How Could You? Hall of Shame-Cameron Hoopingarner 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 Fontanet, Indiana, guardians 56-year-old Hubert Kraemer, 53-year-old Robin Kraemer and two others were arrested “after a 9-year-old [ Cameron Hoopingarner ] died weighing only 15 lbs.”

“At just before 4 a.m. Tuesday, medical teams responded to a home in the … in Northern Vigo County. The call was in response to Cameron Hoopingarner in cardiac arrest.

Cameron later died at Union Hospital, according to WTHI. Sheriff Ewing said the child suffered from cerebral palsy and was blind.

After an investigation, police served a search warrant at the home. They arrested 33-year-old Chad Kraemer, 56-year-old Hubert Kraemer, 53-year-old Robin Kraemer and 30-year-old Sarah Travioli.

Hubert and Robin Kraemer were Cameron’s guardians.

All four were charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death and neglect of a dependent.

Chad Kraemer and Sarah Travioli were also charged with failure to report child neglect.

“It makes me mad, makes me mad that somebody could do this to a child, let alone a child that has physical handicaps and was blind…was given to a guardian to take care of. And this is how he gets treated? This is what he deserves? To be starved to death? What kind of animals are they?” Sheriff Ewing said.

Sheriff Ewing said photos from the scene reminded him of photos from Auschwitz.

All four suspects are scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.”

http://fox59.com/2017/02/22/4-arrested-after-9-year-old-dies-weighing-15-lbs-in-vigo-county/

[Fox 59 2/22/17 ]

“The suspects in the starvation death of a nine year old boy now face more charges.

Investigators report that Robin, Hubert and Chad Kraemer and Sarah Travioli had meth in their systems when they were arrested.

Also, all but Hubert Kraemer allegedly had THC as well.

The shouts heard from the family arrested for the death of Cameron Hoopingarner and the comments we’ve heard from surrounding neighbors claim innocence.

Sheriff Ewing describes this as the worst case he’s ever seen.

Cameron, who suffered from cerebral palsy and blindness weighed less than 15 pounds when he died.

I was in the courtroom yesterday as the suspects heard their charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death and bodily injury.

There was a large crowd in the room in support of the family.

I decided to look further into what law enforcement saw the day Cameron was pronounced dead.

“The condition of Cameron’s body was hard to look at, and it’s hard to un-look at it.”

Vigo County Sheriff Greg Ewing says he’s seen a lot of trauma in his 26 years of wearing a badge.

He says Cameron’s cause of death, starvation, was preventable, and it’s difficult, knowing the child suffered medical handicaps that meant he had no way to find any help.

“Nobody did anything except watch that child die gradually.”

Weighing less than 15 pounds clearly isn’t something that happens overnight. Even if the child was sick with pneumonia and the flu during his last week alive.

After being in the neighborhood and hearing nearby residents coming to the suspect’s defense, I asked the sheriff how he would respond.

“My thought is that it may have been a time where he was ok, but for several days or months, he needed to go to the hospital.”

It wasn’t the first run-in this residence in Fontanet had with deputies. The sheriff said they responded to several calls out there and there were guns in the home.

Lots of family also live in the homes nearby, which is why he called for reinforcements when it came time to make the arrests.

‘From our experience, when you go to one of those residences, it brings families from other homes and quite quickly you’re outnumbered.”

A large law enforcement presence was also apparent at Thursday’s court hearing.

But the suspects don’t just draw attention out in public or on social media, they’re likely to get that behind bars, too.

“Experience tells us anyone that hurts a child we have to keep away from the general population because there is a moral code with inmates that if you hurt a child, it can jeopardize the safety of that detainee.”

Sheriff Ewing says that within the Vigo County Jail, the suspects are kept safe and secure, away from potentially dangerous inmates.”

Child Starvation Death Suspects Face More Charges

[My Wabash Valley 2/27/17 by Sadie All]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update:“Money raised to cover funeral expenses for an Indiana child who starved to death will instead benefit other children and their families after a funeral home picked up the cost of the burial.

The Tribune-Star reported that the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office presented a check for more than $3,100 to Reach Services, an organization that provides services to people with disabilities. The money was raised after four people were arrested in the February death of 9-year-old Cameron Hoopingarner.

Cameron, who had cerebral palsy, weighed only 15 pounds when officers found him at a home near Fontanet, about 60 miles west of Indianapolis. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Cameron’s two guardians and two other people face charges of neglect resulting in death and failure to report child neglect. They’ve pleaded not guilty. Additional drug-related charges were filed against them after an autopsy revealed Cameron had methamphetamine in his system.

After hearing there was no money to give the child a proper burial, a woman from Terre Haute, Amanda Hoole, started a GoFundMe account. Roselawn Funeral Home later covered the cost of the funeral.

“I was humbled by the generosity of our community and the servant’s heart of so many,” Vigo County Sheriff Greg Ewing said.

Hoole and the sheriff’s office recently gave the money to Reach Services, which was formerly United Cerebral Palsy of the Wabash Valley, in memory of Cameron.

“We will never be able to bring Cameron back but know that the donation you have made today will be used in helping children like Cameron and the parents who want answers to help them,” said Susie Thompson, executive director of Reach Services.”

Funeral donations for Indiana child starved to death will help other kids

[Chicago Tribune 5/4/17 by AP]
Update 2:“The trial of a Fontanet woman accused in the starvation death of a 9-year-old boy is scheduled to start today with jury selection.

Judge Michael Lewis has ordered 50 potential jurors to appear beginning at 8:30 a.m. for the process of selecting a jury to hear the case against Robin Kraemer.

