How Could You? Hall of Shame -Laurne E. Clark case UPDATED-Child Death

By Rally on 3-26-2011 in Abuse in adoption, Adoption, How could you? Hall of Shame, Jeffrey Sliker, Laurne E. Clark, Mollie E. Sliker, New York

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Watertown, New York, 23-year-old adoptive father Jeffrey Sliker “arrested and charged with one count of second degree murder” in the Wednesday death of 4-month-old Laurne E. Clark, who was also known as Mollie E. Sliker. On “Thursday, the Jefferson County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on the baby, and determined her death was the result of a homicide.” Jeffrey and his wife were in the process of adopting her.

“Officials say Sliker is a soldier in the 10th Mountain Division, stationed at Fort Drum. The Middletown, Rhode Island native joined the Army in 2008 and served in Afghanistan in 2009. Army officials say he has been awarded combat medals, including a Purple Heart.”

Jeffrey is being held without bail.

Watertown man charged after death of adopted baby
[CNY Central.com 3/26/11 by Jeremy Ryan]

Update: Jeffrey’s brother gave an interview after the hearing. Jeffrey and his brother were adopted and had “rough childhoods.”Jeffrey took an IED in Afghanistan and had a head injury and severe back injury nd that he was in physical therapy.

Sliker’s Brother Speaks[WWNYTV 3/25/11]

Update 2: “Pre-trial arguments have been adjourned for a Fort Drum veteran of Afghanistan who’s charged with killing a 4-month-old baby he and his wife were trying to adopt.

Jeffrey Sliker was charged with second-degree murder in March in the death of Laurne Clark, also known as Mollie Sliker.

The child was found dead at the couple’s home in northern New York after Sliker’s wife alerted authorities. An autopsy determined she died of a head injury and Sliker was arrested.

After a status conference Monday in Jefferson County Court, the case was adjourned to late December.

Sliker and his wife had been looking after the baby since birth under a court-approved adoption. Sliker served with the Army in Afghanistan in 2009 and was awarded a Purple Heart for an unspecified battle injury.”

Fort Drum soldier back in court, accused of murdering infant
[CNY Central.com 11/28/11 by Associated Press]

Update 3:”A Fort Drum soldier wounded in Afghanistan in 2009 admitted Tuesday that he killed a 4-month-old girl he and his wife were trying to adopt by banging her head against a hard surface and throwing her into a crib.

Jeffrey Sliker, a native of Middletown, R.I., could get 15 years to life in prison at sentencing on March 14 — almost a year after his arrest at the couple’s home near the military post in northern New York.

Sliker, 23, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Laurne Clark, also known as Mollie Sliker, who was found dead with a head injury after Sliker’s wife alerted authorities.

Prosecutor Cindy Intschert said Sliker told the judge “he had had very little sleep, he was getting ready for work, the child was crying and he became frustrated.”

“My offer,” the prosecutor said, “was plead to the top count or go to trial.”

If convicted at trial, Sliker could have been sentenced to up to 25 years to life.

Defense attorney Sheila Crowley said Sliker was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. But she said she hadn’t planned to raise any psychological disorders as a defense. The trial had been set to begin Feb. 27.

Sliker and his wife had been looking after the baby since birth under a court-approved adoption plan.

A private first class, Sliker joined the Army in 2008, served two tours in Afghanistan and was awarded a Purple Heart for an unspecified battle injury in 2009.

An Associated Press photograph shows him lying on a stretcher after being injured Aug. 19, 2009. An armored vehicle in which he and six others were riding hit an improvised explosive device in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan’s Wardak Province.

Sliker’s brother, Jim Sliker, has said he wondered if his brother’s service in Afghanistan, including sustaining a back injury and a concussion in that attack, may have been a factor in the baby’s death.”

Wounded NY soldier pleads guilty in infant slaying
[Boston Globe 1/31/12 by Associated Press]

“Sliker has been stationed since June 2008 at Fort Drum, where he is a private first-class assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry, 3d Brigade Combat Team, according to the post public affairs office.

“He served two tours in Afghanistan and was awarded a Purple Heart for an unspecified battle injury in 2009.

A press photo shows an injured Sliker lying on a stretcher after being injured August 19, 2009. An armoured vehicle in which he and six others were riding hit an improvised explosive device in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan’s Wardak Province.”

Wounded Purple Heart hero admits killing baby girl … ‘because she was crying’
[Daily Mail 2/1/12 by Ellen Connolly]

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