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Devon Parsons

Devon Parsons

Two arrested for murder of 12-year-old

By Daniel Miller, WISH-TV
June 5, 2011

A 12 year-old Greensburg boy is dead. Police said Devin Parsons was murdered. The boy's mother and her boyfriend are now behind bars. It happened in the 600 block of E. Washington Street in Greensburg.

A lone teddy-bear sits outside near the home where Greensburg police say a 12 year-old Devin Parsons died Friday. Crime tape also surrounds the home where several police standing guard. Late Friday night police arrested the boy's mother, 29 year-old Tasha Parsons and her boyfriend, 30 year-old Waldo Jones. Investigators said little Devin was murdered.

"I kind of almost expected it, but definitely in awe, like wow," said Bobbie Gilland.

Gilland is Jones' sister. Gilland said she contacted authorities numerous times this year about the boy and his siblings’ safety. She told 24 Hour News 8 she alerted investigators the children inside the home were in danger.

"I told them about how he didn't allow the kids lunch; how he beat them if they missed the bus, they had to wake themselves up," Gilland said.

Gilland wasn't the only one who called police.  Stacy Damaree alerted authorities too.

"I called CPS numerous times myself, you know hoping that something would be done about these kids and now it's a shame that this had to happen this way," Damaree said.  "Even though Gilland and Damaree say they called police about what was going on inside that house, we weren't able to find anything on Tasha Parsons. However, we did find a criminal past on Waldo Jones.

According to Indiana Department of Corrections, Jones was released from prison in July of 2010.  Jones had been sentenced in August of 2009 for operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction for OWI on his record.  "I just think something should have and could have been done," said Gilland.

Damaree said she's feels awful something like this happened.  "I hope that they wake up and realize that they are getting calls like this, this isn't no joke. This is children's lives," Damaree said.

The Decatur County Prosecutor released a statement to 24 Hour News 8.  James Rosenberry said his office anticipated filing criminal charges against Tasha Parsons Monday morning.


UPDATE:

June 15, 2011

GREENSBURG, Ind. -- Court records detail a gruesome scene in the home of a 12-year-old boy police said was beaten to death by his mother.

The Decatur County coroner ruled last week that Devin Parsons, who was found dead in his family's Greensburg home June 3, died of multiple traumatic blunt-force trauma from head to toe.

Police said his mother, Tasha Parsons, 29, admitted to using her hands, feet, a belt and a metal tray to beat her son over a period of several hours while her boyfriend, Waldo Jones Jr., watched.

Court documents released Wednesday show police found blood in nearly every room in the home, on walls, furniture and clothing.

Investigators also took into evidence an empty medicine bottle, a framed picture of Devin with broken glass and dozens of cigarette butts throughout the home.

6News' Joanna Massee spoke Wednesday to Kristi Schofner, who called 911 the day Devin was found dead.

Schofner said Jones rode his bicycle to her home and told her the boy was unresponsive, telling her different versions of what had happened to the child.


"First, he was mentioning that he might have been drowned, then he said his mom laid on him and he couldn't breathe," Schofner said.

Schofner said she only met Devin Parsons a few times.

"They never ever had their kids. Devin watched the kids (his siblings) constantly if they weren't at her dad's house," Schofner said. "He didn't even have a good childhood. He had a miserable childhood."

Jones's former friend, Rick Peetz, said he also spoke with Jones after the beating.

"He said, 'There's a little boy up there, and I don't think he's breathing.' I said, 'Oh my God,'" Peetz recounted.

Jones was charged with neglect of a dependent causing death.

Parsons, who faces a murder charge, said she beat the boy because he had hidden her pain pills and wouldn't tell her where they were.

According to court records, the Department of Child Services had previously investigated Devin's home in 2009.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

"We can do better!" Evidently CPS missed something, Devin should NOT have been in mother's care! Who stands up for innocent children, CPS did not save Devin's life, being beaten by his mother? Who needs to step in? Innocent children are tortured, put to death, something HAS to change! "We can do better!"

Anonymous said...

When will chidrens protective services start protecting the children? Many, many complaints were filed against the Mother and the living conditions or squaller those children lived in. Devon paid the price for what his "protectors" did not do. Shame on the Department all involved should be fired, what are they collecting a wage for if they can't or wont do their job. Devon could be alive today if someone did their job.

Anonymous said...

This piece of shit "mother" needs to get what she deserves. How could someone beat their own child to death? What is this world coming to????

Anonymous said...

I am so sad, angry, & repulsed reading what happened to this child. People like this should NOT even be allowed to have children! People convicted of serious crimes against children should be STERILIZED! Yes, I said sterilized! They should never be allowed to have natural or adopted children & not be able to take in foster kids. And it's CPS's job to protect the kids that are being abused by their "caregivers". As for the rest of society, let's NOT turn a blind eye to the abuse. I implore everyone on this planet to report ANY suspected abuse. If your wrong about the abuse, it's better to be wrong than take a chance. If you're right about the abuse happening, you could be saving a child's life, or at the least, sparing them from any more suffering. Abuse in ANY form to ANY person is everyone's business!

Unknown said...

If I ever witness this kind of neglect abuse towards a child I will beat someone's face into jelly; man or woman, I don't care. This is deplorable and people like this don't deserve breath. These children can't even entrust their safety/lives to those who are supposed to be their advocates and protectors. Sickening!! Rise up people. Clearly CPS is incapable of stopping things such as this despite ample warnings/signs. Let's take matters into our own hands and kill anyone that we witness harming a child in this way. I'm fed up with this depressing shit!!

Unknown said...

If I ever witness this kind of neglect abuse towards a child I will beat someone's face into jelly; man or woman, I don't care. This is deplorable and people like this don't deserve breath. These children can't even entrust their safety/lives to those who are supposed to be their advocates and protectors. Sickening!! Rise up people. Clearly CPS is incapable of stopping things such as this despite ample warnings/signs. Let's take matters into our own hands and kill anyone that we witness harming a child in this way. I'm fed up with this depressing shit!!

Anonymous said...

My ex boyfriend was his brother.. i feel real bad for him.. he even lived in that house...

Anonymous said...

Just in case anyone is wondering about the younger siblings in this case... they are living with family members who are functioning members of society. they are adjusting as well as to be expected. my daughter is in school with the lil girl.

Anonymous said...

Come on man don’t do that

Anonymous said...

I agree

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