RONDERIQUE ANDERSON - 1 yo (2011)/ Charged: Father; Dwayne Poole - Tampa FL

Boy's skull fractured; father arrested



TAMPA - A 16-month-old boy suffered a fractured skull after being thrown on a bed as punishment for playing near an electrical socket, police said.
His father, 23-year-old Dwayne Poole, was arrested Tuesday night on an aggravated child abuse charge.
Authorities saidthe child, Ronderique Anderson, appears to be brain dead. He was taken to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital.
"He's a very good boy," said the child's mother, Fredreda Scott, who does not have custody of her son.
Authorities said Poole threw the boy on the bed, causing the child's head to hit a dresser or wall. He also is accused of hitting the child with a belt or his hand, leaving bruises on the legs and buttocks.
"What I was thinking when I heard was, 'How does this happen?'" said Scott's stepmother, Tashia Nunn-Scott.
Poole, of 7919 Lakeshore Drive, was arrested at St. Joseph's. Jail records list him as working in construction.
He remained in jail today; bail has not been set.
Scott, 18, doesn't live with Poole.
She said Ronderique was removed from her care when she was placed in foster care after her mother died. Poole was given custody.
Scott said Poole last allowed her to see her son on Christmas Day.
"I just aged out of foster care like five months ago, and I've been trying to get Ronderique back," she said.
The state Department of Children & Families is not aware of any history of violence involving Poole or Scott and the child, said Terry Field, the agency's spokesman.
Jeff Rainey, chief executive officer of Hillsborough Kids Inc., which contracts with DCF to provide services to families in the foster care system, said his agency is reviewing the case.
"We've pulled all the case records … and if there's anything we find that was gross negligence, we're obviously going to address that," Rainey said.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/feb/02/021728/police-boys-skull-fractured-tampa-man-arrested/news-breaking/

Fredreda Scott had not seen her year-old son for more than a month.
She worried about the environment at his father's home, and on Tuesday
afternoon called the child abuse hotline to check on him.Ninety minutes later,
she was summoned to a hospital.Her son, Ronderique Anderson,
was struggling for life with a fractured skull and bleeding brain.



The father, Dwayne Poole, told authorities his 16-month-old son had fallen
down the stairs. But when the child's injuries did not match the story,
police said they confronted him again.Tuesday night, Poole, 23,
admitted hitting his son with an open fist and a belt and throwing him
on a bed, causing his head to hit a wall or dresser, police said.
Poole was punishing his son for playing near an electrical socket, police said.
He was charged with aggravated child abuse and held without bail at a
illsborough County jail.At St. Joseph's Hospital on Wednesday,
family of both parents gathered, awaiting word on the child. Scott's
stepmother, Tashia Nunn-Scott, said doctors told her family Wednesday
the child had been downgraded from a 50 percent chance of survival, and
that "if he does live, he'll be in a vegetative state."In a statement,
police said he "appears to be brain dead with a minimal chance of survival."Outside
the hospital, a group of Scott's family and friends criticized the
state Department of Children and Families for how it handled the child's
custody case.In September, as the 18-year-old Scott was without a
home or job, the court opened an investigation and awarded Poole
temporary custody of the boy, whose last name of Anderson stems from
confusion over his biological father when he was born.Scott and
her family had to give up the child, who moved in with Poole, his
girlfriend and their infant daughter in Temple Crest.Scott had
visitation rights, family and friends said, but they were seldom
honored, and when they were, Ronderique seemed poorly cared for.
"We never could get him," said Nunn-Scott. "And when we did,
he had on like a shirt, some socks, no diapers, no milk, no cup."In
November, Nunn-Scott said she told the caseworker she would take
Ronderique but never heard back. When she called a month later, the
worker told her the court had granted Poole formal custody.
Records show Poole was arrested three times in 2005 and 2006 on battery charges,
but never brought to court.In
2008, adjudication was withheld for Scott when she pleaded no contest
to resisting arrest and unlawful assembly charges, according to records.
She violated probation twice after that, records show. Scott declined
to comment.Jeff Rainey, a spokesman for Hillsborough Kids Inc.,
DCF's contractor in charge of child support services, said Poole's and
Scott's records would have been considered in the custody decision, and
at least up until December, there were no allegations Poole abused
Ronderique. After the decision, Scott's family said visits became
infrequent, and with them came evidence of abuse: bruises and two
missing front teeth.Scott "called DCF and said my baby is being
abused in that house, y'all need to do something," Nunn-Scott said, "and
they didn't do anything."DCF spokesman Terry Field said there is
no record of reports of abuse. Rainey said there are no reports before
December, but his agency needs to look into subsequent weeks.
Poole's sister, Celica Craft, said she does not believe her brother hit his son."He
seemed like a good, good father, always working just to take care of
his two kids," she said, noting that she did not know what he did for
work.But Scott's family and friends told a different story, one
of hostility between Poole and Scott that caught their child in between.
"There was just so much hatred and anger," Nunn-Scott said. "That's what ultimately led to this."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/tampa-police-baby-brain-dead-abused-by-dad-for-playing-near-electrical/1149123

