Posted by Jenn on March 23 2007 at 16:22:49:
In Reply to: Michaela Watkins, 10, allegedly murdered by her father and step-mother while being homeschooled in Kentucky posted by Howard Richman on March 18 2007 at 16:06:35:
Howard,
I suppose you posted this story in order to support your opinion that low regulation states make it easy for parents to abuse their children under the guise of homeschooling. However, after reading the full article, I have to say that it is obvious that lack of regulation did not lead to this childīs death.
Her father and stepmother both had a history of domestic violence. It is incredible that they were ever given custody in the first place. When she was in school, the evidence of her abuse was overlooked. Police visited the family on two occasions, and found nothing warranting further investigation. The article made it quite clear that Social Services was monitoring Michaela Watkins... MONITORING her. I see no possible way that her being in a state with high regulations would have prevented this tragedy. I see this as a failure on the part of Social Services, the courts, the police, and the people who knew it was happening, but did nothing.