Joe – I am a Baltimore attorney, born and raised in Hebron. As was everyone else out there, my family was desperate to hear news about this tragedy as it unfolded late last week. And, as expected, the local “news” outlets let everyone down. I appreciate the aggressiveness with which you pursued this story. I believe I speak for all of the people whose hearts reside in the mid shore area when I say – we are devastated, we are furious, and we demand answers.
Has there been validation to the reports that the monster with whom Sarah lived also has custody of little Sarah's siblings, and that she received public funding for being their “guardian”? If someone could verify this, then I suggest a wonderful way for your readers to honor Sarah’s memory. IF TRUE, beginning tomorrow, your readers should begin flooding the Wicomico County DSS with calls and emails demanding that Sarah’s siblings be placed in protective custody. Then, your readers should demand an accounting from these “guardians” as to the profits they have received from the Bank of Willards lottery accounts that they have set up for themselves. You do not qualify for public assistance when you have income from other sources. Period. I believe Sarah Foxwell’s “guardians” would be a great place to make a budget cut.
And to the pastor who endorsed those accounts – shame on you.
Sarah Foxwell did not belong to her aunt. She was a tiny, but valuable, citizen of our state. The monsters to whom she was entrusted invited a convicted pedophile into her life - and even showed him where the key was - so that he could wake her from her sleep, snatch her from her home, and perpetrate this tragedy. The citizens of the mid shore should not rest until all of their questions are answered.
Again, I thank you for your diligence.
-Rob Daniels
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
55 comments:
Well said, and I agree wholeheartedly. Don't let another childs safety and welfare slip throught the cracks. Maybe THATs what good can come from this tragedy....some OTHER defenseless child can be saved and maybe, just maybe the law that allowed this monster to roam freely amongst us will get changed so that many children will be safe who might otherwise become victims.
I would like to know how the aunt did not know someone was in her home.. and why the 6 year old sibling thought it was ok that her big sister was leaving in the middle of the night with this man. Why wasn't anyone alarmed that this was taking place? Yes this is a horrible situation but I think the guardian has some explaining to do..
I have been wondering how Thomas could have taken Sarah in the middle of the night without her aunt knowing. I would be glad to do my part with a call or an email. Does anyone have a phone number or an email address to send a letter? Thank you Mr. Daniels for taking the time to do the right thing for the remaining children.
Somewhere in all the comments from the past few days the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board was mentioned. That raises a question for me... How does this work? Is this something they have to apply for, or is it something that will automatically be granted to Sarah's guardians once this all goes to trial? And if so, since when did people start getting paid to allow sex offenders into their homes and/or showing them where the key was so they could let themselves in at any given time so they would have access to children?? And yes, I am sure this family is devastated... but so is the entire community.
I hope at some point an investigation is done on the Aunt or so called guardian of Sarah and that she be held accountable for neglect. Obviously, there was no adult at home when this happened - one can only guess since it has never been aired. Doesn't Maryland law state that a child cannot be left without adult supervision unless they are 13 or older?
Once again DSS and CAC has neglected another child. Maybe they should be held accountable and service time for neglect. Look at how many kids they have neglected over the years. They are just as guilty as the criminals.
Thank you sir, so much. I was wondering if perhaps he was out that nite at one of his favorite watering holes and saw the Aunt there, and thought well, opportunity knocks. I do hate to speculate but honestly, were the girls home alone? Or was the Aunt intoxicated, perhaps he saw her out that evening and knew she was on her way to being in a deeper state of sleep later, I don't know. But if those girls knew him as "Tommy" then he'd spent the nite before, she'd exposed them to him as tho he could be trusted.
You have to apply, they will pay for things like the funeral, burial space, monument, travel anything the family must pay for.
wlm
I think they can be alone at the age of 8, but must be at least 13 to watch another younger child. It is legal for Sarah to be alone, but not to watch her 6 year-old sister.
Well said Mr Daniels...this is something all of us in this area have wondered? where was the aunt? were those two little girls home all nite alone? and if Sarah was taken around 930 or 10 does that mean that the remaining little one was left home the rest of the nite alone???? this certainly shows child neglect and the guardians should also face charges as well...thank you for your input....
I've been saying this the whole time. The timeline doesn't add up. There's no way the little sister just went back to sleep w/o telling anyone "Tommy" took Sarah. The police weren't contacted until 10am if I'm correct from info I've put together. So what was going on in between? The kids were obviously familiar with Leggs enough not to freak out when he was in their bedroom. I also have a hard time believing that the adults, which I get from the stories that there was another adult staying there, would not have noticed someone entering their house. Especially in the winter the air pressure changes when you open an outside door to come and go. The aunt says she hadn't been in contact w Leggs for a month but that doesn't really add up either. I'm sure CPS is looking into the family as well as the police. They just can't give out details so they don't mess up the investigation.