Boy dies after skull fractured; dad faces murder charge



FAMILY PHOTOPolice say Ronderique Anderson was thrown on a bed as punishment for playing near an electrical socket.

A 16-month-old boy who had been on life support died this morning, four days after his skull was fractured, police said.

http://www2.tbo.com/video/2011/feb/06/boy-dies-father-faces-murder-charges-77076/video-news/

AMPA - A 16-month-old boy who had been on life support for four days
died Saturday, and now his father faces a first-degree murder charge.

Ronderique Anderson was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital.

"Ronderique's mother, Fredreda Scott, made the decision to donate her
son's organs, saying that even as she grieves over the loss of her baby
that she hopes another child may be able to live and prosper the way
Ronderique would have," the family said in a statement issued through
their attorney, Eric Seidel.

The boy's father, Dwayne Poole, was arrested Tuesday night on an
aggravated child abuse charge and is being held without bail. Police
added the murder charge on Saturday.

Investigators said Poole, 23, threw his son on a bed as punishment
for playing near an electrical socket; Ronderique's head hit a dresser
or wall.http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/feb/06/PMENEWSO13-toddler-dies-father-faces-murder-charge/

Posters note: There's simply too much weight given to biological connections to a child by CYPS rather than what is in the best interests for a child. Their first priority should be ensuring that the child is placed with a husband and wife who have a stable relationship and are of good character. Too many children are living with unstable, volatile and dysfunctional people.

Boy dies days after skull fractured; dad faces murder charge


snipped....

Investigators said Poole, 23, threw his son on a bed as punishment for playing near an electrical socket; Ronderique's head hit a dresser or wall.
Scott, 18, doesn't live with Poole and didn't have custody of their son. She previously said Ronderique was removed from her care when she was placed in foster care after her mother died.
Officials with the Florida Department of Children & Families said they are reviewing the case but have admitted mistakes were made in placing Ronderique with his father.
Poole was convicted of misdemeanor battery and sentenced to 14 days in jail following a November 2005 fight, records show. He was 18 when he fought in a hallway at Bloomingdale High School, deputies said.
A DCF spokeswoman said Ronderique had been placed in his mother's care, but then removed, several times before the agency determined Scott wasn't an appropriate caregiver.
Although Poole was given custody, Scott retained her parental rights.
After Ronderique was placed with his father, case managers went to Poole's home to check on the child's welfare, according to DCF. There were no prior reported problems with Poole's care, and no history of violence involving Poole or Scott and their son.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/feb/05/051804/boy-dies-days-after-skull-fractured-dad-faces-murd/

