Texsox

How happy are you?

'Worse than mutilation, beating' March 13, 2004 BY DAN ROZEK Staff Reporter Advertisement Wearing only a soiled diaper, a shriveled and severely malnourished Seamus Leonard lay curled on a dark blanket in a room filled with trash when rescuers arrived at his Crystal Lake home, McHenry County prosecutors said Friday, offering a judge photos that depicted the teen's appearance. The 15-year-old boy, who suffered from cerebral palsy, wasn't breathing when paramedics answering a 911 call found him early Thursday morning. But as disturbing as Seamus' death was his physical condition: He weighed only 23 pounds and was so malnourished that his body was little more than a gaunt skeleton covered by skin. "It's the most heart-wrenching condition of a victim I've seen in this county. It's worse than a mutilation or a beating,'' McHenry County State's Attorney Gary Pack said after the boy's mother appeared in court to face charges in his death. Seamus' mother, Katherine Leonard, has been charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, although Pack said the charges against her may be upgraded to murder. An autopsy done Friday indicated the boy, who was 3 feet 11 inches tall, died of pneumonia, although he also was severely malnourished, McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz said. On Friday, McHenry County Judge Gerald M. Zopp set bail for Leonard, 44, at $1 million. She remained under a suicide watch late Friday in the McHenry County Jail. Leonard, who was in the midst of a divorce and raising six other children along with Seamus, is being held in isolation and is expected to undergo a psychological evaluation, jail officials said. Her husband -- and the father of all seven children -- hadn't lived at the home since May 2003, according to documents in the couple's divorce, which was filed last October and is still pending. Leonard's other children, who range from 3 to 17 years old, have been placed with other relatives by the state's Department of Children and Family Services. None appeared to be malnourished or in ill health, Crystal Lake police and DCFS officials said. Zopp also issued an order barring Leonard, if she posts bail, from having any contact with her remaining children. Prosecutors contended during the bond hearing that Leonard arrived home from one of her two jobs early Thursday morning and found that Seamus wasn't breathing. But, prosecutor Robert Beaderstadt alleged, she waited for between 30 and 60 minutes -- until about 6:35 a.m. -- before she called 911. Leonard worked at a Crystal Lake discount store and also delivered newspapers early in the morning to help make ends meet. She had just returned from delivering papers Thursday morning sometime between 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. Thursday when she found Seamus lifeless, authorities said. The two-story Colonial home where the family lived was filthy when authorities arrived. It was declared uninhabitable. "The house was severely strewn with debris, garbage, feces and food particles,'' Beaderstadt said. What remains unclear is how and why conditions in the home became so filthy. A DCFS worker visited the home on Jan. 9, 2003, and found no signs the boy was being abused or neglected, DCFS spokeswoman Jill Manuel said. "The house was clean and everything seemed fine,'' Manuel said. "It seems something went terribly wrong in the last 15 months.'' Leonard allegedly hadn't taken Seamus to see a doctor in two to three years, officials said, and he hadn't been to any type of school in as long as two years. Seamus apparently was "fed occasionally,'' usually pudding or ice cream, Pack said, citing statements the other children gave to investigators. A neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said several of the Leonard children she saw during the last few months often looked "unkempt'' or wore "beat-up'' clothing, but did not appear to be mistreated. "They needed to have their hair brushed,'' said the neighbor. She described the kids as "sweet'' and said it seems like the youngsters "tried to look out for each other.'' :fyou :puke

I am so glad that none of the UT Pan American biggest rivals are on this board.

I believe Exmoor Country Club hosts some tournaments each year. About a dozen years ago I watched a Championship tournament. Very fun. Everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun.

Linky to NY Retreats I love to go backpacking. I love to be 5 miles from a road. No electronics, just nature and me. One of my favorite spots in Big Bend. About a 2 hour hike with packs. Deer everywhere. Amazing views.

We did in 1961. Grobstein has a Pettit audio clip of the final 20 seconds vs. the Red Wings and an interview with Bobby Hull on his web site. Amazing how gentile the locker room was.

This may crush the Illini fans on the board

Jim, I don't like seeing it as a paperweight on Rumsfeld's desk. In a museum or some other public memorial, yes. I don't see you or I dropping by Rummy's office. For thousands of people, that is their grave. We never found most of the victims. To me every bit of the building, planes, etc. is sacred. A lot of my attitude comes from a conversation I had one night with a veteran of WW2. I was participating in a "live aboard" program on the USS Lexington. He mentioned all the young men who had died on that ship and whose remains were either never found or buried at sea. Just like you wouldn't want someone spitting gum on your grave, the same holds for areas like this. It's a matter of respect. Maybe I'm old school on this.

Link Partial of article from AP

List of all those who have died.

Well we know who paid the league fee this year. If you buy the uniforms you can bat lead off Is that a 16" beer league? On advice of my Doc, I'm sidelined this year.

For are Illini fans It may be all they win. But, nice season.

Now if you included the Broncs of UT Pan American I'll post one for yah to make you feel better.

I saw a small child hit at a Road Runners game last year. Mom and baby were sitting in the 15 row about 30 feet past the 3rd base line. Dad was visiting the Skybox I was in for a couple minutes to say hello. Mom tried to dodge but didn't understand the aerodynamics of a baseball and it continued to slice foul (lefty batting) and she ducked into the ball. It clipped the mom's shoulder and nailed her baby. Scary, scary moment. People should always be alert at games. Even if you are seated away from the field, you could get trampled by people running for a foul ball. I think we all know the "red zone" for hard hit foul balls. I would question her judgement * If * she was sitting in that area with a small baby. So far we really do not know where she was seated.

At best, I'm seeing an above average pen. I am very disappointed in Koch so far. Over all thought it is better than most. For many fans, the set up is an overlooked facet of play.

Go Dirtbags

I lost interest in Chopper after about the 6 th show. It just became too predictable.

Ok it's not THE Julia Roerts but this woman is 96 years old

Monty Python rocks

The best cheap shot was Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander, and Bun E. Carlos Oops, I'm sorry that's Cheap Trick

The biggest fight I ever saw was about 10 years ago. Minny versus the Hawks at the old stadium. In the pre-game skate around Van Dorp decks a guy at the blue line and a ten minute brawl started. The linemen had not even hit the ice yet so the players were left to go at it. I remember Keenan just standing there watching. I think the first official fight was 30 seconds into the 1st. I left the stadium around midnight.