Shannon Johnson Admits Playing Facebook Game As One-Year-Old Son Drowned

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Shannon Johnson Admits Playing Facebook Game As Son Drowned

First Posted: 01/14/11 12:51 PM Updated: 01/14/11 12:53 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/14/shannon-johnson-facebook-game_n_809170.html



According to Denver's ABC 7 News, the mother of a one-year-old boy confessed she had been busy on Facebook when her son, who had been left unattended, drowned in the tub.

Citing an arrest affidavit, ABC 7 News reports, "Shannon Johnson, 34, admitted to police that she was on Facebook playing Cafe World, checking on a friend's status and sharing videos in the living room, while her son was in the bathtub. Johnson told police her son was playing in the bathtub for about 10 minutes and she checked on him once. Johnson said that about three more minutes went by and she didn't hear her son playing, so she went to check on the baby and saw him sideways with his face in the water, according to the arrest affidavit."

The affidavit also notes that when asked why she would allow a one year old to be in the bath alone, Johnson said that the child was a "very independent baby" and explained that she "didn't want him to be known as a mama's boy."

Tragically, this is not the first such occurrence. A South Korean couple was found guilty of letting their baby starve, even as they cared for and raised a virtual child in a video game.

[tkmorris]

1. Some will blame Facebook for this

They shouldn't.

She could have been playing Wow. Or watching television. Or chatting on the phone. The real problem is this young lady chose to not pay the attention to her it needed, opting instead to do whatever she wanted to do.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. Agree 100%...I have issues with Facebook, but this isn't one of them.

You're right, it just happened to be this particular diversion. It could have been anything.

[napi21]

8. It absolutely was NOT a Facebook problem. This nitwit whould never

have had a baby. I would never have had an abortion, and I don't support the idea of abortions, but in a case like this, Abortion would be much better than someone having a baby they won't care for. I would be interested to hear if this woman really thought she wanted this baby or if she was forced by someone or society ingerneral to have the baby but still play the silly games of the non-parents because she cared mor for herself than her young child.

[Ilsa]

2. Sometimes I wonder why some people bother to reproduce. nt

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. So she would have pictures and video to post on facebook.

:(

[JBoy]

3. The one-year old was a "very independent baby"?

Yeah, that's right. The kid should have Tweeted you if he needed help.

Or maybe change his Facebook status to "drowning".

[EFerrari]

14. Independent babies have to be watched MORE not less.

:grr:

[LisaL]

5. Well, he certainly won't be known as mama's boy.

Jeez.

[saras]

6. She got what she wanted.

That kid most certainly won't be known as a mama's boy.

[MountainLaurel]

7. "didn't want him to be known as a mama's boy."

:wtf:

[Lint Head]

9. Some people are addicted to Facebook.

I know someone that is a drain on his family's finances because he would rather post on Facebook than even look for a job. Any job. Even a fast food restaurant job.

[Devil_Fish]

10. I can't even say how I feel about this.

:cry: This dosn't even come close.

[seabeyond]

11. the mamas that dont mama. independent child, really..... i have heard this before. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Well when I was an EMT it was USENET

or just the plain phone...

Same disaster.

[JI7]

15. she is/was just a shitty ass parent who should never have had kids

stupid bitch.

[CoffeeCat]

16. Who in the world would leave a one-year-old...

...baby unattended in the bathtub?

This woman was a complete idiot and a neglectful parent.

How these people live with themselves is beyond me. My kids were 4 or 5 before I left them
alone for even a second in the bathtub!

A one-year old? That is just unbelievable!

[Tsiyu]

17. Working in a childrens hospital

TWO drownings/one near drowning of babies (two died, one lived in a vegetative state)

Excuses?

1} Dad left kid outside at pool because he heard the phone ring inside and was expecting a very important business call. Kid died.

2) Fundamentalist FREAKS ( who told the head ICU physician they couldn't let him treat the kid if the doc performed abortions - to which he replied in disgust, "Lady, I save abortions.") Grandparents were having a party, watching the kid while the parents went out of town; everyone thought everyone else was watching the kid, it fell into the pool. Kid died.

3) Mom and kids were going to an event; mom got in the shower, leaving two year old daughter in charge of six month old son in bathtub. Baby lived. I hated going into that room. The mothers hatred and blame of her little girl was palpable and chilling.


Just three i remember off the top of my head.

Lots of kids drown every year. Somehow we only criminalize the low income parents, though, when it happens. the rich caregivers who didn't care are considered "victims" of the tragedy.

[Fumesucker]

18. That's pretty much the way it works with folks who leave the kids in a hot car too..

We only criminalize the poor ones, the rich ones are treated with far less hostility by the press and the criminal justice system.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Babies can be independent?

Did he also change his own diapers?

What a nutcase.

[FLAprogressive]

20. ought to be left in prison to rot

[Bluebear]

21. >>she "didn't want him to be known as a mama's boy."

Good heavens.

[johnlucas]

22. Can laws be made to remove the reproductive properties of offenders like these?

Sterilization.
Tubes tied, vasectomies, stuff like that.

When people do stuff this dumb they don't need to have any more babies.
Neglect like this should be cause to sterilize these types of fools.
And no more babies have to be brought into a world where parents don't feel like being parents anymore.
John Lucas

[Heidi]

24. Please outline your plan for deciding who the state sterilizes.

Perhaps, before you do, you'll want to read up on Buck v. Bell. Our country has an ugly history of abusing the power to sterilize those it deems unfit.

[aikoaiko]

23. Even I knew not to leave my 1 year old in the tub unsupervised.

However, not giving my son peanut butter or honey was not intuitive to me. Fortunately, no allergies but my wife was unhappy with me.

[Phentex]

25. My husband is a brilliant man...

but I had to tell him that he could not leave the boys in the tub for even a minute when they were babies. This meant no leaving the room to put something in the hamper or change his clothes. You are right. It's not always intuitive.