Father Speaks Out Over Son's Death, Ongoing Fight for Custody

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Father Speaks Out Over Son's Death, Ongoing Fight for Custody

By Preston Phillips

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

Monday, Jan 12 at 10:04 PM mary wrote ...

First of all my sincere thoughts & prayers go out to the small brother And may Seth rip This is disgusting to hear, over and over again. This has got to end, but when!Social workers do your jobs, investigate or find another job.Dont ignore the children. My nephew told the school that hes father(my sisters ex)slapped him on the face, and what happened.The social workers came to my sisters house for about 3mos to see how she treated the kids,father was home free, what happened?I dont know

Monday, Jan 12 at 5:47 PM Yvette Loya wrote ...

I hate the system. I don't understand why they don't listen to the children because that is what is important. My step kids are being abuse by there mom's boyfriend right now! CPS didn't do anything about it! Right now my husband and I got temporary custody(thank god!)after this I'm afraid what might happen to my step kids. Why should the children speak up if nobody going to do nothing about it! It's very sad,especially when the mother allows it and don't do nothing about it. Sad

Sunday, Jan 11 at 9:06 PM Rehan wrote ...

whats going on with the child proctective services? YOu guys waited for something to happen before you act?? Unbelievable!

Sunday, Jan 11 at 6:40 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Can you believe that both of those adults who killed this child have the nerves to pleaded not guilty? Now watch they give them an option in sentencing. I am getting ready to rally up the troops and you can believe that the both of them are going to be sentence to death!

Saturday, Jan 10 at 11:49 PM aly wrote ...

Doesnt suprise me at all. CPS is corrupt and no, the courts dont do enough to protect children. They say that both parents should be in their kids lives no matter what and that THAT is more important than actually making sure their not being abused by one parent or the other. Who cares if California is a 50/50 parent state? Whats more important is paying attention to what IS best for the kid. CPS needs to go out of business..PERIOD

Friday, Jan 9 at 12:20 PM sparkie wrote ...

This does not, unfortunately surprise me in the least from Calif Social services. My ex was abusing my children when he had them. It was documented in their journals, their phone calls, and nobody did a thing. Now they are grown, my daughter has a permanent injury to her knee where he forced it, and both of my boys have been diagnosed with ptsd/bi-polar from all that they went through. I feel for you from the depths of my soul.

Friday, Jan 9 at 9:32 AM anne wrote ...

I feel so bad for the abused children they will never say anything I didn't they are afraid this is so sad. some laws definately need to be changed

Thursday, Jan 8 at 4:09 PM renee wrote ...

I think that this is so disgusting that a mother can just sit there and literaly watch her child be beaten and killed by her boyfriend. If she didn't want her kids why did she not just give custody to the father? She obviously didn't care about them. I hope they both rot in jail.

Thursday, Jan 8 at 4:08 PM Michelle wrote ...

What in the world is wrong with people... He was only 10 years old.... My thoughts and preyers go out to his brother....

Thursday, Jan 8 at 3:38 PM Eva wrote ...

I also feel for the father. My brother just lost custody of his two youngest to his ex-wife. She showed no interest in the the two oldest. The children have reported violence with the mother and her live in boyfriend. Witnessed her stab him in self-defense. Numerous calls to child protective services has yielded nothing, they remain with her. At this point my family prays that it is not going to end with one of the children being badly injured before the courts come to their senses.

Thursday, Jan 8 at 1:59 PM Bonnie Russell wrote ...

As the founder of www.FamilyLawCourts.com I can tell you that frequently the abuser, no matter the sex, is awarded custody. Why? Because judges don't talk to children. So I hope the Elkins Commission changes that. Judges need to talk to the children themselves.

Thursday, Jan 8 at 10:22 AM guadalupe wrote ...

I feel for the father of this boy, the system needs to attend to all reports asap kids out there are afraid of telling cps they are threated by the parents, I know I was abused physiclly and sexually mentally cps needs to be on thair toes once the first report has been made no questions asked

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