RIP Ronderique

Tampa police: Girlfriend knew of child's abuse, didn't report it

TAMPA — Police arrested a second suspect Thursday in their death investigation of 16-month old Ronderique Anderson.Tonya Myers, 29, faces a charge of aggravated child neglect. She is the
girlfriend of Dwayne Poole, 23, who faces charges of aggravated child
abuse and first-degree murder. Police say Poole beat his son, causing
the boy's death.Investigators believe Myers knew Poole was
abusing his son. When interviewing her about the young boy's swollen jaw
and missing teeth, she said she knew Poole had knocked out the child's
teeth, police reported.She also acknowledged that Ronderique had
suffered continued abuse, police say, and she still didn't protect the
baby or get him medical help.Ronderique died as a result of the injuries last Friday, police reported.Myers
has a young daughter, who has been in the care of relatives since
police started investigating, said Florida Department of Children and
Families spokesman Terry Field.The police investigation started
Feb. 1 when authorities responded to Poole's Temple Crest apartment on a
call about an unresponsive child who had fallen down stairs.Paramedics
found Ronderique with a ruptured spleen, fractured forehead and
bleeding brain, according to a search warrant application.Poole
later changed his story. As punishment for trying to stick a hanger in
an electrical socket, Poole said he spanked, whipped and beat the boy,
police said.He also admitted throwing him onto a bed, causing his head to strike a wall or dresser, according to the warrant application.Poole was initially charged with aggravated child abuse. The murder charge was added after his son passed away.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/tampa-police-girlfriend-knew-of-childs-abuse-didnt-report-it/1150774

Posters note: Good job. People that stand by and do nothing to save an innocent child are despicable cretins IMO

Alleged child abuser's reported girlfriend arrested for failing to protect suspect's dead son



TAMPA - So far as police know, Tonya Myers never raised her hand to16-month-old Ronderique Anderson.
But they say she did turn a blind eye as his father did, over and over again.

"He did die at the hands of his father, and she played a role in that," said Tampa Police spokesperson Andrea Davis.

Myers, 29, is the girlfriend of Anderson's father, Dwayne Poole, who now faces murder charges in his son's death
Police say Poole admitted to hitting his son and throwing him on a
bed, causing him to hit his head on a wall or dresser. That abuse caused injuries that led to the child's death .

Police say Myers revealed details of other abuse the little boy suffered at
his father's hands, and told them she did nothing to stop it.

"There was an incident when he hit the child in the mouth, he had a swollen jaw and his teeth were knocked out," Davis said.

Myers is now charged with aggravated child neglect for failing to alert authorities or get the boy medical attention.

Ronderique Anderson's family declined an on-camera interview about the arrest, but
said through an attorney that they are now making funeral arrangements for the child.
Related Links

• DCF admits mistakes in suspected abuse
  
• No bond for dad charged in murder of…
  

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/poole%27s-reported-girlfriend-arrested-for-failing-to-protect-her-dead-son

DCF releases report on toddler beaten to death

By Melissa Eichman, Reporter
Last Updated: Friday, February 18, 2011

TAMPA -- Relatives of 16-month-old Ronderique Anderson blame the state for the baby's death.

Family members say Dwayne Poole abused his son, even knocked out his teeth before the baby died. They question why the child was placed with Poole.

Officials with the Department of Children and Families admit the agency made mistakes. On Friday, the agency released an in-depth review of the case.

Terry Field with DCF says the agency found many mis-steps, including overlooking custody options on the mother's side.

"We don't feel that our contractors did a good enough job of really engaging the family of the mother in this case," Field said. "Sometimes it's easy to forget that she's a child herself."

Communication with the courts was found to be another shortcoming.

"We just know that we should have done a better job of giving the court the information necessary related to background reports, related to whatever circumstances might have been in the home when the child was placed," Field said.

The case review detailed a history of domestic unrest involving both Ronderique and his teenage mother, who lost custody of him for several months shortly after he was born.

The mother and the baby moved from house to house for a few months after that until the mother lost custody again. That was when Ronderique was placed with Poole.

