From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Man faces abuse charge in beating death of girl

09/26/2003

HAZELWOOD

Jerem!@h Dw yer was charged Friday with felony child abuse in the beating death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter in the home they shared in Hazelwood.

Dw yer, 23, was being held Friday in the St. Louis County Jail in Clayton, with bail set at $300,000. He lived in the 5100 block of C@rey Lane with the girl, A@liyha $anders, and her mother, Michelle O^er$tree+, 24, police said.

The child was pronounced dead about 8 a.m. Thursday outside her home. O^er$tree+ had called 911 when she couldn’t awaken A@liyha.

Police said the girl died of internal bleeding and injuries.

Hazelwood police Lt. Bob Cutt said Dw yer ran into the house when officers arrived to assist paramedics. Cutt said O^er$tree+ first said she didn’t know the man, but officers later found Dw yer hiding in a closet. Cutt said Dw yer eventually confessed to having punched A@liyha in the chest and stomach with his fist.

“He said she was crying,” Cutt said.

Dw yer also was charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest.

Cutt said O^er$tree+ had gone out with a friend Wednesday night and returned to find her daughter apparently asleep. He said Dw yer told officers he punched the girl while O^er$tree+ was out.

Thursday morning there were three Hazelwood police cars in my cul-de-sac between 8a and 8:45a. It was a little baffling. As I left, I watched them walk into and out of the backyards of several of my neighbors. I had no idea what was going on.

This morning Kristi asked me if I knew where C@rey Lane was. Sure, I said, it’s the street behind my house. Oh, she says. Maybe that’s what happened yesterday morning.

I ran to the convenience store next to my office to check the newspaper. The article was very vague, and didn’t mention any names. My first thought was that it was the guy who’s always cussing out his kids. The neighbor with the ultra-loud music. The dumbass who was stupid enough to yell at Justin once.

And then I find this article online. It’s not that dumbass neighbor. It’s the one directly behind my house.

The police thought he’d made a run for it, and were on my street to stop him. Ah, I feel so safe.

Nothing infuriates me like child abuse. NOTHING. The only thing that makes me feel better right now is the knowledge that many prisoners don’t take kindly to those who’ve abused or killed children either.

He said she was crying.

A defenseless two year old little girl was crying, so he beat her. He probably couldn’t drink his Budweiser and watch the Cardinals game in peace. I think that makes the abuse pretty much justifiable, right? (If you are agreeing with my last sentence, you are truly a St. Louis born-and-bred White Trash Hoosier dumbfuck.)

I have no sympathy for the mother at this point, either. This couldn’t be the first time this guy was abusive. If he abuses you, doesn’t it stand to reason he’ll abuse your daughter? And you defend him? Are you insane?

My fury at this situation has me tongue-tied and frustrated. I want to strangle the guy, then the girl. I want to beat them and scream at them and ask them what the FUCK they were thinking.

I swear to God above, there should be exams required to become a parent. Intelligence testing, common sense guidelines - SOMETHING. You should need a license or be required to do an internship or SOMETHING. It’s the most important job in the world, and yet nearly any idiot can do it.

This just makes me sick.

Nearly incoherent and plotting my way out of White Trash Central,

michelle

p.s. (just to add to my sucky day): Hey, everybody! Jodi’s back! Say hi to Jodi! Hi Jodi!