As read in the Huffington Post, a mother that has been charged with starving her baby to death, may have only been the hapless "scapegoat" as it was really the fault of social workers, doctors and city officials that failed to render aid to the homeless woman and her young children.
According to the woman's attorney the two-month old twin died on December 23, 2010 because others had failed to provide support to the young family.
T.W., 34, is homeless and the mother to six young children.
Greg Pagano, T.W.'s defense lawyer, said that 36 hours prior to the boy's death a social worker had checked on him, declared him both safe and well and then discharged T.W. from a city-funded parenting program.
Pagano said, "This case was destined for failure from the beginning. She's now being made a scapegoat for all the social workers, all the doctors, who failed to do what they were supposed to do for Ms. (T.W.) and her family."
According to Assistant District Attorney Peter Lim, the infant was lacking fat and muscle at the time of his death and weighed less than five pounds – he had lost a half-pound since his birth two months before.
Lim said that paramedics called to the shelter found the baby lifeless and wearing nothing but a diaper. Lim said, "He lay there, literally skin on bones. Standing there idly in that room was his mother. No affect, no emotion, no nothing."
Authorities said that the family lived in a Travelers Aid shelter where T.W. had access to baby formula.
Pagano explained that T.W. and her children had originally been residing with T.W.'s mother. However, as her mother did not approve of T.W.'s boyfriend – who is the father of her four youngest children – T.W. moved out.
T.W. then moved her family into the home of a church friend. That living situation ended when T.W. had a dispute about religion with her friend and the family was told to leave.
At this time T.W. was pregnant with the twins. Accompanied by her four children she allegedly spent a single night in the lobby of the city's Department of Human Services.
On October 22, having moved into the shelter made possible by Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia, T.W. gave birth to the twins.
Three days after the births the hospital sent T.W. home with information about how to obtain food stamps, a car seat program and advice on how to feed and care for her infants.
Pagano challenged the hospital's discharge of T.W. stating that his client has an IQ of 65 so she may not have understand their instructions.
Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina didn't find Pagano's attestation relevant. She cited the statements T.W. had made to police regarding her parenting and a job she used to enjoy – at a day care center.
Judge Sarmina said, "At this moment, I don't understand why IQ is relevant."
Two social service caseworkers that worked at the shelter have since been fired by Lutheran Child and Family Service.
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