How Could You? Hall of Shame-Kelly O’Brien

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 Fall River, Massachusetts, former foster mom Kelly O’Brien, 33, was convicted of two counts of assault and battery of a child under 14 causing substantial injury  and one count of reckless endangerment of a child stemming from a 2009 incident with a 4-year-old foster son. Kelly used a hair straightening iron on the boy’s upper arms causing  bilateral third-degree burns to the right upper arm and second-degree burns to  the left upper arm requiring skin graft surgery.

The trial lasted one week. The jury only took one day of deliberations to convict. The judge has already sentenced Kelly to  “serve 8 to 10 years in state prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised probation upon her release.

“This was a very disturbing case and I am thankful for the jury’s verdict.  The need for good foster parents in our society is more crucial than ever because of the increasing challenges they face. When a person with the solemn responsibility of caring for a foster child instead physically or sexual abuses that child, the need for a successful prosecution and severe sentence is paramount,” District Attorney Sutter said.”

Foster mom found guilty of burning child

[WPRI 4/17/13 by Angie Angers]

“The abuse occurred in O’Brien’s Walnut Street home in January of 2009, [DA spokesman] Miliote said in a news release. Police were initially notified after a doctor at an area hospital filed a report with the Department of Children and Families after the 4-year-old boy was taken in for treatment of third-degree burns to the right upper arm and second-degree burns to the left upper arm.”

“The case was initially investigated by Fall River Police detectives.”

“When a person with the solemn responsibility of caring for a foster child instead physically or sexual abuses that child, the need for a successful prosecution and severe sentence is paramount,” [Bristol District Attorney Sutter] added. “Thanks to the excellent work of the Fall River Police Department and the superb advocacy of my Second Assistant District Attorney Silvia Rudman, the prosecution of this case was successful.

I am also very appreciative of the wisdom of Judge McGuire for his decision to deliver a severe sentence in this case.”

Former foster mom gets 8-10 years for burning boy with hair iron

[South Coast Today 4/17/13 by Standard-Times staff]

After initially being taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital, “DCF reported that a child abuse report was filed by a doctor from the Child  Protection Team at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Providence.”

“Police said O’Brien told officers she was “aware the child burned himself”  and that he was taken to Charlton several hours later. Hasbro’s Child Protection  Team told investigators that it was “highly unlikely that the child burned both  of his arms accidentally, and that the child’s injuries were “not consistent  with self-inflicted injuries,” police said.

Detectives executed a search warrant at O’Brien’s home, seized the iron and  arrested her.”

 

Fall River woman sentenced to 8-10 years for burning foster son with hair straightening iron

[Herald News 4/17/13 by Michael Holtzman]

2009 Media

“The state has removed a 4-year-old boy from the Fall River home  where his foster mom allegedly burned him with a hair-straightening  iron, but the woman’s biological children remain in the house.

Kelly O’Brien, 29, is facing charges she burned the foster  child so severely he needed skin graft surgery. The child was removed  from O’Brien’s care after her live-in boyfriend brought the  burned boy to a hospital last week. Another foster child living with  O’Brien also was removed.

As of yesterday, O’Brien’s two biological children, ages  2 and 10, remain in her care, said Department of Children and Families  spokeswoman Alison Goodwin.”

Foster mother allegedly burns boy with hair iron.

[Boston Herald 1/31/09 by Jessica Fargen]

“O’Brien told investigators that the boy had hurt himself.

Officials at the Department of Children and Families were unable to answer many questions about either case yesterday.

Alison Goodwin, a spokeswoman for the agency, said the Fall River 4-year-old and another foster child also living with O’Brien were removed from her home. She would not disclose the age of the second foster child or answer questions about news reports that two of O’Brien’s biological children were allowed to remain in her custody.

“Because there is ongoing criminal investigation, I am unable to comment on that,” she said.

However, Susan Molina, founder of the watchdog group The Yellow Ribbon Kids Club, said reports that  0’Brien’s biological children were allowed to remain in her care raised concerns.

“This is part of their mission statement, to protect children,” Molina said of the state. “This isn’t a matter of a child going to school without a coat. . . . The fact that she [allegedly] used a weapon to hurt him, to me makes it really doubtful that she’s safe around other children.”

Department of Children and Families official policy allows for staff to make such determinations on a case-by-case basis.”

2 abuse cases prompt arrests, questions

[Boston.com 2/1/09 by  Megan Woolhouse]

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