Toddler who rode bike off roof, dies

Hellertown Mom wrote:

I saw an aerial photo of the roof -- it was a large, flat surface over several buildings. I wonder if any parent or other adult knew the kids were up there?

I saw that too. Did you also notice all the toys on the porch? I wonder how many other children played up there as well?

I was a young, single mom for years. I managed to work to support my kids,and never lost one off a roof. Yes, that age is a tough one.They get into everything.You sneeze, and they're off in that split second. Accidents do happen, I've had a few myself. That being said, there's a level to these "accidents" that start at "oh, that kid" to "Where the hell was this child's parent". The worst mishap we I ever had at with my kids is my one daughter cut off her entire ponytail with a child's safety scissors, you know those blunt ended ones that usually won't even cut paper! My one son was a little monkey, and my house was always funny looking because I had to proof it so he couldn't climb on anything. There is a point where yes accidents happen, then, there's neglect.Her baby had enough time to make his little way onto the ROOF! And then ride his bike around up there! There were toys up there for crying out loud! And yes the landlord shouldn't have had anyone living there. They are both responsible, but the mom is the most responsible for what happened. I just hope that little baby is an angel watching over all the other neglected kids.

its a shame the only tears over this are heard in Mexico.

One less future welfare recipient.
I'm sure mom will pop out two or three more kids with three different dad's to make up for her "loss".

Some of us come to these sites to find out what happened. don't judge us either. we don't have all day to read all the different papers and news stations.

Jay wrote:

<quoted text> Pray for the parents ???? Screw them ! This was a total case of NEGLECT ! They should think and have to deal with this for the rest of their lives. An accident is one thing but my bet is that the parent(s) let the kid out there because they don't have the patience or capability of raising a kid . F@#K them ! Next you will be wanting to set up a support fund for those poooooor parents. Lets see,...a few tears , and a sad story ? Maybe I can get some money for some more drugs ! Pray my as$. They never should have had kids in the first place. The kids probably better off now than when he was living with his own parent(s).

NO, I'm not interested in setting up a support fund. This woman will regret this for the rest of her life. Then when she dies she will stand in judgement before God. We all will. It's a very sad situation but bad comments don't help. I hope you don't hold on to bitterness the rest of your life.

ann wrote:

First of all - what kind of parent lets their 22month old child out of their site,

Do you have children?

If so, did you ever put the child down for a nap, and didn't stay in the room watching the whole time?

Did you ever leave the child watching a video, while you ran to the bathroom (ahhh...the luxury of actually having PRIVACY for just once while you attend to your bodily functions) or put a load of laundry in the wash?

Quite simply, it is not possible to watch your child every minute. Unless of course you only have one...then it MIGHT be possible.

and then letting him ride a bike on a roof - that is pure insanity

I'd definitely agree with that! The picture I saw on the news last night actually showed a rather shaky looking stockade fence on the roof, which to me indicates that the roof was used commonly for people to go outside. Which in and of itself is not all that uncommon in urban areas...but the bike...um...BAD move, even if the parent is standing right there!

beth resident wrote:

how do you know the door was not locked and the child unlocked it himself, this is the age of discovery. And parents do not always have their eyes on their children 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This is a very sad case, not a neglect case. I feel sorry for the mother as this was a trgic accident.

Cuz if you read the artical the mother said the door was wide open and he went out on the bike.

Noname in Bethlehem wrote:

I hope they donated his organs. May as well help someone other than themselves.

Yeah, everything but the brain....

Mom of 4 wrote:

<quoted text>
I'd definitely agree with that! The picture I saw on the news last night actually showed a rather shaky looking stockade fence on the roof, which to me indicates that the roof was used commonly for people to go outside. Which in and of itself is not all that uncommon in urban areas...but the bike...um...BAD move, even if the parent is standing right there!

That fence was put up by the landlord (SLUMlord) the day AFTER the child fell off. There was no fence there the day it happened... The landlord put it up after the child fell to try to please codes officials. That was after he went to all the tenants and demanded rent... then was told that they had to be evicted because the building was condemed (since 2004) and these tenants tell media they have been living there since 2006 when he bought the building!! How nice of him. The day after the accident I believe it was WFMZ tried to interview him.... while he was up on the roof erecting that fence....

eve wrote:

what happens now a days is this girls have baby after baby and it walways wind up the oldest child has to take care of the young ones i seen it twice on the bus the other day this woman came on around 25 i would say with 4 kids and the youngest i would say was a little over 1 pregnant and ready to pop another one called for the oldest girl around 8 to hold her little brother. welfare needs to put an end to all these women having baby after baby and the working people have to pay for them its a shame how people are today.wants kids to collect welfare and the hell with what the kids do.that why so many innocent children get hurt. there alot of people out there that want children that can't have them, than we have idiots that do have children and let them die cuz of being stupid and not watching them. i'm sure nothing is gonna happen to the mother other than a slap on the hand like everyone else gets. that why this world is like this

Say what?

Change the World wrote:

<quoted text>NO, I'm not interested in setting up a support fund. This woman will regret this for the rest of her life. Then when she dies she will stand in judgement before God. We all will. It's a very sad situation but bad comments don't help. I hope you don't hold on to bitterness the rest of your life.

Sorry, Really.. I'm not a bitter person BUT, I do get tired of hearing people say " Those poor parents " and poor me for things that could have been avoided by their on stupidty and actions. I've done stupid stuff and lived through it . But when I did and made bad decisions and something bad did happen ? I had no one to blame but myself. Seems like alot of people like to put the blame on somene else or" pull the race card out. Yes, they caught me with 10 million dollars cash and 1,500 pounds of cocaine but he only arrested me because I'm black or hispanic. O.K

thinking and typing wrote:

<quoted text>
Cuz if you read the artical the mother said the door was wide open and he went out on the bike.