As far as donations; why don't people donate food, clothes for the other kids, and school supplies instead of money that may be spent wherever. Or offer to pay on their electric bill? Just an idea.
when the pastor set up the account he was unaware that all funeral and burial expenses had been payed for
8:57 1 I don't think you meant it how it reads but it sounds like you are kind of putting some blame on the 6 year old. I really think you didn't mean it to sound that way.
But I have thought about this a lot. We always talk with our kids about strangers and people offering candy and things like that. But we need to make a point to talk with our kids about not ever leaving with anyone other than mom or dad unless the child personally has spoken with mom or dad about it. We all have ALOT of people that we trust and that our children trust. But we still need to be VERY careful. Just because someone isn't a registered sex offender doesn't mean they are trustworthy. So make sure you kids know to ALWAYS check with you. Because in this society you never know what someone is capable of.
Joe can you please give us the story that you know on how this all came about.
Who is the father. Is this the guy who owns Foxwell Elec. I heard it was not and that it was a young kid. What about the mom? Tell us about the Aunt. She might have been a good guardian but if there were details then people wouldn't be so qucik to judge. Also I would like to know about the setting up of the Bank account. Who set this up and who is on it and what was the purpose of the account?
WBOC, last night, had it on there news! They are still asking for money at a local bank as a trust fund for Sarah Haley Foxwell.
I think you are all overreaching a little. Do you, or people you know, do a background check on everyone you meet. No? Me either. The family only asked for help with burial expenses, not any other money. The other little girl was threatened with her life if she got up and told anyone. I do believe that the aunt has had a plateful with adopting all of these children, but it was done out of love, so the siblings would not be split up. While I don't know for sure, I have been under the understanding the the funds for the family were set up by a pastor for the purpose of "education" only for the other siblings. I don't really see anything wrong with that considering what this family has been through. They didn't ask for it. I think you should be ashamed of yourselves for beating down the aunt for trying to give these girls a home, and suggest she is somehow profiting or "getting over" on the system, or was in someway involved. Shame on you. See what happens to your mind when you leave the shore for Baltimore, even more so, a Baltimore attourney.
Undermine
8:57 I am sure the sister thought it was fine, she knew him as Tommy, Aunt Amy exposed them to him as though he was of fine character. And I'm sure even if she did express alarm, he said ssshhh it's Christmas time, we have to get a surprise gift for your Auntie,who the hell knows, but I'm sure he had all the right things to say. Good that she drifted back to sleep, to have objected may have gotten her killed as well. Hope she recovers from this nightmare.
Well Said!!!! Damnit read up, people, again & again. Do not wait for ONE MORE child to be harmed. I'm sure what Sarah would want is for not to have any more of her friends or other children harmed in any way. Just to let them be children while they can.
well why 9:30 am did he set it up so that the family had access to it. Don't trust all pastors people. They put their pants on just like everyone else. Why doesn't he go to the /Bank and change it so they family cannot touch it?
For the last time all you dimwits, the children were not home alone. They range in age from 5 to 14. The grandfather and aunt bought the home together to keep the kids together. Yes the aunt had gone out that evening, but the granfather was home. The layout of the house is such that this guy was able to get in without being detected. Why are you all trying to make a horrible situation even worse? She hasn't even been buried yet. Joe, I think you should talk with Mike Lewis, who can put alot of these questions to rest, and so this family can begin the healing process and not villified.
Then the Pastor should take CONTROL of the account NOW .......
The aunt SENT the girls to bed around 9:30pm-- isn't that what was stated last week in a report? Not that Sarah was taken at 9:30. I'm just wondering after reading 9:28 am's post. I, as well, am trying to understand the timeline. According to the aunt's coworkers at Exxon, she had broken up with TJ/Tommy right before Thanksgiving. This information was told to me the night before they announced that TJ Leggs was arrested. These coworkers, also, said that it was "TJ" (name they used) Leggs that kidnapped her and that he used the hidakey BEFORE. All this information from them would not have come out of their mouths before it was announced if the aunt had not already told them. She knew he was the one that took her. She knew that he had used that same key before. She knew she endangered those children. She knew what she was doing. She didn't care.
