How Could You? Hall of Shame-The Bahamas-Jennifer Prinder 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 the island of Grand Bahama, adoptive parent Troy Sweeting is on trial for the beating death of his 3-year-old adoptive daughter Jennifer Prinder. Jennifer was adopted from Troy’s sister-in-law in December 2006. He is accused of beating her with a belt and PVC pipe.

Troy’s estranged wife Rosetta testified that Jennifer “was in good health when she left her in her husband’s care around 7 a.m. on February 21, 2007. The child died at the Intensive Care Unit of Princess Margaret Hospital on February 25, 2007. ”

“[W]hen she returned to the one-bedroom apartment on Blue Hill Road South around 5:30 p.m., it was “too quiet”.

She said Sweeting was not there, but she found the toddler on the top of the bunk bed. She said she observed bruises on the child’s hands, which she described as “purply dark”.

Cruz-Sweeting said she saw additional bruises on the child’s body when she undressed her.

The witness said she rushed to the next door neighbor, Patrice Bain, to call her husband.

Cruz-Sweeting said she was angry and cursed Sweeting as she demanded, “What did you do to her? Where did all these bruises come from?”

She said her husband said, “He would never hurt me. He would never beat her. How he wouldn’t beat me no more. Some other crap he was saying.”

When questioned by defense lawyer Raymond Rolle, Cruz-Sweeting revealed that she did not have custody of her own children, two girls and a boy.

Rolle suggested, “It’s because of your hot temper that you don’t have custody of your own children?”

“No, sir,” she replied.

Focusing on the child’s injuries, Rolle asked, “How do you know they weren’t there at 7 a.m. when you left?”

Cruz-Sweeting replied, “I bathe her sometimes or she bathes herself.”

“You’re telling me a three-year-old could bathe herself properly?” Rolle asked.

Cruz-Sweeting said, “Yes.”

Cruz-Sweeting denied that she beat Jennifer, saying that she only “tapped” her daughter’s hand with her fingers when she did something wrong.

However, she claimed she once walked in the bedroom and caught her husband beating Jennifer with a belt when she returned from the store.

Rolle suggested that Cruz-Sweeting was responsible for the injuries on the child.

In response to a question from Rolle, Cruz-Sweeting admitted she was charged in relation to the child’s murder.

Rolle asked, “You are no longer charged?”

“No, sir,” Cruz-Sweeting said.

Prosecutors withdrew the murder charge against her on August 2.

Police seized two belts and PVC pipes from the home.

During an interview with police, Sweeting allegedly admitted to beating the child. However, he said he made the statement under duress.

The trial continues today.

Anthony Delaney and Charles Newbold are the prosecutors.”

Man accused of child abuse murder of adopted daughter

[The Freeport News 8/15/12 by Artesia Davis]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

 

Update:”Troy Sweeting was found guilty of manslaughter”

Man Convicted in beating death of adopted child[The Nassau Guardian 8/17/12 By Artesia Davis]

“A 35-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to 12 years in prison for beating his adoptive daughter to death for wetting the bed.
Troy Sweeting battered three-year-old Jennifer Pinder with a leather strap and a PVC pipe when he flew into a rage, jurors found when they convicted him of manslaughter in the child’s death on August 16.
Justice Roy Jones handed down the sentence.
Prosecutors alleged that Sweeting inflicted the injuries on February 21, 2007 when his wife, Rosetta, left the toddler in his care. The child died in the Intensive Care Unit of the Princess Margaret Hospital on February 25, 2007.
The family officially adopted the child from Mrs. Sweeting’s terminally ill sister, Lisa Cruz, in December 2006.

In an interview with police, Sweeting admitted to beating the little girl because she was “stubborn and peed the bed”.
At trial, Mr. Sweeting said he made those admissions following threats from police and he blamed his wife for the child’s injuries.
Police also charged Mrs. Sweeting in connection with the child’s death but prosecutors withdrew the charges against her before the trial began.
Mrs. Sweeting testified that her niece was in good health when she left home.
She claimed that the child’s skin was discolored with purplish black bruises when she returned.
Sweeting’s lawyer Raymond Rolle told The Nassau Guardian that he intended to appeal the conviction.
Anthony Delaney and Charles Newbold testified.”

12-year sentence for toddler killing[Bahamas Local 11/24/12]