(Texas) Couple Bit Child More Than 20 Times in Fatal Exorcism

[sabra]

Source: tyler paper

HENDERSON — They claim they were trying to drive the demons out of the 13-month-old, but law enforcement officers say the bottom line is a Rusk County couple bludgeoned the little girl to death with a hammer and other objects and bit her more than 20 times in the most grotesque murder the seasoned officers can remember.

Blaine Keith Milam, 19 and Jesseca Bain Carson, 18, both of Henderson, remain jailed on $2 million bonds each. They are charged with capital murder for the Tuesday morning death of Carson’s daughter Amora Bain Carson.

...

Humber said the couple then told deputies the child was possessed and they were trying to rid her of demons.

An arrest affidavit states Milam performed an exorcism of the demons possessing their child. The affidavit continues to state after Milam killed the child with Carson looking on the couple “drove to Henderson to pawn some items to pay for an exorcism.”

Officials said Milam and Carson told detectives they decided to hire a priest after the exorcism went badly.

Read more: http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20081203/NEWS01/812030289/0/FRONTPAGE

[DS1]

1. Into the woodchipper with those two

[Owl]

18. I agree.

[Oldtimeralso]

58. No, Too Quick. n/t

[Xithras]

70. Fine, feet first n/t

[BadGimp]

75. AMEN

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

78. AMEN indeed

BTW... neat pic.

[MineralMan]

2. Religious Excess...

is its own demon. There are simply too many such stories out there. It's obscene.

[cali]

5. I don['t honestly believe this has much to do with religion

If it weren't religion they would have found another excuse for their sadistic, murderous impulses.

[Taverner]

10. Of course not

The Bible never tells people how much they should beat their kids, or how much they should expect to get selling their kids into slavery.

It never has proclimations of genocide, telling the army of Israelites to kill every last man woman and child, but first after raping the women and girls.

It never tells you to stone people for eating shellfish.

In fact if you open the bible, the only words in it are the golden rule - everyone knows that!

:sarcasm:

[Lerkfish]

12. well, in this case, it sounds like plain old insanity with a religious flavor.

I don't know of any religion, extreme or otherwise that says exorcisms involve hammers and biting the possessed to death.

[Taverner]

13. Doesn't say anything about lesbians either

Not a word - but that doesn't stop their persecution on religious grounds

[Lerkfish]

14. well, thanks for not listening to me.

I had an actual point, there.

[Taverner]

22. I listened (or read rather) and you had a point

But - I counter with


Religion is the motivation for much death and suffering because:

- It's texts command it
- Religion starts with the premise that our world isn't real, but theirs is

That's a recipe for disaster

[Lerkfish]

31. well, actually I don't think you did get my point

but that's ok.

its not a requirement that people understand every point I make.

there are no texts (that I'm aware of) in religions that espouse exorcism, that commands beating the alleged possesed person to death or biting them to death.

[Taverner]

33. The Catholic Church has some

But you are right, they don't say anything about hammers

BUT - the presupposition any believer makes - that their biblical reality is somehow more real than what we can measure - that is how these things happen

[Lerkfish]

42. ok, that's a valid point, but I believe you were saying the absolute cause is religion

and the result was the insanity. My point was that I think they were insane first, and used religion as an alibi

second. we'll have to disagree on that, I guess.

[Taverner]

45. Its not just religion - it is the disconnect of reality

Granted, not all religious folks have this.

But its part of religion. Faith. The idea that you believe X, even though you measure Y. That in essence is behind religious motivation.

I remember a quote, not sure by whom, but basically it was "I believe because its absurd"

To me, a better description of insanity couldn't be given.

[Lerkfish]

50. As I said, we'll have to disagree.

in my experience, most people here that continually trash religion do so not from a position of actual rational investigation and introspection, but from a painful point of bad baggage concerning their own personal religious experience.