(the Exxon is the one across from Wor Wic and the aunt apparently worked in the Subway according to the coworkers)
Only one problem with that is that Wicomico Social Services are inept. They can only harrass Fathers with jobs. I have and always will pay my child support. WSS records show this. I have been treated like an animal when I try to explain to them. If Thomas Leggs owed 14,000 in child support what was he doing a free man. I believe the law requires for him to have his liscense suspended and incarcerated. Wicomico Social Services also failed Sarah Foxwell.
It just comes down to this. Most of us spent our holiday season consumed with thoughts of this child, and the harm that came to her. Many searched for her, many prayed, lost sleep, still are. So we feel we have a right to know the details, it isn't easy just to accept the minor details we've been provided.I said it in a prior comment, what happens to one of us happens to all of us. We are interconnected. Anyone with a heart had their heart broken when the body was found,so if the family would like everyone now to back off(but for making monetary donations), it ain't gonna happen. We are owed the truth.
First let me say as a lawyer the writer is taking many liberties. All of what he proposed is in response to pure conjecture. I applaud Joe for not commenting because the terms like lottery, and monster sounds like a set up, or this lawyer is just ignorant. One point I agree with is that the Pastor needs to clear up the confusion about the account. Who and why are the executors. What will the money be used for? The Bank is being seen as sort of a villain here and actually the Pastor is the only one responsible for the advent of the account and should also be held responsible to rest concerns, or make appropriate changes to the account, to do so.
People use charity as a form of grief. They just want to help. The Pastor more than likely didn’t consider the issues coming forth now via the court of public opinion. People are allowed to be wrong. Joe please petition the Pastor to clear up the concern. Please also take the bank off the hook, they did nothing wrong period. As the moderator you can help steer the “flavor” of any post. We have enough pain and negative influences currently. Bank bashing, Lawyer posturing and The Pastors Monday morning quarterback really have no place in the whole scheme of things. Less problems and conspiracy theories and more solutions please.
Ray
9:09 AM
there was an adult home in the house. now shut your trap
I am sure that once the Sheriff has his case together, questions will be answered. We are vested in this emotionally so it is natural to have questions, but personally I dont feel entitled to speedy explanations. The speculations are going too far.
A family needs to heal, children need to heal, and a precious one needs to be laid to rest.
People feel the need to give, to do something. There are many ways to do this proactively. And if some want an educational fund made avaialble or funds for counseling, I think this a grand idea. The story of these children sounds tragic and within their lives a horrible cycle seems to be repeating itself. If just one of them can be free of it, we have bettered society. What better way than in the memory of their sister, someone who society itself failed.
You all (most) are crazy. Let this family heal. Why would the aunt want the children harmed? Or if she didn't care as 10:05 suggests, why did she adopt them all.
To Rob
As an attorney, I would think that you of all people should know to get the facts before slandering people and calling them monsters.
I did not know that there are so many perfect people in this World. "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." We all live in glass houses! This could have happened to any of our families. Stop bashing the aunt and let the family grieve. The only ones who know the full story are the family, law enforcement and GOD. Everyone should stop gossiping and judging the aunt. God will judge everyone involved one day including those who are gossiping and spreading lies.
Why don't you all stop speculating and wait to see what the family has to say, instead of just bashing them and making assunptions? There are facts that you don't know, guaranteed.
Paula, you obviously have no children!! I am sick and tired of monsters having more rights than American citizens. Slander? This animal was a known child molester!!!!! Anyone who kills a child is a monster and I for one commend this attorney for having compassion for the victim. As far as I am concerned the "family" this little girl had gave her no chance at leading a good life and one that any little girl deserves. The "guardian" should be prosecuted as well!!!
To Anonymous 11:01
I do have children. If you read the comments the lawyer made, he wasn't calling Leggs a monster. I totally agree, Leggs is a monster!! I understand your anger but please read everything and get all the facts before you accuse me of defending the real monster.
Wicomico Department of Social Services
410-713-3900
For the love of humanity, what ever "wrong doings" this aunt may have had. Don't you think she is paying the ultimate price? The pastor set the account up, not the aunt. I'm almost positive that family is such a state of devastation that they are numb and possibly not even able to make decisions such as an account. Please let this family mourn and place Sarah to rest.
I won't read the comments here I just have to say that placing the children in protective custody could be another tragedy...
11:01 please arm yourself with the facts and re-read if you don't understand the first time. This going for a pound of flesh is not helping anyone. The writer was referring to the author of the thread calling the aunt a monster. This is getting crazy folks.
WGMD 92.7 radio is now reporting that the Aunt was not at home during the abduction, but the "grandfather" was there.