Kraemer, 54, is accused of neglect of a dependent resulting in death as a Level 1 felony, and neglect resulting in serious bodily injury as a Level 3 felony, in addition to other neglect charges and failure to report the child’s condition to authorities.

If needed to complete the selection process, another 50 potential jurors are to be on hand at 1 p.m. in Vigo Superior Court 6.

Witness lists filed by the prosecution include more than a dozen witnesses who could testify at trial.

A witness list filed by defense attorney John Kesler includes more than two dozen potential witnesses, including Department of Child Services caseworkers who had investigated the family in connection with child neglect allegations.

Nine-year-old Cameron Hoopingarner died Feb. 21 at Union Hospital after being found unresponsive at Kraemer’s home, where the child had resided since shortly after his birth.

Kraemer and three other adults were arrested Feb. 22 in connection with the boy’s death. The four adults and two other minor children lived at the home on Lewsader Avenue in northeastern Vigo County.

Robin Kraemer was a caregiver for the child, who had multiple disabilities and required round-the-clock care. Investigators have said the child was not taken to a doctor for medical care in more than a year.

At the time of his death, Hoopingarner weighed about 15 pounds. An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Roland Kohr determined the boy died of starvation.

Robin Kraemer, her husband Hubert Kraemer, son Chad Kraemer and his girlfriend Sarah Travioli were initially charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a Level 1 felony; neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, failure to make a report, neglect of a dependent, and maintaining and visiting a common nuisance. The most serious charge carries a potential penalty of 20 to 40 years in prison.

Two additional neglect charges were filed in March in connection with test results showing two other minor children in the home tested positive for methamphetamine.

The trial is expected to conclude this week.

Trials for the other defendants are to commence in January and February.”

First trial in 9-year-old’s death begins today
[Trib Star 9/17/17 by Lisa Trigg]

“A Fontanet woman received a 36 1/2-year prison sentence Thursday on nine criminal counts in the neglect death of a 9-year-old child with severe disabilities.

Robin Kraemer, 54, was tearful as Judge Michael Lewis read his decision on each count in the February starvation death of Cameron Hoopingarner.

Judge Lewis said Kraemer “failed Cameron” as his primary caregiver in what he called a “horribly sad case.”

Kraemer acknowledged in court that she agreed to be the child’s primary caregiver knowing the boy was permanently disabled and would require round-the-clock care.

Hoopingarner died Feb. 21. An autopsy determined he died of severe malnutrition, weighing about 15 pounds.

Medical records showed the boy weighed about 24 pounds months before his death. Because of his medical conditions, his target weight was only 22 to 26 pounds.

Kraemer made a brief statement Thursday prior to arguments about the length of her sentence.

“I’m heartbroken over what’s happened,” she said, sobbing. “It’s just a horrible thing that’s happened and I apologize.”

Lewis pointed out Kraemer’s failure to take the boy to the doctor in recent years, even as Cameron’s condition declined and Kraemer knew he was sick.

“We all go to the doctor when we get sick. In fact, I take my dog to the vet at least once a year. Cameron didn’t even get that,” Lewis said.

Deputy Prosecutor Sabrina Haney asked for a 40-year prison sentence, noting that the maximum penalty for consecutive sentences on all counts would be 54 years.

Defense attorney John Kesler argued for a 30-year sentence split into 10-year segments of prison, in-home detention, and formal probation.

Kesler pointed out that Kraemer had experienced the tragic death of her daughter a year earlier, and the recent death of her mother, who was her primary back-up in the care of the boy. He said the woman was also caring for her ailing husband, who had recently been hospitalized, and she was overwhelmed by the responsibilities.

Judge Lewis rejected that argument, noting that Kraemer admitted on the witness stand that she let the child’s care get away from her, but she never sought professional or medical help for the boy.

“I know we say this is not a crime of violence, but it sure was torturous,” Lewis said.

Kraemer was convicted at jury trial in September of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, which carried a prison sentence of 20 to 40 years. Lewis sentenced her to the advisory sentence of 30 years on that count.

The jury also found Kraemer guilty of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury as a Level 3 felony, but that count was merged with the Level 1 felony for no additional sentence.

Kraemer was convicted of four counts of neglect of a dependent and maintaining a common nuisance, each as a Level 6 felony. Lewis sentenced her to one year consecutively on each of those counts, and to one year for the class A misdemeanor of visiting a common nuisance. Another 180 days was added for the misdemeanor charge failure to make a report.

During the trial, Kraemer admitted to smoking methamphetamine in recent weeks while she was carrying for the boy.

Kraemer had been the caregiver for Hoopingarner since he was 3 days old. The child was born with cerebral palsy and multiple medical issues, and was diagnosed with failure to thrive. He also was blind and had limited movement.

Kraemer was arrested Feb. 22 after police were called to investigate the boy’s death. He’d been was taken to Union Hospital on Feb. 21 after he was found not breathing at home.

Also arrested were Robin Kraemer’s husband, Hubert Kraemer; her adult son, Chad Kraemer; and Chad’s girlfriend, Sarah Travioli.

All four adults lived in the house on Lewsader Avenue north of Fontanet. Two other minor children also lived in the house.

Two of the child neglect charges relate to those two children, who also tested positive for exposure to methamphetamine.

The jury trials for the remaining three defendants are now set for January and February.

Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said he hopes the conviction of Robin Kraemer and her lengthy sentence sends a message to the remaining defendants and will result in plea agreements.”

 

”
Kraemer gets 36 1/2 years in boy’s death

[Trib Star 10/20/17 by Lisa Trigg]