IMHO, even though I'm a christian, I respect all other religions, and agnosticism and atheism. I have taken the position that I do not assume I know everything nor do I have exclusive rights to the truth. My view is more that there is good to be gleaned from any religion and any point of view, but like humans themselves, there are weeds among the crops. I do not respect anyone that uses religion to harm others, just as I do not respect anyone that simply dismisses a religion as completely evil without even attempting to understand it -- much like many disparage Islam as completely evil without attempting to understand it.

admittedly, I am also human, and even though the above paragraph is my goal, I fall short from time to time.

I disagree with the blanket circular definition that because you find religion absurd that proves it is insane. You are merely based your conclusion on your own prejudicial view...which is not a definition at all.

[Confusious]

77. I've made an attempt to learn about religions

Which one would you like to discuss? Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Baha'i, Shinto, Buddhism? They're all full of pieces of wisdom to run your life by, but also full of crap alot of the time. People seem to focus on the full of crap part, and then their are people who defend these actions by, in my opinion, defending the religion. As the saying goes...

There are bad people and there are good people. Bad people will always do bad, but it takes RELIGION for a good person to do bad.

[LanternWaste]

54. I think it was Hegel who wrote that faith...

I think it was Hegel (Science of Logic, 1812) who wrote that faith is merely trust in that of which we do not have full or absolute of.

If that's the case, I'd hazard that everyone uses faith on a daily basis.

[superconnected]

84. At this point I'm just going to put you on my ignore. 3rd atheist today.

Usually nobody makes my ignore list. But when people choose to have narrow views and make blanket statements covering things like all religions, I assume they think that way in all areas, not just the religious sector. I mean what next - all homeless people are drug addicts? So, bye. PS. Buddhist here.

[struggle4progress]

92. The Catholics usually send people for psychological counseling instead of doing exorcisms

And their exorcism rites seem mostly to involve prayer, reading scripture, and sprinkling with water -- which (whether you approve or not) is not so closely related to biting and bludgeoning

[Dogtown]

59. "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live..."

or some such tribal nonsense.

[Lerkfish]

60. is that an exorcism? nope.

[Dogtown]

64. Details, Lerkfish

Obviously they didn't suffer *their* perceived witch to live, and killed her by exorcism.

Remember that "Malleus Maleficarum" translates as "witches' hammer", though I doubt the righteous in this case would recognize the irony.

Scripture doesn't seem to give specific instruction for not suffering a witch to live, but I doubt Yahweh's ghostwriters would have found a hammer ungodly.



My point is that the Judean/Christian tradition has been very harsh historically on perceived witches. Insanely harsh. If you want to believe that modern Christianity has grown beyond traditional persecution, you are free to. I choose to believe that tribal hatred is only clad by a veneer of restraint and will blister through when ever it can.

Hence; this infanticide.

[superconnected]

86. Gee, wouldn't that take a hateful tribe to begin with. Are all tribes hateful?

[Judi Lynn]

85. You may have been sleeping in church. For many, many years. Here's a reference:

21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 23/center And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. 28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

Jesus in Capernaum: Healing and Casting Out Spirits (Mark 1:21-28)

~~~~~~~~

JESUS CAST OUT DEMONS
EVERYWHERE HE WENT


LIST OF SCRIPTURES

Matthew:

4:23-24 All Galilee, Synagogues(vs.23)
8:14-17 Peter's house (vs. 14)
8:28-33 Seashore (vs. 32)
9:32-33 Outside (vs. 32)
10:7-8 Everywhere (vs. 7)
12:15,22 Great multitudes (vs. 15)
15:22-28 Coasts (vs. 22)
16:13-19 Coasts (vs. 13)
17:14-21 Multitude (vs. 14)

Mark:

1:23-27 Synagogues (vs. 23)
1:32-34 Door-House of Simon and Andrew (vs. 33)
1:39-41 Synagogues, all Galilee (vs. 39)
3:9-15 Small ship (vs. 9)
5:2-20 Out of ship (vs. 2)
6:10-15 House (vs. 10)
7:24-30 House (vs. 24)
9:14-27 Multitude (vs. 14)
9:33,39 House (vs. 33)

Luke:

4:33-36 Synagogue (vs. 33)
4:38-41 Simon's house (vs. 38)
6:17-19 Plain (vs. 17)
8:1-3 Every city and village (vs. 1)
8:26-39 Seashore (vs. 26)
9:37-42 Down from the hill (vs. 37)
11:14-22 Synagogue (vs. 15)
13:11-17 Synagogue (vs. 14)

http://www.moodymanual.demonbuster.com/jcod.html

