The father of a Fresno boy who died Tuesday morning, following a severe beating, is speaking out tonight.
The boy's mother and boyfriend were formally charged in court today, in connection with 10-year-old Seth Ireland’s death.
For the first time since their arrest December, 30th, 40-year-old Rena Ireland and her boyfriend, 32-year-old Lebaron Vaughn appear in court.
Tuesday morning, Ireland is formally charged with 2 counts of child abuse against her son, 10-year-old Seth Ireland.
Vaughn, her boyfriend and son's accused killer is also charged with 2 counts of child abuse, and murder.
Both suspects pleaded innocent to all charges against them.
Joseph Hudson, Victim’s Father: “His smile, his bright eyes, his intelligence. I'm going to miss everything about my son."
Tuesday afternoon, Joseph Hudson, Seth’s biological father shared with us, his side of the story.
He says he blames the court system and police department for failing to protect his son.
Hudson: "I had been pleading with them since last august when I started noticing signs of child abuse."
Hudson says up until the end of August, 2008, he was allowed to see his son without supervision.
But he says, one weekend, while he and his son were hanging out, he noticed several bruises and scars on the back of his legs.
Marks, that according to his son, were from falling off of his bicycle.
Hudson: "For my son's safety, I didn't mention anything to mom or anyone else. I wanted to continue weekend visits with me because I love my son."
Shortly after, Hudson says the boy's mother filed a hearing with the courts and blamed the abuse on Hudson.
But Hudson says following mediation, what he calls "the truth" came out, that the boy's mother had actually been cited for child abuse around the time he noticed the physical marks.
Hudson and his attorney say the judge reprimanded Ireland for corporal punishment and for alienating a child.
But Hudson says the judge was also upset with him for not reporting the marks when he saw them on his son.
That's when Hudson says, the custody order was changed by the courts to supervised visits only, with the mother retaining custody.
Hudson: "I was totally outraged and shocked about the findings. The judge blew me off and just ignored me."
As the fight for his son's custody continued, more bruises and marks of physical abuse showed up on Seth.
This time, in October, witnessed by Carla Manning, the principal at Kirk school, where both Seth and his brother Javron had attended from early September until October 30th.
Concerned for the safety of both Seth and his brother Javron, Manning wrote a letter to child protective services on November 17th, requesting something be done.
In the letter, Manning states, “They live with their mother Rena Ireland and the mother’s boyfriend, LeBarron Vaughn. I am very concerned about the well being of the boys. Both boys are absent a lot and have come to school with bruises. Most of my concerns center on the boyfriend, LeBarron Vaughn. He tried to register the boys for school as their legal father. The mother was located and was told to re-submit the paper work or the students would be dropped. Mr. Barron claimed that the last school treated them rudely and tried to force them to sign an IEP for the boys. I told the parents that only the mother could make decisions regarding the boys and that I would not talk to or give any information to Mr. Vaughn unless there is an emergency. Mr. Vaughn has asked the school to 5150 Seth because “he was out of control.” He asked for a 504 plan even though the boys do not have a diagnosed disability and he wanted to get medication for Seth because he claimed that Seth had mental and behavioral problems. I again told him that only Mrs. Ireland could speak for the boys and that the boys did very well in school academically and did not have any behavior problems. The boys did not return to school. Out of concern for the boys, I made a CPS report reporting the bruises that I witnessed and the request for mediation for the boys. After two weeks, they were found to be enrolled in two different schools in the Fresno area.”
But Hudson says he feels authorities, even after receiving this letter, failed to intervene.
Tonight, he grieves, clinging to memories of his son, and hoping changes to the system will one day be made.
More shocking information was also revealed Wednesday.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s office stated on December 26th, 3 days before Seth was severely beaten, both his mom and her boyfriend tried to abandon Seth and his brother Javron at the Fresno County Jail, because they were, according to the report, quote “out of control.”
The report also stated that this is what Seth’s mother and her boyfriend were told by social services to do if the boys acted up.
According to a deputy, a short time later, they decided to take the kids back home, where they said they’d be safe.
At that same time, the report says a deputy notified child protective services about what had taken place.
It also stated that both boys didn’t show any signs of physical abuse or neglect.
Also Wednesday, Fresno County Supervisor, Henry Perea called for an independent investigation of the county’s child protective services.
He plans to ask the board next Tuesday to form a local independent review panel and present findings and recommendations back to the board of supervisors within 60 days.
Suspects, Rena Ireland and Lebaron Vaughn are scheduled to appear back in court on January 22nd and February 5th.
For Preston Phillips’ full story, click on the video link above.
For Preston Phillips' bio click here.
Tuesday, Jan 13 at 12:28 PM Myshel wrote ...
PLEASE WRITE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HALL OF RECORD 2281 TULARE ST ROOM 301 FRESNO CA 93721 TO COMPLAINED ABOUT CPS