COMMON DENOMINATOR
The most common denominator in these tragedies
From time to time we see situations in the United States where minors are
convicted of serious offenses such as murder and are given long prison
sentences, in some cases life without parole. Take a look at these young women
who have been in prison since their teens. All are still in their twenties;
ERIN CAFFEY
In 2007, Erin then 16, plotted to kill her family because her parents kept
breaking up her relationships with her boyfriends. She asked her boyfriend,
then 19 to kill her parents and along with an associate killed Erin's Mum, and
two younger brothers. Erin's dad survived, forgave his daughter and visits her
in prison. Erin is eligible for parole in 2038. During the interviewing
process the other three participants in this crime all pointed the finger at
Erin saying "It was all her idea."
MORGAN LEPPERT
Morgan was 15 when she murdered a disabled man. Her 23 year old boyfriend
was a participator in the crime but testified against Morgan for a lighter
sentence. Morgan got life without parole.
JENNIFER MEE
Jennifer had gained notoriety as the "Hiccup Girl" after
appearing on American TV as a 15-year-old suffering from non-stop hiccups but
as a 19-year-old lured a 22 year-old football star through social media to a
location with the intention of robbing him. Her two male friends then went
about robbing him but during the scuffle, one of then fatally shot the guy.
Jennifer never intented to murder him nor was she even at the scene. Under
Florida law, if someone is fatally shot during a robbery then all who participated
in the robbery are equally guilty of murder. Jennifer got a sentence of life
without parole.
CYNTOIA BROWN
Cyntoia's situation is different from the others in that she was allegedly
kept as a sex slave and was allegedly on drugs when she allegedly shot a
43-year-old man when she was 16. Cyntoia was homeless at the time. She too got
a long prison sentence but a campaign has been going for her charges to be
downgraded to 2nd degree murder. There was an online petition for Cyntoia's
release.
What these cases have in common is that they are all teenage girls who were
involved with a guy older than themselves. Nowhere have I ever read in these
cases that the older guy should have taken the responsibility for what has
happened and in Erin and Morgan's case, the guys actually testified against
them.
When it comes to affairs of the heart, women seem to be their own worst
enemies and commonsense seems to go out the window when a guy makes them feel
good about themselves. It is the old saying that "Love is blind."
What I think should really happen is for the court to
reflect the involvement of the older person but making them fully responsible
if they are involved in a crime with a minor. In Cyntoia's case, I think the
court's really need to come down hard on those that supply minor's with drugs
inorder to control them.
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