~~~~~~~~
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Matthew 12:28

~~~~~~~~
As a preacher's kid, I had tons of stories to ponder. Ever hear that one about casting out a spirit from a man which left the man and entered a herd of pigs which ran into the ocean and drowned? All in a day's work back then, apparently.

Perhaps it's good to remember these stories were written by people who didn't particularly have vast wisdom. Who knows what the hell really happened which they were attempting to describe.

[struggle4progress]

95. I encountered a lovely interpretation of the Gerasene Demoniac a few years ago:

that's the tale you mention towards the end about demons cast into pigs

... And as He stepped from the boat, immediately a man living with an unclean spirit among the tombs met Him. He had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one could subdue him. Night and day he howled among the tombs and on the mountains, bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus, he ran and bowed down before him and he shouted ... Jesus asked, ‘What is your name?’ He replied, ‘My name is Legion; for we are many.’ He begged him earnestly not to send them from the country

If one dislikes (say) reading such stories literally, one may find other readings, depending on the actual historical context in which the tales were first told

The Gerasene Demoniac comes from the period of imperial Roman occupation, when the entire country was literally "possessed" by the Legions. It was not a benign possession: the Romans ruled by threat of shackle and tomb -- and that produced considerable psychological and social distress. The occupied country gave Rome constant trouble, howling among its tombs, making repeated efforts to wrench apart its chains, and promising to "send Legion from the country"

"The most potent tool in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed," said Biko

The Legion's external control of the conquered was mirrored by an internal control: the tomb-dweller is not only surrounded by the Legions, he has somehow psychologically assimilated them into his own personality. His freedom requires that this internal possession end, and when it does, he sees the situation with different eyes: Legion controls dirty animals, rushing towards their own destruction

[Judi Lynn]

98. Never have run across this. Very, very interesting.

I'd like to think this over for a while.

What a concept, thinking it may be possible these stories may have actual meaning beyond the implausible ones we have been raised to accept.

I've made a note to myself to look more deeply at this. I see there's plenty of material on the internetS to get started, too.

It would be such a relief to know something real could have been transmitted, and people were too dim, too childish to look for a more complete meaning beyond the simply magical. I surely believe this is likely, at this point.

Thanks!

[Lerkfish]

99. thanks for the info, however, it does NOT refute what I said at all

I said:

there are no texts (that I'm aware of) in religions that espouse exorcism, that commands beating the alleged possesed person to death or biting them to death.

I'm fully aware of that biblical reference, however, unless you're attempting to fabricate "reading between the lines" to suit your supposition, Jesus does not beat or bite that person, and the person certainly survives, doesn't he? Otherwise, what would be the point of excorcism?

[Judi Lynn]

101. Sorry, was doing a speed reading, didn't take enough time to comprehend.

Don't usually have more than a few minutes at a time to cover as much ground as possible, and didn't take enough time to focus, apparently.

I've seen your name around D.U. before, and never associated anything negative with it, whatsoever. Sorry to have misunderstood.

[Lerkfish]

102. hey, no problemo

I liked all the extra info, at any rate.

I do that all the time, skim too quickly over a post.

have a good one!

:hug:

[superconnected]

83. All three points are wrong.

1. You say religions - which covers all religions. There's too much diversity to make your statements true of all.
2. Most religions say, "do not harm others" - it's a common theme. Bringing out old text from the Christian religion that is against most Christians beliefs currently - harming others, is not valid. Plus the New Testament repeatedly says, "do not harm others". Bringing it out for the Muslims isn't valid either because most Muslims in the world are far more tolerant now too. Buddhist, specifically say if you cannot help others than do not harm them. The Dali Lama and all Buddhist masters say this. Sure a few countries have extremest but most aren't extreme. You could say all governments say harm others, and all people say harm others but it's still not true of Religions because most specifically say, "do not harm others".