Which Article I have not read anywhere that she stated she left the door wide open

beth resident wrote:

<quoted text>
Which Article I have not read anywhere that she stated she left the door wide open

It was in the original artical that was posted on the 2nd i think. I can't find the artical. The only thing that comes up is the new updated one that says he died. The artical stated that she said. She did not notice the baby woke up from his nap and got on his bike and rode out the open door onto the roof

Amanda D wrote:

<quoted text>
True enough! But I just saw on CBS (PHILADELPHIA news station)that the child was left UNATTENDED!!!! Which would kind of explain why neighbors were looking after the child afterwards, with the parent/s nowhere in sight.
It seems to me that the mom/parents/ responsible adult should be held accountable!
I agree that the landlord is more of a "slumlord", but at the same point, if the parent/s aren't going to be held responsible, then neither should the landlord.
I'll tell you right now that if I had a door in my apaprtment leading right to a roof, I'd demand that the landlord put a deadbolt on that door. If it hasn't been installed within a week, you'd better bet your ass I'd do it myself.
As rotten as I think the landlord is, I don't think a lawsuit against him is feasible at this point, because that building being condemned is a matter of public knowledge anyway. That doesn't mean that he had the right to have renters in there, but said renters might want to check into such things before moving into that building.
Personally, I think it all boils down to a lack of personal responsibility, which seems to be happening more and more these days!

Hi Amanda.

The child was unattended, yet neighbors were looking after the child (afterwards) and the parents were nowhere in site? Is that correct?

Is it possible that mom asked someone to keep an eye on the child while child was napping?

Either/or, yes the last present responsible adult should have been more mindful of the child and if illicit activities were the reasoning behind the child NOT being properly attended to, may I suggest a jail sentence?

REGARDLESS of whether the childs death was homicide, manslaughter, negligence, accidental death or natural death.....

The SLUMLORD needs to have HIS/HER a#s hauled before a judge.

Amanda wrote: ""I'll tell you right now that if I had a door in my apaprtment leading right to a roof, I'd demand that the landlord put a deadbolt on that door.""

I'll tell you right now, if I had a landlord whose building was CONDEMNED yet still sticking his hand out for money, he probably wouldn't give a fcuk if I demanded anything. If I could ill afford such housing, I probably wouldn't be able to put locks on myself either. Presuming I knew how.(Which she probably didn't)

A lawsuit may not be feasible, but should proceed. Also, it might be time he gets out of the rental business.

dumbfounded wrote:

excuse me Hannah 2, but if I let my kid out to play in traffic and a car hits him, it is not the state or the townships fault for the road condition, it is mine, where is your brain. I am sure the landlord did not tell her to let her kid use the roof as a play ground. HEELLLLOOOO!!!!! Wake up, the mother or whoever had the child is SSSSOOOOO the blame. Give me a break.
Always put the blame on someone else. And then I am sure she will probably try to sue on top of it yet. What a joke!!!!!!!! She needs to go to jail.

Where is the comparison? If a car hits your child either (1) you were not watching him and he was in the path of the car - your fault OR (2) the driver of the car did something wrong and hit your child. In this case the mother should have been watching her child but she never should have been living in those unsafe conditions to begin with. What are you missing? THE BUILDING WAS CONDEMNED!! The scumbag slumlord was collecting rent 2 years ago and he only cared about making money. He definitely shares the blame here and should be fined bigtime by the city

thinking and typing wrote:

<quoted text>
It was in the original artical that was posted on the 2nd i think. I can't find the artical. The only thing that comes up is the new updated one that says he died. The artical stated that she said. She did not notice the baby woke up from his nap and got on his bike and rode out the open door onto the roof

Here is a copy and paste from an article from the 4th in the Reading Eagle "Police said the fall, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m., apparently was an accident.

A neighbor, Pedro Cruz, said he was sitting on his front porch when he heard screaming next door.

"I thought it was someone fighting, like a domestic dispute," Cruz said.

Then he saw the mother of the child run out of the house calling for help.

I have seen many people claim things but until I see an article where she admits more than an error of judgement by leaving the door open I will say it is an unfortunate accident. I have a 20 year old son who has unlocked the door handle and deadbolt on the door at 3 years old, while I was taking a shower and thankfully because my neighbor was aware he was in the hall no harm came to him. Toddlers are always exploring.

At least SOMETHING good is going to come out of it.
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx...

Reading codes officials told City Council on Wednesday that they are changing the way they keep track of condemned buildings - such as the one where a toddler fell from a roof last week and later died - but the process is slow because of inaccurate and incomplete records.

The meeting was part of the city's ongoing effort to crack down on landlords who ignore city housing codes.

However, the Monday death of 22-month-old Joshua O. Garcia, who fell from a second-story roof at 620 N. Front St. while riding his tricycle July 2, added urgency to the discussion.

Councilman Dennis M. Sterner said the city needs to take dramatic action against the worst landlords.

"That would make a big influence on the others," he said.

Codes manager Jatinder Khokhar agreed.

"It would be a message to the rest that we are not tolerating this any more," he said.

City officials said last week that landlord Jose F. Munoz bought the apartment building at 620 N. Front in 2006 and began moving in families, although the building had been condemned three times in 2004 and the violations remained unrepaired.

Among them was the lack of a railing on the roof, city officials said. A door from two apartments opened onto the roof, and an enclosed fire escape led down from the edge of the roof, officials said.

Khokhar and codes Administrator Brad Reinhart told council that one of the changes to track condemned properties is programming the city computer system to automatically send inspectors a formal complaint about each property every three months.

The complaint would require inspectors to visit the building, check its condition and log it into the records.