The detailed case review also revealed:

   Home visits were incomplete, or they were done when Poole wasn't home.
   The home visits didn't always follow state requirements.
   The Florida Abuse Hotline recommended not placing the baby with his father.
   Poole's own criminal background would have excluded him if he hadn't been Ronderique's father.
   No one ever followed up on how well-cared for Ronderique was, and no plan was in place to ensure that happened.

Two of the case managers are on administrative leave pending the outcome of the internal review.
Improvements to handling cases in the future

DCF says this report and case has changed the way it will proceed with placing children from here on out. Improvements include to:

   Assure family engagement is adequate
   Improve quality of oversight and guidance
   Ensure family preservation protocols are followed
   Complete a review of home studies and institute ongoing controls
   Review all cases on children up to age 5
   Involve the Attorney General's office
   Implement better procedures to flag high risk cases

In addition, the agency said it will consider whether two case managers need to be assigned in situations involving a child with a parent who is a minor.
Family's response to review

The family says changes are necessary, and while it's too late for Ronderique, it's not too late for other children in the system.

Eric A. Seidel, the attorney who is representing Ronderique's mother, issued a statement about the case review released by DCF:

"I am pleased to see that DCF has admitted responsibility for their role in the senseless and preventable death of Ronderique Anderson. However, I am troubled by certain gaps in the report that do not fully address what my ongoing investigation has uncovered. For example, the report does not address the attempts made by Ronderique's mother and her close family members to take custody of the infant when it became apparent that Ronderique was being abused by his father. The report also does not address the unanswered and unreturned phone calls to case workers that could have saved Ronderique's life. And, while the family is encouraged that the report appears to create some welcome new measures to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future, it also raises serious issues that a local government contractor can receive more than $65 million in funding yet only perform a review of less than 10% of the cases involving children in need."

http://baynews9.com/content/news/articles/ot/both/2011/02/18/DCF_releases_report_on_toddler_beaten_to_death.html

Woman pleads guilty to child neglect before Tampa baby's death

Patty Ryan, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 2, 2012 1:03pm

TAMPA — Two weeks before Dwayne Poole was accused of killing his 16-month-old son, Poole knocked out the boy's teeth, authorities say. Poole's girlfriend, Tonya Myers, knew that, yet didn't report it.

Myers, who was not the boy's mother, pleaded guilty to child neglect Tuesday for her silence after the earlier attack, which occurred in January 2011. When she brought up the matter with Poole, she later explained, he threatened to knock out her teeth and their daughter's teeth.

The boy, Ronderique Anderson, died Feb. 5, 2011. Poole is charged with aggravated child abuse and first-degree murder. He first told police the boy fell down the stairs. Then Poole admitted that he hit Ronderique and threw him on a bed, causing him to hit a wall or dresser, police said at the time.

Myers won't be sentenced until after Poole's Dec. 10 trial. Child neglect, a second-degree felony, is punishable by up to 15 years, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Chet Tharpe reminded her, before accepting her guilty plea.

The child's death was one of eight in a two-year period that brought scrutiny to Hillsborough Kids Inc., which ultimately lost its $65.5 million annual contract to Eckerd Youth Alternatives.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/woman-pleads-guilty-to-child-neglect-before-tampa-babys-death/1254411

Poole found guilty in beating death of 16-month-old son

Posted: Feb 13, 2014 3:45 PM CST Updated: Apr 10, 2014 3:45 PM CD

TAMPA (FOX 13) -
A jury has found Dwayne Poole guilty of manslaughter and aggravated child abuse in the death of his 16-month-old son.

Prosecutors say Poole beat his baby to death in May of 2011.

During the trial, jurors saw graphic photos of injuries on the bay's stomach and legs.

Initially, Poole and his girlfriend Tonya Myers told authorities the child had fallen down the stairs.

But Myers testified that she lied in an effort to protect Poole.

Poole will be sentenced March 28.



Read more: http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/24718735/2014/02/13/poole-found-guilty-in-death-of-16-month-old-son#ixzz2zpsYThRH
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I hope his POS girlfriend spends decades in prison.  They both deserve to rot in a cage.