3. Religion starts with the premise that our world isn't real, but theirs is. Wrong, most religions believe the world is real and then they have more view points - usually prophets etc - Siddartha, Christ, The Dali Lama, who do not say the world is not real, and go on to say, do not harm others.

[trotsky]

103. Hi.

Could you quote the specific New Testament verse that says, "Do not harm others."? Thanks.

[superconnected]

82. I caught it. You can't expect someone who wants to hold narrow opinions to

suddenly change. Many churches marry gays. But this person has deemed all intolerant. This person choses to be ignorant and not look at the whole. Some churches are bad, some people are bad etc. It doesn't sound as good as "all" even though "all" is a grossly incorrect.

[Lerkfish]

100. thanks for the support, or reading comprehension (grin)

and I agree with your assessment of the other poster

[Javaman]

19. Well they also could be the type of repub/fundie that look at every problem like it was a nail!

:rofl: sorry, I couldn't resist! LOL

[Lerkfish]

26. LOL! well...

[superconnected]

81. You're forgetting about all those churches who promote peace, love, don't hurt others etc

that also exist in every religion. You're also forgetting the Christ movement - that guy who showed up and broke the laws of deuteronomy and leviticus and said don't harm others. You're not seeming to mention all the acts out there of people harming others with no religion involved - the usual case. Or that people maim and kill for everything from money to road rage.

[MineralMan]

15. Not with normal organized religion, but...

demons and exorcisms and priests. Sorry, but it is an insane thing to do, based on an "excess of religious zeal," as some would put it.

Religion taken to a bizarre extreme, but still religion.

[Javaman]

21. one thing I have noticed from my reading on history, religions usually roll with the times...

we have some nuts out there that were all hot and bothered over the "born again" asshole* in the WH and took this as carte blanche to go full ass bore ultra right wing fundie crazy on anything remotely smelling of anti-religion.

and because most fundies are sheep, they follow whom ever they think will look the other way when they start acting all crazy in the eye.

[MineralMan]

32. I'm not really sure the times have much to do with it...

There are always some wackos out there who do stuff like this and call it religion. Thus has it always been.

[Javaman]

37. This is true, but I think having moron* in the WH who claims he* was saved and

goes out of his way to side with the religious fringes usually is a sign that door is wide open for the nuts.

[struggle4progress]

27. Nah. Here's what probably happened: police arrive; gruesome scene;

officers begin investigation; bullshit excuses ("bad doggies" and "I told baby not to hit herself with hammer"); officer skepticism; more bullshit ("omg! must of been the neighbors while we were at the pawn shop!"); officer finally asks "are you having any trouble with demons?"; the wackos think they see light and run ("oh yes! baby was possessed! couldn't do anything with her!") ...

[Taverner]

3. Now folks don't get excited - this isn't religion's fault

Religion had NOTHING to do with this, so stop saying that!

Religion only does GOOD things, like caring for sick babies and stuff!

It's not like they would ever hold illogical beliefs because an ancient book told them too now...

It's not like religion has anything to do with the parts of the bible that tell you to sell your kids into slavery, or beat them until dead.

It isn't! So stop saying that!

:sarcasm:

[louis-t]

6. I miss Bob Boudelang.

(sigh)

[Taverner]

8. Yes - I miss him too

The whole "So stop saying that" was sooooo evocative of GOP talking points.

When all else fails, the GOP says "shut up" and declares victory

[FiveGoodMen]

62. 'When all else fails, the GOP says "shut up" and declares victory'

So very true!

[timtom]

72. Wow! Do you ever have a fucking axe to grind...

You're all over this like a pit bull.

And that says much.

[onager]

97. Yep, the pathetic religious apologists are really out in force today.

