WEEK Weather

69 °F

OVERCAST

WIND : S

6 mph

HUMIDITY : 72 %

October 13, 2008

More Weather

Central Illinois Asks Why In Baby Death

Tools

By Syreeta Baker

Story Published: Feb 21, 2008 at 5:21 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 21, 2008 at 8:03 PM CDT

Just as family and neighbors of the couple charged have reacted with shock, the entire Central Illinois community is crying out about Benjamin Sargent's death.

Multimedia

Watch The Video

A number of our viewers have shared their reaction to this case on website.

Several viewers like one parent have shared their opinion about how the couple should be punished.

"they both deserve the death penalty," this person writes.

Others, like Ms. Martin, have questioned why more people aren't held responsible for quote "failing to notify the authorities"...of the tale-tale signs of neglect?

Like some of our viewers, a local crisis agency is also wondering how society can be more responsible in giving young children an advocate.

Crisis Nursery Executive Director Farrell Davies said, "How can we develop better relationships how can we develop better tools how can we better market ourselves?"

Peoria's Crisis Nursery goal is to help families cope with difficult times.

The crisis nursery is open to parents 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

View Oldest Comments First

Thursday, Mar 13 at 2:59 PM Erika wrote ...

This story continues to haunt me. I have a seven month old daughter and cannot imagine how anyone could treat their own flesh and blood in such a way. I cry everytime I read or even think about what this poor little boy went through. It makes me go and hug my daughter and promise her that this will never happen to her. These people are monsters of the most horrific kind. I hope that they too get the death penalty. It would be the only fair penalty to such uncarin, callous, shallow people!

Monday, Feb 25 at 9:51 AM Stephanie wrote ...

Why are so many questions unanswered about this crime? How could that many people let this happen, especially when a three year old child is already given away? Why is just Central Illinois outraged about this? Why isn't this national news like all the other baby killers out there? Are we missing something? Are there pieces of this story missing? It keeps me awake at night thinking about the people involved in this and why something was not done on day two, or day three.

Saturday, Feb 23 at 12:56 AM nickle wrote ...

i dont thank it fare for the baby.they could gave it up.to a loving caring family.theres a lot people that want children in the world.heres people like this that dont give a crap.why did they do a thang like this.i saw the babys picture and he is beatiful.theres no excuse to harm this baby.hes a gift hes suppose to give you joy. i know not easy all the time butt that come with having a child.what where the parent thanking.

Friday, Feb 22 at 7:34 PM Angel wrote ...

It makes me ill. to think how someone could do this to a child. Little Ben didn't deserve this. And I hope that his so called parents get what they deserve. In his obit. they put that he had loving parents, that is so wrong to write. I did read the story about wearing a blue ribbon and I will be wearing mine starting tomorrow. God bless you baby boy. Rest in piece because now you are with the Angels.

Friday, Feb 22 at 4:28 PM Brenda wrote ...

I see I'm not the only person who was physically sickened by this story. I read it late at night and actually lost sleep thinking about my little boy in his crib in the next room. That was such a small house too. Absolutely sickening. Give them the electric chair; but strap them in and don't pull the switch. Leave them there until they die. And be sure to bundle them up and turn up the heat. Leave the door open so they can hear other people eating and enjoying life in the next room!

Friday, Feb 22 at 3:56 PM darren wrote ...

This story makes me so sad.My wife and I just lost our baby and then i hear about this,it makes me sick that people can do something like this to a baby. We wanted to hear our baby cry and we didnt get to. And these people just set there and didnt feed or take care of their baby.If they dont get the death penalty they should never ever be able to have kids again. These people are just sick in the head. Dont they know when u have kids u have to take care of them and love them every day.

Friday, Feb 22 at 2:18 PM Kathy wrote ...

I say that there should be no trial for these two. "Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" Strap them down and let them starve, they don't deserve any better than that. May God bless little Benjamin.

Friday, Feb 22 at 2:13 PM jimw wrote ...

Maybe a fitting thing to do is to let the murderers out of jail without police protection and let the public know where and when.

Friday, Feb 22 at 1:35 PM Mer wrote ...

I just don't get how after 5 months of caring for this baby you just stop. how could you do that?? how could you not love that baby? it's just a shame how some people would do anything to be able to conceive their own baby and then you have others that do this. I will never understand

Friday, Feb 22 at 1:34 PM Amanda wrote ...

This is disgusting, I agree with what others have wrote, they NEED to be suffering the same treatment their son suffered. So many people out there like my husband and I that would love and be head over heels to have another child and can't. Like Wendy wrote... words can't describe how I feel about these monsters.

Friday, Feb 22 at 11:55 AM M&M wrote ...

This story has really opened my eyes to things, I have a 9 month old and when I look at her I could never think of doing anything to her. I think all parties involved should be punished, These people are not parents they deserve to have done to them as they did to their baby.Thank God he is in a better place now just to bad he had to go threw what he did to get there.People need to open there eyes and see what is going on now. I know I will be alot more aware of my surroundings.God Bless the bab

Friday, Feb 22 at 9:46 AM CJ wrote ...

these parents deserved the death penalty because of the horrible thing they both have done. I dont understand how anyone could treat a child this way. there are people in this world who cant be blessed with children and then there are people who can be but shouldnt be able to have children! this is a disgust to the economy. i hope they get exactly what they deserve!

