Baby's Death Leads Police To 14 Kids Hidden In Daycare Basement

Submitted by Matt on Thu, 2014-03-13 02:42

Story here. Excerpt:

'A South Carolina woman who allegedly operated an unlicensed daycare out of her home faces multiple charges after a child under her care died. But investigators say that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Pamela Clark Wood, 49, was arrested March 6. Police began investigating Wood last month after Greenville County Sheriff’s deputies received a call about an unresponsive 3-month-old baby girl, who later died.

When police went to the house to check on the baby Feb. 21, they allegedly discovered Wood's teenage daughter hiding in a room with 14 children. Authorities also said they found a child left unsupervised around the house, along with hazards, such as cleaning chemicals and alcoholic beverages, left unsecured.

Deputies said they found two toddlers left by themselves in a room with a loaded revolver within reach.

Although Wood has not been charged in the child's death, she faces charges of child neglect, violation of day care licensing and obstructing justice, according to WYFF.
...
This isn't the first time Wood has gotten in trouble for having too many children in her care. According to WSPA, Wood was cited for the same infraction about six years ago.'

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She's not being charged for the death for the baby. She was cited previously for operating her daycare out of license permit and she was still in business. She left an unsecured firearm in easy reach of toddlers. She left dangerous chemicals and alcohol around unsecured that any kid could just start playing with, drinking, etc.

But she is being charged with unlicensed operation of a daycare center, child neglect, and... you've got to be f---ing kidding me... obstructing justice??? Is that all???

If I did this, I'd never see sunshine again.

OK, the same drill as with the girls who nearly killed the autistic boy: these may only be "holding charges". But they should not be the only ones she goes to trial with. No plea bargains, either. Trial. Guilty. Murder of an infant, reckless endangerment (multiple counts), child abuse by neglect (multiple counts), etc., etc. Anything else the county solicitor can find in S.C. law. Speaking of which:

http://www.greenvillecounty.org/solicitor/contact.asp

Different states and counties therein have different titles for their prosecutors. Most states in the U.S. use some form of "prosecutor" or "state {also `commonwealth's`, sometimes} attorney" in the title. In most countries that have the English Common Law heritage (including the U.S.), a "solicitor" is a lawyer who brings cases to civil court or who may also represent clients in that and/or other legal matters. (In private practice, the average U.S. lawyer does not use these titles or the typically British title "barrister" to denote a criminal court litigator; usually they just mention they handle criminal or civil cases and otherwise use the more generic title of "attorney" on their business cards). In this case, it seems, the term "solicitor" is used in this particular county (or it could be the entire state, I dunno) to denote the prosecutor's office.

I am not sure which of the two listed courthouse numbers it would be best to call. Possibly they would just send you to Mr. Wilkins' voicemail or to an admin asst. for the office. There is also the email address link which points to sbrown-at-greenvillecounty.org. I do not know who that is so if you use it, act like you are writing to the solicitor himself. Same advice as in the other case: careful what you say and how you say it, stick to facts and just make your point and state what you want to see happen. My own take is that the final charges this woman needs to face must be far more severe than mere child neglect or unlicensed operation of a daycare center. Puhhleeze! She needs hard time in jail for murder, child abuse, etc. etc. And lots of it.

She should never be around children again.

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Submitted by Matt on Thu, 2014-03-13 03:20