Loved this bit from one of the Usual Suspects up there:

...in my experience, most people here that continually trash religion do so not from a position of actual rational investigation and introspection, but from a painful point of bad baggage concerning their own personal religious experience.

And how does this poster know that?

Oh, that's right, they DON'T. They just make stuff up. Exactly like the authors of their sainted Buy-bull.

For the record, I mostly have fond memories of my upbringing as a Southern Baptist. And I can guaran-damn-tee you my atheism resulted from a very long and thorough "rational investigation and introspection."

But since they are always so presumptuous, let's see if I can return the favor:

In my experience, most believers who continually trash atheism do so because belief in an invisible, omnipotent and loving Sky-Fairy is inherently irrational and bears no relation to the world as we know it. The attempt to fit their delusions with the known facts about the universe gives them a lot of bad baggage concerning their own life experience.

[cali]

4. throw away the key

these two sadistic fuckwads should never be let out of prison. And if they meet the fate of so many child abusers in prison, oh well.

[TrogL]

7. Their pastor needs to be charged as an accessory

They couldn't have come up with these batshit ideas out of nowhere. If they got them from a TV evangalist, there will be tapes.

No priest would do an Exorcism. There's no rite for it in the Anglican community and it's such a rare event in the Roman Catholic church the Pope would probably have to be informed.

[Vanje]

17. This guy does "excorsisms"

for money.

http://www.boblarson.org/

He's not a Catholic, Not an Anglican....He's a snake.

[TrogL]

30. Bob Larson was exposed years ago

Somebody hacked into his earpiece.

[struggle4progress]

28. No evidence clergy were involved

[Marrah_G]

9. Okay I can get where a mother could have severe PPD

That can cause hallucinations and paranoia.

But the father too? How in the world does this happen?

How do 2 people have the same delusions of such a degree that they kill their own child?

I do not understand this.

[Taverner]

11. I understand it perfectly

Your reality and their "reality" are two different things

If your small child was crying and making strange noises, you'd see a doctor, right? Because you know those things could be signs of an upper respiratory infection or worse.

Now in their "reality" there is no infection, and the kid was making noises like that because she was posessed by the devil. They didn't think this; they "KNEW" it.

[proud progressive]

24. well, glory be!

i do believe i have discovered someone even more cynical of religion than me. go for it, brother!
today i'm in a particularly foul mood about religion. i'll just leave it at that.

[Taverner]

39. Oh I have nothing but disdain for religion

Now, having said that I do have a certain amount of respect for Preachers that many Atheists don't - but that comes from them doing their real job, i.e. feeding the poor, consoling those who have lost, or those who are about to die, etc...you know the 'MINISTERING' type of work.

However talking about invisible sky beard all day is nothing but a waste of time, money, energy and brain cells.

[proud progressive]

56. i agree, again

in my very limited view, religion came about largely for 2 reasons - way, way, way back to provide 'answers' to questions about life and good-ole mother-nature; and, not so far back, as a way for everyday schmucks - who were at the mercy of others - to cope. probably still true in much of the world.
there are many good deeds performed by many well-meaning folks of religion, but for the most part, it has been used mostly to persecute.

[PatSeg]

25. Further on in the article

it says:

"Milam was sentenced in August of this year on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child and received a probated sentence. He has also been arrested on charges of causing a disturbance and assault/family violence."

http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20081203/NEWS01/812030289/0/FRONTPAGE

This guy clearly had some serious problems already and should not have been around young children. It is not clear whether he was even the child's father.

[Marrah_G]

35. Scary- how could he recieve probation for that?

[PatSeg]

40. And did his probation officer

have any idea he was living with a child? Was anyone keeping tabs on this guy?

[drgonzosghost]

52. Because he's a white guy in Tey-Has....

