How Could You? Hall of Shame-James and LaShawn Jennings UPDATED

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 St. Clair County, Illinois, adoptive mother LaShawn Jennings,39,  and stepfather James Jennings, 39, “were charged with child endangerment and other counts ” after their 12-year-old son “reported the alleged assault to his school nurse.”

“A nurse checked the boy out at an elementary school on Scott Air Force Base where Lashawn is stationed, and found bruises on his back and arms. The parents were reported and subsequently arrested.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that James Jennings made the boy do more than 1,000 pushups on his knuckles, beat him with a wooden paddle until it broke and even forced him to eat two metal screws. The boy’s alleged offense was that he had eaten cookies and left crumbs on the floor.

James Jennings was charged with aggravated battery, domestic battery and child endangerment, and held on $400,000 bail. Lashawn Jennings wasn’t at the home during the incident, but was interviewed after James Jennings was already in jail, and was charged with child endangerment.”

Dad Ordered Son To Eat Screws For Punishment
[Huffington Post 3/27/12]

“Authorities say Lashawn Jennings was in Florida at the time of her husband’s alleged misconduct. She flew in from Florida and was interviewed and taken into custody.

She is being held on $20,000 bail. Investigators said they are also looking into allegations of previous abuse. ”
“Screwed up” parenting: Ill. couple accused of forcing boy to eat screws, do 1,000 pushups
[CBS news 3/27/12]

“James P. Jennings was charged with one count of felony aggravated battery, two counts of domestic battery and four counts of endangering the life of a child. He’s in custody on a $400,000 bond. His wife, Lashawn Rudolph was charged Saturday with endangering the life of a child, a Class A misdemeanor.

Captain Steve Johnson says that a school nurse alerted the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services after Jennings’ 12-year-old stepson reported his shoulder hurt while at Scott Elementary School on Thursday morning.

The nurse discovered bruises on the child’s back and arms.

Investigators said the child was beaten and tortured by Jennings earlier that morning at their home in the 4500 block of Split Rock Road, which is Scott Air Force Base property.

The child told investigators that he was punished for leaving his bedroom to eat cookies. The child was forced to eat crumbs from the kitchen floor and two metal screws. X-rays showed the screws were still in the child’s stomach, according to Captain Johnson.

The child was also forced to do 700 push-ups before he was beaten.

Officers said Jennings was taken into custody after the discovery.

The child’s mother, who adopted him five years ago, was on active military duty and out of state this week. She flew in from Florida and was interviewed and taken into custody.

Investigators said they are looking into allegations of previous abuse.

Captain Johnson said Jennings, who’s not on active military duty, has been married to the woman for about a year.

Air Force investigators are involved in the case.”
Man charged with beating stepson, making him eat screws on Scott Air Force Base property
[KMOV 3/25/12 by Diane Zoga]

St. Clair County records show that LaShawn is out on $2,000 bond.

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