasten the coming of Moshiach Tzidkainu where the Shechina Hakedosha will be reunited with her very own children, we the children of Am Yisroel, and she will joyously take us all home to our magnificent Bais Hamikdash. Measure for Measure may the Judgment be withdrawn from us all and may our exile be erased and wiped out forever and may all of Am Yisroel be inscribed in the book of life, joy, health and abundance. Amen......

proudmom

Fri, Sep 30 2005, 10:17 am

that is horribe, it brought chills up my back.

Tovah

Fri, Sep 30 2005, 10:37 am

I'm a bit confused why would they take the child away from the mother? the mother wasn't their when the baby died? so how could they blame the mother? and the sister was babysitting in the grandmother's house, so where was the grandmother? and where was hatzolah? where they not sticking up for this family?

chavamom

Fri, Sep 30 2005, 12:24 pm

Tovah wrote:

B/c 'shaken baby' syndrome the shaking could occur hours earlier. It is caused by 'brain bleeds' and they can also see retinal hemorrhages, things of that nature. I know of another case where a baby was damaged by a vaccine and it caused a 'brain bleed' and the father actually went to jail for some time b/c they were convinced that he had shaken the baby. I also know of another very gentle, kind frum family whose son fell and broke his leg while they were visiting the US. The ER reported them to CPS b/c they said that the type of fracture he sustained could only have been caused by abuse. CPS took all the children into protective custody (and I believe they were fostered by nonfrum or non-jewish people) for a number of days before they concluded it was a mistake! What a world we live in.

lucky ↓

Fri, Sep 30 2005, 2:11 pm

I've heard this story firsthand from an aunt.

Tovah wrote:

I'm a bit confused why would they take the child away from the mother?

because if she is accused of abuse, any other kids r taken away.

the mother wasn't their when the baby died?

but they say it could have been s/t she had done to the child earlier.

so how could they blame the mother?

and the sister was babysitting in the grandmother's house, so where was the grandmother? and where was hatzolah?

They also questioned hatzolah that maybe they shook the baby to try to revive him.

where they not sticking up for this family?

Hatzolah is definetly sticking up for them.

Purple Hug Bunny ↓

Fri, Sep 30 2005, 4:49 pm

This story is beyond sad.. .I'm crying..
Very sad.. I hope e/one in the family has a Yeshua very quickly..

Tefila

Fri, Sep 30 2005, 4:58 pm

This story sounds so sad and crazy I hope the something good will happen soon Sad

cr2005

Fri, Sep 30 2005, 5:12 pm

this story literally took me by shock. Its unbelievable its doesn't even sound true just a big nightmare. MY tefillos will be with you over rosh hashana and may hashem bless you with an overabundance of joy and happiness and mazel, and may they end result happen quickly.

technic

Sat, Oct 01 2005, 5:48 pm

unbelievable Crying

micki ↓

Sat, Oct 01 2005, 9:54 pm

this is a terrible story- but if the baby really died from shaken baby syndrome- then SOMEBODY must have done it. who? unless they somehow made a mistake in the cause of death.

of course they have to find out.

you can't write off and say oh they look like a nice family, so I'm sure they didn't do it. plenty of innocent looking people out there who are not so innocent. they have to find out WHO did do it. and the legal system would be very irresponible if thye didn't try to find out!

not everyone even knows that shaking a baby is a problem. just today I saw my sister shaking the baby (to play with her) and I quickly explained to her and all my kids that we are not allowed to do this- ever.
so maybe the sister did not know this...

terrible.

hisorerus

Sun, Oct 02 2005, 1:06 am

The shaking required for shaken baby syndrome is not at all the type of shaking used to play with a baby.

↑ micki

Sun, Oct 02 2005, 8:47 am

I know that- I jus t think its a good thing for kids to never get used to shaking babies in any way.

hardwrknmom

Sun, Oct 02 2005, 9:27 am

what about SIDS? was that possible.

I hope a lawyer comes to their aid without charging these poor souls an arm and a leg.

supermom

Sun, Oct 02 2005, 10:14 am

I am stunned at what is going on in this world

Pearl ↓

Wed, Nov 16 2005, 6:57 am

I received this story again in my inbox this week.

is there anyone who can give us an update?

it's beyond tragic.....

↑ lucky ↓

Wed, Nov 16 2005, 8:39 am

I heard that the case was thrown out last week. It did cost them an arm and leg in lawyers fees.

↑ Pearl

Wed, Nov 16 2005, 8:58 am

does that mean the little girl was reunited with her parents?

↑ lucky ↓

Wed, Nov 16 2005, 9:04 am

I surely hope so.

HappyPurim

Wed, Nov 16 2005, 7:20 pm

The parents have the child back, (they are neighbors of mine) I guess now they can really grieve theyre lost son.....

Rivka

Sat, Nov 19 2005, 7:36 pm

This story is scary and very upsetting.
I am relieved to hear that the two year old was given back to her parents and that the case against the mother and her sister was thrown out.

I understand the social services have to make sure that the other child is safe, but sometimes they are too quick to over compensate for their flaws in the system.