You only get punished if you are black or Hispanic down in that shithole.

[superconnected]

87. That's the part I haven't gotten for years. But like attracts like.

There are whole groups of people that do crazy crap together. And most don't even bother claiming it's part of religion. Look at all those cheerleaders that sexually molested the old people.

[Art_from_Ark]

94. Hallucinogenic drugs?

People can do and say some weird stuff while they are tripping

[lumberjack_jeff]

105. Maybe they're just criminals. n/t

[Javaman]

16. when religion fills the vacuum of ignorance.

down right fucking medieval.

[superconnected]

90. This really has nothing to do with religion filling a vacuum of ignorance.

It's likely religion fills a different vacuum than ignorance anyway.

Infact, you ... are #4. I haven't had a day like this in years.

[struggle4progress]

20. This isn't about religion: it's about some disturbed people, their insane acts, and their lies

Stepfather has a history. After "the doggies did this" and "baby pounded on herself with the hammer" didn't fly, there were "we were trying to exorcize the demons" and "actually, I went off to pawn tools to pay for an exorcism, and when I came back the house was a mess"

... Milam was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child in August and was put on probation ...

Texas Couple Jailed In Infant’s Death
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/35499604.html

... "Yesterday morning, they went to Instant Cash Pawn here in Henderson and pawned some tools to get some cash to bring a priest out there to get the demons out of the child...so, in the mean time the live in stepfather decided to get the demons out himself," said Judge Richardson. "When we got there the baby was laying in the middle of the floor of the bedroom...You're looking at a 13 month old baby that has had her head bashed in...it's gruesome" ...

Update: Rusk County baby had bite marks; murder scene was 'gruesome'
Posted: Dec 3, 2008 01:06 PM
Updated: Dec 3, 2008 05:23 PM
http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9451701&nav=menu117_3

... They were arrested Tuesday after deputies responded to a 911 call about 13-month-old Amora Bain Carson, who was found beaten ...

Police believe hammer used to beat tot to death
04:09 PM CST on Wednesday, December 3, 2008
http://www.kvue.com/news/state/stories/120308kvue_beaten-cb.29962404.html

... Rusk County Sheriff's Lt. Reynold Humber said the alleged brutal beating death of 13-month-old Amora Bain Carson by her mother Jesseca Bain Carson, 18, and Blaine Keith Milam, 19, was so gruesome that he did not sleep Tuesday night ...

Humber went on to say that some of the investigators at the crime scene on County Road 2125 had to exit the residence because they were physically ill ...

"This is the worst thing I have ever seen," Humber said again.

Rusk County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 Bob Richardson, who arraigned the two, said he did not arraign the couple Tuesday because the scene was so disturbing. He added that he accompanied Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Bonnie Miller to perform the inquest at the home ...

Peace Officers Struggle With Brutality Of Crime
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
http://www.tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081204/NEWS01/812030401

... Lieutenant Reynold Humber with the Rusk County Sheriff's Department said, "They gave us numerous stories at the onset first that the baby had been involved in a car crash the day before, then the story was that the dogs had gotten hold of the baby, and it was obvious it wasn't dogs" ...

More details released on Rusk County baby's death
Posted: Dec 3, 2008 06:36 PM
Updated: Dec 3, 2008 06:39 PM
http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9454207

... Authorities told the Tyler Morning Telegraph that the couple originally told detectives several stories of how the child suffered the injuries, including a fabricated auto accident, an attack by the family's dogs and that someone else harmed the child when she was unattended. They also reportedly said the child beat herself in the head with the hammer ...

Young Texas couple arraigned on murder charges for beating, biting death of 1-year-old
06:33 AM CST on Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Associated Press
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-toddler_04tex.ART.State.Edition1.4acb590.html