If you call that Number Anonymous 11:12 you are told to call the customer service number. If I was trying to avoid doing the right thing I would not have been to their office multiple times. Please understand I am just frustrated by the time pursuing my case when there are true offenders of the system.
The great tragedy here is that so many people failed Sarah.
Where were her parents? Where were Leggs' family members? If I was related to a pedophile I would warn anyone they dated about it- it would help protect Leggs from himself as well as the children. Why did the aunt invite a sex offender into her house?
Now I'm not condoning a witchhunt here, I'm sure all of those people feel like crap and they should.
Sadly, the only people that didn't fail Sarah was the Sheriff's office (who had visited Leggs 7 times in the past year to make sure he was compliant), the people who went out to search for her and the community. It's too bad our help was called for too late...
Anonymous 9:09am: If there was an adult in the home then why was it another family member who came to check on the children Wednesday morning found that Sarah was missing? Why would a family member feel it necessary to check on the kids if they had supervision? That makes no sense. And if this family member that came to check on the kids was any kind of decent then why weren't the kids with them if they knew they were home alone. I am sorry but, this family sound like they are VERY irresponsible. I will personally be calling social services. This is a family that allowed a registered sex offender into their home, showed them where the key was and now they are climbing all over each other to get money. It is sickening. The saddest part of it all is that poor girl probably died thinking that no one in this world loved her. May you rest in peace Sarah, you poor little angel
While I know it is easy to instantly want to blame Sarah's aunt (I have been struggling with this myself) I have also been able to look at myself. I am a single mother, and do enjoy going out with my friends every once in awhile. If, in fact, she was out at the bar, and this wasn't a regular occurrence, then I see no problem with that. It just happened to be the worst night to do so. I know that if, God forbid, something happened to my daughter while in the care of a family member because I was out, I wouldn't want people to judge me because in my case that is the exception, not the rule.
Emotions are very high right now, and alot of anger is being released as expected, People please try to refrain from all the negative comments and remember this was a beautiful 11 year old girl who has perrished from the acts of a criminal, that being said as Sheriff Lewis and Davis Ruark said this is an ongoing investigation and further charges could be forth coming. When the investigation is complete everyone will have more answers to their questions and conserns but to that now could and would interfere with this investigation and cause this case to be compromised in the criminal proceedings in court. PLEASE respect this and understand as hard as it is to do. Thank You!
L.E.O.
The first two things his lawyer will do are to go for a change in venue and try to suppress his criminal history so as it can not be presented at trial.
11:51 AM,
As a parent, if my family had all got up in the morning, and one child was not around, I would go and look to see where that child was at, what is so hard to understand about that? As far as the matter of "climbing all over eachother for money" you are way off base. The fund was originally set up for the funeral, the family didn't ask for it, it was the understanding that if there was any money left over, it would go to the other childrens education expenses. The aunt, nor any other family member has any control over the money. An attourney has control over any such funds. You and everyone else should know your facts before making accusations. I hope when these accusations are all cleared up, you spend as much time on here apologizing and retracting your statements as you did writing them.
I hope that none of you ever get put into a situation where the public feels the need to blame you for something bad thats happened. If the Aunt had any idea TJ would come in her house and take her niece I am sure she would have never left her home and changed all of the locks. I knew TJ through school and saw him at bars over the years. I knew he was strange, but never thought he was capable of what he's accused of doing to Sarah. I do believe he is guilty, but I am also surprised he's that sick. Anyway, I feel bad for Sarah's aunt. I can't imagine how stressful it is to take care of 6 or 7 kids. I have 3 and I need to go out for a drink once in awhile too. I can't believe the amount of people in our community that have so much bad to say about someone they have never met. I think all parents at times make bad decisions that could result in something tragic happening. Luckily most of the time nothing goes wrong. It could be as simple as hiring a 13 y.o. babysitter who ends up leaving the stove on and burning the house down. I'm sure all of you would again blame that on the parents for allowing a 13y.o. to babysit. Even though at 13 they can legally babysit. Some people are just so bored and have nothing going on in their lives that they feel the need to create drama to make their lives more exciting. They act like they're so perfect and think that its ok to talk trash about a woman who just lost her niece. I am quite sure the aunt feels enough guilt and is going through hell right now without the whole community condemning her. Please have a heart people and leave this family alone!!! For the record: I do not know any memeber of this family. I just read this blog daily and keep my comments to myself. But it gets overwhelming to try to read comments about a subject when all I end up reading is comments trashing a family that has just lost a child.
anonn 9:40 actually I do investigate any person that is brought into my children's lives. Including the teachers, 4H members, girl scout affiliates, their friends family members that may be around my child, and any one else that comes in contact with my children. I do not allow anyone to transport my children to or from events because there are too many mothers and fathers that can't keep a cell phone from their ears and I feel a phone call can wait until I am safely parked somewhere. Maybe I value my children more than many but if I fail them that is one failure I would never be able to make up or forgive myself for.
