Jan 13, 2006 10:10 pm US/Eastern
Dead Girl's Uncle Says Stepfather Abused Mother
But Mom Ignored 'Tortured' Child's Pleas For Help
by Tamsen Fadal
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Nixzmary Brown's uncle claims the dead little girl's stepmother abused her mother, his sister. Both the stepfather and the mother are charged in the 7-year-old's brutal murder.
Meanwhile, the Administration for Children's Services now admits it could have prevented Nixzmary's death. Mayor Bloomberg today said the agency and city could have done more. "You and I, we all failed this child," he said. On the block in Brooklyn where the little girl lived and died, an outpouring of grief from parents of other children and neighbors.
Andrea Bailey, a parent volunteer at P.S. 256 had plenty to say about the death of the girl found beaten. She said that school officials repeatedly contacted ACS to report the abuse, and one counselor even went to the home herself.
"Someone did visit the home -- that was the whole thing about it, and if you're not allowed access, what are we to do? We are not the police; we are not ACS. They have more resources and steps they could have taken," said Bailey.
Randy Weingarten, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said, "We need to be able to have more latitude to fight for them. Here you have situations where these folks reported things, but they didn't have resources in the school to give the child what she needed."
Prosecutors lashed out after Thursday's court hearing in which the child's mother and stepfather were charged with the girl's death.
Nixzaliz Santiago told police that her daughter begged her for help in the last moments of her life. This came to light during a two-hour videotaped statement to investigators by both the mother and stepfather of the young girl.
Assistant District Attorney Ama Dwimoh said, "This little girl wanted her mommy's help. By the time her mommy decided to help her, it was way too late."
According to prosecutors, Santiago never tried to protect her own daughter from constant beatings by the child's stepfather, Cesar Rodriguez.
Dwimoh said, "She was tortured. She was beaten repeatedly. She was starved. She was beaten up. She was bound like an animal. She didn't even right to use the proper bathroom; she was forced to use a litter box. She was forced to eat cat food because there was no other food for her."
Investigators say it was Rodriguez who delivered the fatal blow to her head.
"It's terrible somebody going to do that to their daughter. Really, as parents, we are supposed to be stronger than that," said Shay Wise, whose son goes to the school.
First Grader Elqan Tillman said, "She's my friend. I saw her in second grade before. I know what happened to her. Her father kept on beating her, and that's how she died."
The ACS had been monitoring the family since last year and admits it could have prevented her death.
"I am deeply concerned that we were in a position at child services to keep this from happening," said John Mattingly, commissioner of the ACS.
The ACS, the agency plans to conduct a citywide probe involving all cases.
There were five other children in the home, they are being held in protective custody.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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