... Lt. Reynold Humber said the couple told deputies the child was possessed and they were trying to rid her of demons ... Humber said there was no information on any clergy being called to the home ...

East Texas couple jailed in death of her toddler
Associated Press - December 4, 2008 1:25 AM ET
http://www.kdbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=9453346&nav=menu608_2_2

[Javaman]

23. "Yesterday morning, they went to Instant Cash Pawn here in Henderson and pawned some tools.."

I guess he forgot to pawn the hammer.

[Taverner]

36. So are you saying when they said "Excorcism" they really meant something else

And it had nothing to do with them thinking they had the devil in their kid?

If this was some plan to get off the hook, I don't see how it could work - even in Texas. Even in the Bible Belt. Even in the United States of Stupid.

[struggle4progress]

41. "It was an exorcism" is excuse #5, after "baby got banged up in an auto

accident yesterday," "we have bad bad doggies," "baby hit herself with the hammer," and "I suspect a neighbor"

The police could probably have elicited excuses #6, #7, #8 ... but what would be the point?

That the suspects apparently told police they'd headed off to the pawn shop, leaving the bashed baby, suggests a certain failure to connect with reality

[Taverner]

43. Well that almost seems worse

That there are people who would believe fairy tales as a legitimate excuse to murder a child.

[struggle4progress]

51. Riiiight. Baby bludgeoned/bitten to death. Then the folks wander off to the pawn shop.

When the police finally arrive, there's a one incoherent excuse after another. And you, Taverner, are outraged! outraged! because ... well, because bullshit excuse #5 is even lamer than the previous bullshit excuses

[Taverner]

53. No - what bothers me is anyone would think that as an OK excuse

[struggle4progress]

57. Perhaps once a person has decided it's OK to bite and bludgeon an infant,

the comparative quality of their various excuses is really not of much consequence

The biting and bludgeoning, after all, suggests a certain indifference to the child -- and the subsequent trip to the pawn shop only seems to reinforce the impression that normal affection is lacking

Perhaps the fact, that suspect attempted to persuade police that baby just got bumped up a bit in an auto accident the day before (without anybody realizing how serious an injury the collapsed head was), rather completes the picture

It is an sadly common story, with parallels in existing English criminal records dating back to the medieval period

Bu of course our reaction should be outrage that, given five (five!) chances, the suspects just couldn't come up with an Taverner-approved excuse for bludgeoning a baby!

[Taverner]

66. Whatever dickweed

[superconnected]

89. Excellent point.

[JonQ]

65. What do you mean "even in Texas"?

I'd say their odds are worse here than in a lot of states. We aren't exactly shy on punishing murderers here.

[Taverner]

68. IF they think it is murder

If they think they are killing demons, then they might like it

You have to admit, Texas has a serious addiction when it comes to Jeebus and fairy tales.

[JonQ]

69. I can't think of any parent that has gotten off for religious reasons

Andrea Yates is the closest I can recall and she avoided the death penalty for mental illness, not for trying to save her child from demons.

[Taverner]

74. Yes, but doesn't it seem like typical fundie thinking?

I mean - think of what goes through their little pea brains

[JonQ]

91. I think you're overestimating the influence

of "fundies". Anti-sodomy laws that were on the books from ages ago were recently removed in Texas, the fundy crowd would have prevented that if they had the power.

[specimenfred1984]

29. Darn, exorcisms usually turn out so well too...

I have one about every 6 months or so, some insurance even covers it now!

[get the red out]

34. This is a lot like the "witch hunts" in Africa

A lot of kids are being abused, abandoned, and killed in parts of Africa because the local clergy tells the parents they are possessed with evil and that they either have to have an exorcism or be killed. The exorcism is expensive, and the clergy person may tell them later that it didn't work and needs to be done again. If the parents don't pay for it, and won't kill their child, their neighbors will often try to kill the child. It isn't isolated in some parts of the world. And through Rev. Muthee, such ideas are even confirmed to have made their way to at least one major party candidate in the last election.