I go on all field trips or if for some reason I cannot go I am sure my children as well as their teachers know my child is to stay with the teacher at all times. My children do not spend the night at other's homes, but are more than welcome to have sleep overs here because I know I will protect my child and anyone elses child with my life, I cannot say any one else would do the same.
So I guess your assumptions are wrong anon 9:40. Apparently there are people, like me, that will do everything in our power to keep our children and even the children of others safe when ever possible.
Stop all of the badley comementing on Sarah's aunt the little sister did not know that Leggs was going to hurt her big sister. all of these rude comments on her aunt needs to stop that are just not nice.!!!
There are many kinds of lawyers. And being one does not necessarily give you more credibility. In fact, I would take anything a lawyer said with a grain of salt. Especially one from Balt. (I know he said he was from Hebron). You sound like many of the others posting on here and just introduced yourself as a lawyer to gain some kind of status or whatever. Go chase an ambulance...oh, that's what you are doing.
9:40...as to your question about background checks on everybody.
I am a single mother of 2 wonderful children, a 16 year old girl and a 10 year old boy. I can honestly say that I am constantly looking up the names of any new friends I meet (male or female) on The Mayland Sex Offender site. I also look the same names up on maryland Judiciary Case Search for any other criminal history. I do this frequently and in most cases it usually only takes a few minutes. I do this to protect my children and to protect myself. I have NEVER brought a man I have dated around my children without looking him up first. Why? Not only to protect us from sexual predetors but I also want to make sure the man I am dating has not been arrested for assaulting any other women or children in his life. Further more I want to make sure I am not bringing a thief into my home since I have worked hard to fill my home with the valuable possessions my family loves.
We live in a decade of computers and internet which is great because it puts valuable information like this right at our fingertips with just a couple of clicks. Therefore, my question to you is why wouldn't a mother, grandmother or guardian take just 2simple minutes to do a background check if it means protecting there family???? It takes longer to shave your legs-you do that before a date right? :)
Let Sarah in Peace.. Those involved will get what is coming to them. One way or another... May GOD condemn those at fault The baby needs peace, not more torment.
5:48
I am with you there.I have checked sex offender registries ever since I became a mother.If I were a single mother,I would check someone out before I dated him.I might be paranoid but what good is the registry if people do not utilize them?
If the aunt was out that night maybe Leggs saw her and saw this as an opportunity to get back at her for the break up or bc she talked to another man or just as an opportunity bc she wasn't there with the kids. She would have no idea. Just a thought...
I've said it over and over the timeline doesn't add up but I don't think this woman is evil. We also don't know why they broke up. Maybe she figured out what kind of person he was.
debeachgirl
10:05 you are just a total a$$. If you don't know the whole story don't speculate. But to be as much a monster as all the nay sayers and put the aunt out there that had nothing to do with this is just wrong.
So how many chances is society willing to give this family to successfully raise these children? By my count, this was strike 2 - and it was a biggie. Sure our politicians let us down by watering down laws, judges let us down by imposing light sentences, and occasionally, we may feel that a talented defense attorney has let us down when a sex offender doesn't get the sentence we feel he deserves. But the cycle of violence against children also relies on the seemingly abundant supply of adults that seem oh so willing to bring dangerous people into their children's lives. TJ Leggs was one of the most well-known sex offenders on the shore. Joe, you even did a story on him, with a picture, on December 2, 2008, right? The man is listed on the sex offender registry for the world to see. What else do we need to do - Should we put a blinking light on the heads of sex offenders next so that people will finally get the point? What about this - make it a felony for a registered sex offender to be within 10 feet of a child under 18. If another adult knowingly helps someone violate this, make that a crime as well. The sex offender registry was not invented so that we all can know who to sneer and give dirty looks at in grocery store. It was invented to warn people of danger. Let's all start using the tools we have been given - be a part of the solution, not the problem. Again, my OPINION. - Rob D.
And as for the personal attacks against me - and others - here on this blog, these are examples of a fallacy of logic known as "ad hominem," literally, "attacking the man." This occurs when a claim or argument is rejected on the basis of some irrelevant fact about the person presenting the argument. Thinking people recognize these pot shots when they see them. - Rob D.
Post a Comment