How Could You? Hall of Shame-Terrilynn Destiny Dennis case-Child Death 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 Newport News,Virginia, Adoptive parents Terri W. Dennis, 31,  and Pamela T. Dennis,40, were arrested on November 6, 2013 for felony child neglect and felony murder in the case of 7-year-old daughter Terrilynn Destiny Dennis , who died on April 4, 2013.

“Police and medics responded to a report of a girl not breathing around 1:40 a.m. on April 4 in a home on Gallery Ct. When officers arrived they found family members performing CPR on the victim, seven-year-old Terrilynn Destiny Dennis. The officers took over the CPR efforts until medics arrived and transported her to a local hospital where she died a short time later.

According to police, the medical examiner has been investigating the case since then and recently ruled her death a homicide after determining the cause and manner of death.”

Terrilynn Destiny Dennis “had suffered from a number of medical issues and the couple had served as her foster parents before adopting her from Louisiana in 2012.”

UPDATE: Adoptive parents charged with murder, child neglect in death of 7-year-old girl[News Channel 3 11/6/13 by Matt Knight]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

 

Update: A Search of the Newport News court records shows that Terri and Pamela get a trial on 1/27/15.

Update 2:“A new hearing date has been set for a Newport News couple charged in the death of their 7-year-old adopted daughter.

Officers responded about 1:40 a.m. April 4, 2013, to the … after receiving a call that a 7-year-old girl was not breathing, according to police. When police arrived, they found family members performing CPR on the girl, and they took over CPR until paramedics arrived. The girl was transported to a local hospital where she died a short time later, police said.

Paramedics were called more than eight hours after Pamela Dennis noticed the girl’s tongue had turned purple and she was unresponsive, the criminal complaint states.

The couple was arrested in November 2013. The investigation into the child’s death took several months because of the complexity of the case, according to police.

The girl’s cause of death was delayed because of peritonitis — inflammation to the tissue covering the abdomen and other organs — which was caused by blunt force trauma, in addition to medical and physical neglect, according to a criminal complaint filed in Newport News Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

Pamela Dennis told detectives the girl had spina bifida and was considered a special needs child, according to a criminal complaint.”

Trial date continued for Newport News couple charged in child’s death[Daily press 1/20/15 by Ashley K. Speed]

Update 3:“A couple charged in the death of their young daughter is due in Newport News court.

Newport News police upgraded the charge against Terri and Pamela Dennis to felony murder and child abuse from felony child neglect on November 3, 2013.

Their seven-year-old adopted daughter, Terrilynn Destiny Dennis, died in April 2013, but police say it took time for the medical examiner to determine how she died.

Arrest warrants show she’d complained about her stomach hurting the day she died and that Mrs. Dennis noticed her tongue was purple and she was unresponsive around 8 p.m.

The arrest warrants show Terrilynn had Spina Bifida and was considered a special needs child.

The Daily Press reports the child’s cause of death was delayed because of peritonitis — inflammation to the tissue covering the abdomen and other organs — which was caused by blunt force trauma, in addition to medical and physical neglect, according to a criminal complaint filed in Newport News Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

The couple had been her foster parents before adopting her in December 2012, police said.”

Couple charged in daughter’s death due in court[13 News Now 2/9/15]