Darisabel Leanna Baez
April 5, 2006 - April 7, 2008
Another mother has sent her child to God, by allowing
her boyfriend to abuse the child to death. Two year old Darisabel Leanna
Baez is now an Angel because her mother, Neida Baez thought it was more
important to have a man in her life, than to stop the beating her
daughter was being given by Harve Johnson. Using a video game
controller, Harve Johnson beat this beautiful little
girl to death and wouldn't even say why.
"The mother obviously knew that the beating
was occurring and she did nothing to stop the
beating. She didn't have the moral fortitude
to make a 911 call,"
Lt. Ron Comacho
Darisabel was already in critical condition when
the police were called to the home of Neida Baez. Police say that Darisabel
was unresponsive when they arrived at the home on Sunday, April 6, 2008.
Neida told police that her boyfriend had been physically
abusing her daughter for months. On that Sunday, he had become angry and
just started beating her with the game controller and cord. Neida didn't
do anything to help her.
"Unfortunate that someone would get that angry
at a child and abuse the child period …
It's rare and it's a very sad day,"
Lt. Ron Comacho
"She heard the beating take place. said.
Her crime is she did nothing to protect her child."
Detective Dana Ward
Harve and Neida were both arrested and if they would
have made bail, they were legally not allowed to have contact with Darisabel.
On April 7, 2008, Darisabel died as a result of the
beating she was given by Harve. Harve had admitted that he had beat her
with the video game controller, though he would not say why he did it.
Neida said that she had heard her daughter scream while he was beating
her, she didn't do anything to stop him. Darisabel had turned two
years old only two days earlier.
Harve Johnson, who was 26 years old, was charged
with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment in the beginning. After
Darisabel was taken off of life support and died, Harve was charged with
homicide and his bail was set at $200,000.
Neida Baez, who was 19 years old, was charged with
endangering the welfare of a child for failing to help her daughter by
stopping the beating or getting the child help. Neida was taken to jail
and her bond was set at $25,000. and though family members were not willing
to talk to anyone about the case, no one knew if either of them had a lawyer.
On September 5, 2008, both Harve and Neida were arraigned
in court.
Margarita Torres was holding a small, plaster cast
of a child's hand. The hand belongs to her granddaughter, Darisabel. As
she hold the hand she begins to cry:
"I can't believe this is happening to me. She
was so beautiful, so happy. She was a happy baby."
The cast was made the day her granddaughter died.
Margarita says she can't believe her daughter allowed Harve to abuse her
daughter, saying that her daughter loved children, especially her own daughter.
Margarita says that things were fine until Neida
began to date Herve in November and then she was no longer allowed to see
Darisabel:
"I knew something was not right,"
Margarita was with Darisabel when she was taken off
of life support and when she died after that.
Torres was with Darisabel when she died at Hershey
Medical Center after being taken off life support.
"I was praying for a miracle. I said 'God,
give it to me.'"
The Dauphin County Coroner who performed the autopsy
said that he had a hard time finding any part of Darisabel's body that
did not show some sign of trauma.
Darisabel was buried on April 12, 2008 at the Mr.
Rose Cemetery. Her biological father attended her funeral after flying
in from New York.
Update:
A petition filed on January 30, 2009, challenges
the states intention to seek the death penalty against Harve L. Johnson,
who was 27 years years old at that time. The petition says that prosecutors
are not required to question potential jurors about their beliefs or feelings
on the death penalty or mitigating circumstances that would be in
consideration during the penalty phase of his trial
should he actually be convicted.
This monster is also asking the court to throw out
testimony that was given by a forensic pathologist who stated that Darisabel
had been tortured before she was killed. Harve also wasn't to keep evidence
out of court showing that he told a police officer that he had beaten her
pretty bad, with a belt, the day before she died.
It was also revealed that Harve beat her with the
video controller due to be angry that her dirty diaper exploded onto the
carpet while he was spanking her.
For information about preventing child abuse in the
state of New York, click the links below. If they can't help you, ask for
someone who can. NEVER give up looking for help for an abused child!
Call this number
to report child abuse ANY WHERE in the United States!
1-800-4-A-Child
1-800-422-4453
   
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My sincerest appreciation goes out to
Diane Trembly for allowing me to use one
of her beautiful Angels to make the graphics
for this set. Please visit her site,
by clicking the link below, to see all
of her amazing work.
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