How Could You? Hall of Shame-Thomas H. Goodspeed

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 Granville, New York, “the family of a boy who was allegedly physically abused by a foster parent late last week claims that foster children were removed earlier this year from the home of the alleged abuser because of injuries but were returned after a day.

The boy was one of five foster children that Granville residents Thomas H. Goodspeed and Bonnie Goodspeed were taking care of before Mr. Goodspeed’s arrest late Friday on misdemeanor charges of criminal obstruction of breathing and endangering the welfare of a child.

He was arrested after State Police determined he had put his hands around the neck of an 8-year-old boy after the child began crying over discipline by Goodspeed that included strenuous exercises. The foster children were removed from the home last week, after the allegations were investigated by the Washington County Department of Social Services and State Police.

The boy is the son of accused child murderer Joshua J. Bennett, 35, of Kingsbury. Bennett’s three children were placed in foster care four days after the death of the toddler daughter of his then-girlfriend.

The mother of Bennett’s three children, as well as one other child who was in Goodspeed’s care, is Roxanne Gordon of Kingsbury, who lost custody because of substance abuse problems.

Nancy Derusha, the children’s maternal grandmother, said the family has had routine visits with the children, ages 3, 6, 8 and 10. She said they found the 3-year-old had a black eye at one point and another child had a bruise on his back, and that the children told relatives Mr. Goodspeed hit them.

“They were removed for one night and the next night they (Department of Social Services) put them back,” Derusha said.

Gordon expressed concerns to the department about Goodspeed when the children were placed with him, Derusha said.

Three of the children were in Joshua Bennett’s Kingsbury home the day Kayleigh Cassell, who was the 13-month-old daughter of Bennett’s then-girlfriend Rachel Ball, died. Bennett has since been charged with murder, manslaughter and lesser counts for allegedly providing drugs on which the girl suffered medical problems, including pneumonia, and eventually overdosed, court records allege.

The children went to Derusha’s home after Kayleigh died. But they were removed from Derusha’s mobile home in Kingsbury on Feb. 26 because the county Department of Social Services concluded there wasn’t enough space for them, Derusha said.

Derusha, who cares for three other children of relatives’, said all the children would have had areas to sleep, just not bedrooms.

“They said there wasn’t enough room,” she said. “They took them from a family that wanted them and put them where they were abused.”

Washington County Attorney Roger Wickes said he could not discuss the matter.

Gordon, the mother, is participating in Washington County Family Court’s drug treatment court to try to get her children back.

Mr. Goodspeed could not be reached for comment this week, as two listed phone numbers for him have been disconnected.

Bonnie Goodspeed has not been charged, and there are no allegations she abused the children.

State Police are looking into whether additional charges are warranted against Mr. Goodspeed, who is free, pending prosecution in Granville Town Court.”

Family alleges DSS missed abuse clues [Post Star 12/9/15 by Don Lehman]

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