A Dr. Phil episode

hyacinth003 · ‎03-12-2010

Was having trouble sleeping this early morning, and watched an episode of Dr. Phil.

It was about a young couple whose 2 children were killed by their maternal grandmother, who committed suicide. They were boys, aged 2 and 7 months. I believe their name was Perry.

The maternal grandmother picked them up from day care, then parked her car and shot them, and then herself. She was known to have mental illness. Her daughter stated that her mother had not been allowed alone with the children.

I am asking if anyone saw this (don't know when the original broadcast was), and had the same question I do. WHY did the day care release the children to the grandmother?

The mother stated that she was working that day, had a doctor appointment, that one of her sisters was with their mother if the children were there, etc etc. I find I did not understand WHY the children were given to the grandmother by the day care.

Anyone else see this?

Hyacinth

Spurt · ‎03-20-2010

@hyacinth003

Ms Salaun and daycare center co-owner Christine Hare said the boys' mother worked at the daycare center herself a couple years and had mentioned that the grandmother had a history of mental health troubles.

They said they keep going over the pickup in their minds but there is nothing they could have done differently.

'Brenda obviously put her on the list thinking she would be okay,' Ms Hare told the Associated Press. 'We go with the parents. We can't override their wishes. Obviously if she had come here obviously distraught, we would have intervened.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2285246/Debra-Denison-Grandmother-shoots-dead-young-grandchi...

Animals are reliable, full of love, true in their affections, grateful. Difficult standards for people to live up to.”

suzyQ3 · ‎03-09-2010

The story sounds familiar to me, but I don't know whether I saw it in the news at the time or whether I saw it on Dr. Phil when we used to watch the show.

Yours is a good question, and I don't know the answer. Just a guess, but maybe the employee who released the children that day somehow didn't see a directive (assuming that there was one). Or maybe the grandmother sounded so convincing that an employee went ahead and said okay when she or he should have called the mother or other emergency contact first.

Obviously, I don't know. But it was a tragic story for all involved.

~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

ROMARY · ‎04-28-2010

'Seems to me' that if the mother stated in writing and often reminded the daycare that they could not give her children to her mother, the daycare would be liable. Such an unfortunate, preventable tragedy. I've learned throughout the years that we can't totally rely on anyone now-a-days. Many/some people are just too distracted to be responsible, conscientious. Sorry, but true.

'More or less', 'Right or wrong', 'In general', and 'Just thinking out loud ' (as usual).

ROMARY · ‎04-28-2010

I just read one of the latest posts here, saying that the daycare said that the grandmother was on the list that the daughter (babies' mom) provided. .......... If true, the blame unfortunately shifts back to the mother. Tragic.

'More or less', 'Right or wrong', 'In general', and 'Just thinking out loud ' (as usual).

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

@Spurt wrote:
@hyacinth003

Ms Salaun and daycare center co-owner Christine Hare said the boys' mother worked at the daycare center herself a couple years and had mentioned that the grandmother had a history of mental health troubles.
They said they keep going over the pickup in their minds but there is nothing they could have done differently.

'Brenda obviously put her on the list thinking she would be okay,' Ms Hare told the Associated Press. 'We go with the parents. We can't override their wishes. Obviously if she had come here obviously distraught, we would have intervened.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2285246/Debra-Denison-Grandmother-shoots-dead-young-grandchi...

The last paragraph leads me to believe the mother had the grandmother on the *okay to pickup* list.

The fact that the mother had mentioned her mother had issues--didn't stop her from having her mother on the list.

Sadly, for her children's well-being.

HerRoyaLioness · ‎03-13-2010

@Spurt wrote:
@hyacinth003

Ms Salaun and daycare center co-owner Christine Hare said the boys' mother worked at the daycare center herself a couple years and had mentioned that the grandmother had a history of mental health troubles.
They said they keep going over the pickup in their minds but there is nothing they could have done differently.

'Brenda obviously put her on the list thinking she would be okay,' Ms Hare told the Associated Press. 'We go with the parents. We can't override their wishes. Obviously if she had come here obviously distraught, we would have intervened.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2285246/Debra-Denison-Grandmother-shoots-dead-young-grandchi...

The childrens's mother put the Grandma on the list of people that were ok to pick the kids up. Ask the mother why she did that.........knowing her mother's history of mental illness.

Again, the daycare WAS AUTHORIZED to let the grandma pick the kids up.

hyacinth003 · ‎03-12-2010

In watching the episode, I couldn't believe this wasn't addressed. I believe anyone watching it would wonder why the daycare released the children.

I have never used day care, but I know a school won't release a child to someone not on a signed form by the parent. One time my brother went to pick up my daughter who got very sick at school. They would not release her to him. So he waited with her until my husband got there.

I think I was in a class for work and couldn't be reached. I forget how my brother got called. I then put him on the list, but that day, he couldn't do it.

Hyacinth

hyacinth003 · ‎03-12-2010

@Lucky Charm wrote:
@Spurt wrote:
@hyacinth003

Ms Salaun and daycare center co-owner Christine Hare said the boys' mother worked at the daycare center herself a couple years and had mentioned that the grandmother had a history of mental health troubles.
They said they keep going over the pickup in their minds but there is nothing they could have done differently.

'Brenda obviously put her on the list thinking she would be okay,' Ms Hare told the Associated Press. 'We go with the parents. We can't override their wishes. Obviously if she had come here obviously distraught, we would have intervened.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2285246/Debra-Denison-Grandmother-shoots-dead-young-grandchi...
The last paragraph leads me to believe the mother had the grandmother on the *okay to pickup* list.

The fact that the mother had mentioned her mother had issues--didn't stop her from having her mother on the list.
Sadly, for her children's well-being.

Was it that the mother thought her sister would also be present as well as the grandmother? This is confusing to me, and I would THINK the mother would directly be sure the day care knew her mother was never to be ALONE with the children. Only release children if her sister was also present - or call the mother and check.

Hyacinth