Friday, Feb 22 at 12:55 AM Anonymous wrote ...

i can't ever imagine what the two were thinking...hearing that precious baby starving to death...makes me want to never leave my daughter with anyone because these are the kind of sick people out there in our backyards....God bless that baby and hell take those parents

Thursday, Feb 21 at 10:48 PM truly saddened wrote ...

Like everyone else this story has truly upset me. As a mother my self and even before I was a mother, I never understood how anyone could hurt their own child, but this is by far one of the saddest stories I have come across. Children are ture blessings, as parents we are suppose to take care of them and raise them in anyway possible. If they couldnt do it, they should of found someone who could. That baby deserved a chance at a future. Both parents deserve to rot for taking that away from him.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 10:39 PM sickened wrote ...

i would like to know why no one heard a baby crying for days? when i heard a child cries you hear them even over other noise at times so why?

Thursday, Feb 21 at 10:35 PM J. T. wrote ...

When I read this story,I was horrified and became physically ill. Now there is only an incredible sadness. May our heavenly father take this child into the palm of his hand and keep him. As for the parents, there is no punishment here on earth which fits the crime, not one that can be legally administered anyway. Their true punishment will come on judgement day.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 9:59 PM Erica wrote ...

I agree 100% with Terry Walker. The parents deserve to suffer as their beautiful baby boy did. They do not deserve to live. I cannot even begin to describe my feelings towards these two "people". I hope this little boy can now rest in peace and his "parents" get what they deserve.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 9:19 PM Carmen wrote ...

I have worked in health care for 14 years and this is truly the most disturbing thing I have ever heard of. Two of my sons have a type of muscular dystrophy and I fight for them everyday and wonder what will happened to them and to see someone do what they did is just sickening. My dogs are treated better than that. Shame on everyone who knew and did nothing and I hope that the parents get life,death would be too kind for them. As for Benjamin, you're in a better place now. God Bless you.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 8:06 PM Sad at Heart wrote ...

I have five children and cannot imagine someone ever doing something so horrifying to that child. If our justice system was anything like back in the older days, these sickos would have already been dealt with for their murdering this child. Now a days they get a smack on the hand, and in a short time served they are let out. What examples are that to others. They should be put to death, not waste our taxes housing them in prison. The pain that poor innocent child had to go through.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 7:52 PM Kari wrote ...

This is just horrible, they both deserve the death penalty. How could they just eat, and enjoy their lives all the while the baby is starving and literally dying right there. Children are a gift, not a privelege...how can they do this? There are so many people that only dream of having a baby. How sad. I say DEATH PENALTY all the way with these two sickos.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 7:00 PM samantha geeseman wrote ...

How many children have to die before our lawmakers come up with some strict guidelines regarding new parent counseling and family counseling or removal of child for repeat offenders of abuse and neglect?

Thursday, Feb 21 at 6:58 PM Terri wrote ...

No one noticed the baby was so underweight and obviously neglected? I'm a new Grandma and can't imagine dropping my granddaughter off to the type of disgusting home that has been described as the living conditions. It is absolutely unacceptable for a baby to die in such a purposeful inhumane manner. This case needs to be an example for all the other young people out there who are not properly caring for their infant because their own issues or lack of knowledge of resources.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 6:55 PM debbie wrote ...

when i first heard this story i felt sick .I cant understand how people are capable of setting there and letting a baby die that way. thier is all kind of people that would have taken him and raise .My only question where was the family or other people around them to see what was going on .God Bless the baby boy.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 6:47 PM linda carter wrote ...

I agree with Terry Walker.This is so sad.Im raising my granddaughter & could not imagine. I say this world should do back to you what you do in your crime.I bet we would have so little crime. May Benjermin rest in peace & may his parents rot.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 6:07 PM Nancy wrote ...

What is happening to our society? We could all be responsible in this case. Maybe we should pay more attention to what is going on in our neighborhoods and take some of the responsibility. We should know our neighbors like we did a few years ago. We are too busy to take time to pay attention to what is going on around us. These parents must have had family & neighbors who know things were not as they should be. My heart aches for them.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 5:58 PM sara wrote ...

This is just so sick. i dont get how anyone could do this to a 5 month old baby or any child at that. i have a 5 month old and i couldnt imagine having that happen to him. It made me cry for the longest time to think the pain this baby endured. I hope the parents get the death penalty and if not that, life without parole.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 5:45 PM Ami wrote ...

This has left me sick to my stomach all day and everytime I think about it I wanna break down and cry. I bet I have cried more tears for this precious lil boy than his own mother has. I just pray that these so called parents get what they deserve.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 5:44 PM Terry Walker wrote ...

These so-called parents should each be strapped to a chair, facing each other, and left there without food and water, until they die, a slow painful death. The same way they sentenced their innocent baby boy to death.

Thursday, Feb 21 at 5:42 PM Wendy wrote ...

I am so upset by this story. I have a five month old, and I look at her and wonder how someone could do such a thing. I am glad God took him in his hands, because he knew what environment little Benjermin was going to be raised in. He will be at peace from now on. As for the parents, Why? Did they realize how many people would have taken the baby? Words can not describe how I feel about the two!

Add a comment

On Demand

Stock Quotes

What's On TonightFull Schedule

7:00

Chuck

8:00

Heroes

9:00

My Own Worst Enemy