For the past three days I have been trying to think of something to say about the tragedies. I cannot really find the words to describe the incredible wrongness of such pointless losses. Even worse, there is the lack of reportage about such news (in Brent’s case), or the reportage of support for the murderer (in Katie’s case). I wish I could say that such events were unheard of, but horribly, they are not freak singularities, simply unheard-of by being under-reported. Children with disabilities are murdered more often than anyone wants to realise.
The first story is of a young man, Brent Martin. He was beaten to death by a gang three guys who punched him in the head 18 times, just for a £5 bet. Brent was targeted because he had an intellectual disability. He never even fought back. Dave Hingsburger has initiated a black armband campaign in his memory.
The other story is of a little girl, Katie. Her mother Karen McCarron suffocated her with a plastic garbage bag because she couldn’t stand the fact that her three-year old daughter was autistic. The rest of Katie’s family misses her terribly.
Katie’s favorite color was pink, so here are some Pinks flowers. The black-banded tiger swallowtail butterfly is for Brent.
Go give your children hugs and tell them how much you love them.
Andrea's Buzzing About: 
In Gedenken an Katie McCarron - Autismus-Kultur said,
29 December 2010 at 2:39
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Jennifer said,
25 January 2008 at 23:52
This is so sad. I have 3 children one with ASD. I could never hurt them.
Lets all take the time to pray for the souls of the 2 children mentioned, and then give your own babies a big kiss.
Rickismon said,
19 January 2008 at 21:25
cornerseat and abfh– the parent of the child with Down syndrome was probably singing a different tune a day or two later. While this reaction was a bit extreme, as a mother of a teen with DS, I go to speak with new parents, and some who cry almost non stop for a week go on to become excellent parents. Sometimes the shock at first is so unexpected, that the person has trouble believing. A normal first stage in the greiving process is denial.
My post on Brent is:
http://beneaththewings.blogspot.com/2008/01/brent-martin.html
Club 166 said,
18 January 2008 at 23:14
Nicely said, and beautiful picture.
Joe
LisaDroesdov said,
18 January 2008 at 20:40
Much love to Katie and Brent, and a minute of silence to contemplate these losses. I am sure both would have loved the flowers and butterfly.
ange said,
18 January 2008 at 18:57
I shared the story with the autism support group I attend. I go to bring a different perspective, so when new parents show up, there’s not just gloom and doom. Not just joyful tribulation. But honesty, as much of the whole picture I can provide. But when I shared the story, a news paper article, and Niksmom’s essay (with permission), only one other person was familiar with the story. Many seemed shocked, and many were stuck on the mom. I tried to turn the story back to Katie. I hope the parents took the printouts home and really read them.
abfh said,
18 January 2008 at 15:28
I hope the baby with Down’s syndrome was given up for adoption to a loving family — there is a waiting list of people who want to adopt such babies.
Your pictures of butterflies on flowers are always lovely, Andrea, although I wish the circumstances of your posting could have been different.
Niksmom said,
18 January 2008 at 13:55
I second Dave’s comment, Andrea. This is lovely. And the photo…I think Katie and Brent would both love it.
Dave Hingsburger said,
18 January 2008 at 11:17
Andrea, this is beautiful. Thankyou.
Sharon said,
18 January 2008 at 9:19
Yes, these 2 murders are just 2 we have happened to hear of. Countless other attacks and killings take place world wide that we never will be able to read about. You have to hope for better things though, and try to change things, even if your sphere of influence is small.
cornerseat said,
18 January 2008 at 8:34
this is so wrong… :( my daughter also has a congenital anomaly, though hers is physical and can be corrected in three surgical procedures, all scheduled within a year of her life. she’s two months old now.
i cannot imagine how people (especially the mother!) could do such morbid things.
when my daughter was confined in the nursery ICU after her first operation, she had a “roommate”, a newborn baby girl with down’s syndrome. this baby’s mother, upon seeing her daughter for the first time, threw a fit, yelling “this is not my child!”
and that just made me cry :(
Autism Blog » Justice : » Autism news and opinion said,
18 January 2008 at 7:56
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