How Could You? Hall of Shame-Ethiopian Adoptee Begidu “Josiah”Morris case-Child Death and Missing Barite “Piper” Morris

 Crabbina. The death of Begidu took place on March 23, 2022. Barite, who is now 18, is still missing…

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 Lee County, Florida, adoptive parents, Jack and Consuela “Connie” Morris, were NOT ARRESTED in the death of their 10-year-old Ethiopian adoptive son, Begidu.

According to Child Fatality Summary, “an initial report was received on March 19, 2022, following the hospitalization of Begidu, after he was reportedly discovered unresponsive in his home. An additional report was received on March 25, 2022” that he was deceased. [The Child Fatality Summary report says that the date of death was March 23, 2022.]

Begidu “was adopted from Ethiopia” by Jack and Consuela Morris along with a biological sister [Barite], when he was approximately 2 years old.

“Of note, his biological sibling was re-adopted... in early 2019.That child resides in another state and has no contact with the decedent’s family.”

“Law enforcement and paramedics responded to a 911 call on the evening of March 17, 2022, concerning a 10-year-old male who was reportedly discovered in distress on the family’s bathroom floor. The mother initially advised that the child went to shower, and she rushed into the bathroom after hearing a thud and discovered him unresponsive on the ground. In a second account, she advised that she witnessed the child experience seizure-like activity (clench his fist and growl), then he fell to the floor and gasped for air….Golisano Children’s Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma, hypothermia, cardiac arrest, acute respiratory failure, retinal hemorrhages , and metabolic acidosis, all which presented concerns for non-accidental trauma. The child was placed on life support… he subsequently passed away on March 23, 2022. The family obtained legal counsel and was minimally cooperative with both the criminal and the Child Protective Investigation.”

“The Child Protection Team (CPT)was consulted…CPT noted bruising to the child’s head and significant scarring to the buttocks consistent with a burn injury with a patterned object (resembling a chain link fence).CPT also noted that the child had not seen a medical provider in three years. and he only weighed 44 pounds, indicting he had lost weight  since he last pediatric visit years prior. At the time of his death, his weight in the 0.1 percentile for his age …CPT ‘s impression indicate severe physical abuse resulting in death and medical neglect (severe malnutrition).“

“The District 21 Medical Examiners office conducted an autopsy on the child. The cause of death is listed as complications of hypoxic ischemic Encephalopathy due to craniocerbral trauma and the manner of death was deemed a homicide.”

The Child Fatality summary also says that the teenage biological child had his own bedroom and Begidu had a small closet near the laundry room and Begidu slept on a small rollaway bed which contained a pile of urine-soaked clothing. The closet had a camera facing the entry and was locked from the outside. It had no ventilation and had no personal effects.

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Another website says that he was homeschooled.

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Wink News did a story on Begidu on April 4, 2025.

Child Welfare Monitor did a story about Begidu on April 25, 2025.

Light of Day stories did a post on Begidu on July 31, 2025.

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Justice for Begidu gives a timeline of events here. It has been theorized that the adoption agency was Child House International or International Adoption Net due to the photos taken in Ethiopia.

[My question is why is the Sheriff Carmine Marceno of Lee County, Florida  NOT ARRESTING Jack and Conseula, when the CPT says Begidu’s death was caused by severe abuse and the Coroner says it is HOMICIDE!!!!!!!!]

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