This couple may well be completely wicked nuts, but the idea of evil, possessed children who must be killed has gained some popularity in certain parts of the world.

[MilesColtrane]

38. Bullshit attempt at building an insanity plea.

I hope he gets shivved before he gets the needle.

[drgonzosghost]

44. American Hicks are the Scariest Group of People in the World

Is there anything we can do about the dumbass red neck problem that is seriously plaguing this country? Would it be possible to rehabilitate these fucking hayseeds? In my opinion, these people are a worse threat than Al-Queada ever could be.

[Taverner]

46. Cyanide in Coppenhagen cans?

:evilgrin:

[drgonzosghost]

47. Good start, but they don't all do chaw....

I say ship them all to Africa. Like Darfur or Uganda.

[Taverner]

48. Fuck that - I don't wish that upon the Ugandans or Darfurians

They've been through enough already

Let's make them heroes and send them into space as the first men on the sun.

[drgonzosghost]

49. With nothing but the BBC to watch on TV!!

[superconnected]

88. Most are harmless. Some are bad. Just like in the city some gang members kill people.

[a la izquierda]

55. Methinks these idiots misjudged where...

the "demons" actually were.

[Tiggeroshii]

61. It sounds like the couple shouldn't have even had custody of the kid in the first place...

<i>"
Milam was sentenced in August of this year on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child and received a probated sentence. He has also been arrested on charges of causing a disturbance and assault/family violence."</i>

Really sad.

[No Elephants]

63. Since when are hammers and biting part of an exorcism? This is mega bs on the part of the killers.

[crim son]

67. The father had done time for aggravated sexual assault.

An exorcism. Yeah, sure.

[greenman3610]

71. Values voters

[Desertrose]

73. The "demons" were not in the child.....

sounds more like the parents were possessed...by cruelty and insanity...with religion as an excuse.

[Shardik]

76. They should have called Bobby Jindal. Exorcist, Faith Healer & Gubbner.

>

As others noted during his 2003 and 2007 gubernatorial campaigns (see update), in an essay Jindal wrote in 1994 for the New Oxford Review, a serious right-wing Catholic journal, Jindal narrated a bizarre story of a personal encounter with a demon, in which he participated in an exorcism with a group of college friends. And not only did they cast out the supernatural spirit that had possessed his friend, Jindal wrote that he believes that their ritual may well have cured her cancer.

Reading the article leaves no doubt that Jindal -- who graduated from Brown University in 1991, was a Rhodes Scholar, and had been accepted at Yale Law School and Harvard Medical School when he wrote the essay -- was completely serious about the encounter. He even said the experience "reaffirmed" his faith.

Jindal's affection for battling demons never surfaced during Jindal's failed run for governor in 2003 or his successful one in 2007. The state Dems did make an issue in 2007 out of Jindal's extreme Catholicism and his view of Protestant tenets as heretical, but the effort provoked a backlash among voters who thought the assault was religious bigotry. So Dems didn't make an issue out of Jindal's experiment.

Snip

From http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/bobby_jindals_dance_with_the_d.php

[BreweryYardRat]

79. Normally, I'll agree with most criticisms of organized religion...

...but this looks more like two very sick people coming up with a bunch of lame excuses for why they killed their kid, and eventually using an excuse with a religious aspect.

This is a case of needing better mental health programs, not a case of religion being misused.

[Selatius]

80. They should be stoned to death for practicing witchcraft.

:sarcasm:

[undeterred]

93. Yeah, hard to tell when an "exorcism is going badly" sometimes.

:shrug:

[MrsBrady]

96. they made up story after story, and settled on that one

according to the article.


drugs anyone?

[BoneDaddy]

104. Demonic

This is what happens when Christianity becomes it's opposite, like it has so often in history.

[exman]

106. I suspect meth

Not really knowing any better..This sort of shit makes perfect sense to someone in deep methamphetamine psychosis. I wonder?

[GinaMaria]

107. 13 months old?!

That is heartbreaking. Biten 20 times? hit with a hammer? This is sickening. That poor baby.