LAUDERHILL, Florida (AP) -- A 12-year-old boy beat a toddler to death with a baseball bat because she was crying while he was trying to watch TV, authorities said.

The boy, who was not identified, was arrested Saturday on first-degree murder charges, Lauderhill police spokesman Lt. Mike Cochran said.

He was arraigned in juvenile court Sunday and remained in custody, but it was not clear if he had an attorney or if anyone else would be charged in the girl's death.

Cochran said the boy confessed to authorities that he was home alone Friday baby-sitting a 10-year-old girl and the 17-month-old girl and became angry when the toddler began to cry. The relationship between the three was not clear.

At some point, an adult called 911. The girl, Shaloh Joseph, was rushed to a hospital where she was pronounced dead of blunt force trauma to the head, Cochran said.

The Miami Herald identified the boy's mother as Guerla Joseph. A telephone listing for a Guerla Joseph in Fort Lauderdale had been disconnected.

The case is not the first in Florida where a boy so young has been charged in the death of a child. Lionel Tate was 12 when he beat and stomped to death a playmate half his age in Florida.

At the time, Tate was the youngest person in modern U.S. history to receive a life prison sentence. His attorneys initially said he accidentally killed 6-year-old Tiffany Eunick in 1999 while imitating pro wrestling moves.

Tate was convicted as an adult of first-degree murder, but the conviction was thrown out in 2004, and Tate pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/01/06/infant.killed.ap/index.html

Such uplifiting stories this morning.

LAUDERHILL, Florida (AP) -- A 12-year-old boy beat a toddler to death with a baseball bat because she was crying while he was trying to watch TV, authorities said.

The boy, who was not identified, was arrested Saturday on first-degree murder charges, Lauderhill police spokesman Lt. Mike Cochran said.

He was arraigned in juvenile court Sunday and remained in custody, but it was not clear if he had an attorney or if anyone else would be charged in the girl's death.

Cochran said the boy confessed to authorities that he was home alone Friday baby-sitting a 10-year-old girl and the 17-month-old girl and became angry when the toddler began to cry. The relationship between the three was not clear.

At some point, an adult called 911. The girl, Shaloh Joseph, was rushed to a hospital where she was pronounced dead of blunt force trauma to the head, Cochran said.

The Miami Herald identified the boy's mother as Guerla Joseph. A telephone listing for a Guerla Joseph in Fort Lauderdale had been disconnected.

The case is not the first in Florida where a boy so young has been charged in the death of a child. Lionel Tate was 12 when he beat and stomped to death a playmate half his age in Florida.

At the time, Tate was the youngest person in modern U.S. history to receive a life prison sentence. His attorneys initially said he accidentally killed 6-year-old Tiffany Eunick in 1999 while imitating pro wrestling moves.

Tate was convicted as an adult of first-degree murder, but the conviction was thrown out in 2004, and Tate pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/01/06/infant.killed.ap/index.html


Where the hell were the parents when the kid was beating up his Sister? thats just sick.. I am glad the Law is doing something about I mean a 12 year old Boy shouldn't beat BABY with a Bat.. cuz she was crying.. People are sick these days that just makes me mad!!!:mad:

Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE.

If a 12 year old is old enough to commit such an evil crime as to beat a baby to death with a baseball bat because she was interrupting his TV-show by crying then he is old enough to held responsible for his actions and receive a LONG, LONG jail term imo.

I'm sure though under the Young Offenders Act this kid will get off lightly as usual. Afterall, according to the law, "he's too young to realize what he's doing". Yeaaah right!

It's about time they start trying these kids the same as adults. You can't tell me a 12 year old these days doesn't know that taking a baseball bat to someone's head isn't going to probably kill them.

Yeah, lots of real fun stories this morning - 12 year olds beating toddlers, guys killing and cooking their girlfriends...

Nothing like starting out the day with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Such uplifiting stories this morning.
Indeed.

Where the hell were the parents when the kid was beating up his Sister? thats just sick.. I am glad the Law is doing something about I mean a 12 year old Boy shouldn't beat BABY with a Bat.. cuz she was crying.. People are sick these days that just makes me mad!!!:mad:

no wonder that such kids these days have no respect for anyone or anything. i don't give a **** if it was a 5, 8 or 12 year old- the age of responsibility begins not at home but the moment you are born into this world. that boy isn't just a disgrace- he is despicable as well. he deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison. :mad:

Such uplifiting stories this morning.

NOT!! :angryfire

Where the hell were the parents when the kid was beating up his Sister? thats just sick.. I am glad the Law is doing something about I mean a 12 year old Boy shouldn't beat BABY with a Bat.. cuz she was crying.. People are sick these days that just makes me mad!!!:mad:

the parents are just as much accountable for what had happened, not just their own son. if they had kept an eye on him and made sure he wasn't doing something bad, -which he did, then perhaps their daughter would've been alive.
child killers-be it young or old- have absolutely no sympathy from me.

no wonder that such kids these days have no respect for anyone or anything. i don't give a **** if it was a 5, 8 or 12 year old- the age of responsibility begins not at home but the moment you are born into this world. that boy isn't just a disgrace- he is despicable as well. he deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison. :mad:

Agree with you there!! 12 year old or not he needs to learn his lesson and the Law!! I mean , was the parents at home when it happend? Cuz if they were they should have stoped there son by beating there daughter. yeah he should be in prison for the rest of his life cuz if it was a growing up like our age we would get arrested and put in prison. I think the kid should be the same way ! because he know's he did wrong, and should be punished.( sorry spelling)? :lol:

Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE.

If a 12 year old is old enough to commit such an evil crime as to beat a baby to death with a baseball bat because she was interrupting his TV-show by crying then he is old enough to held responsible for his actions and receive a LONG, LONG jail term imo.

you put the words right in my mouth. bravo! :clap

Agree with you there!! 12 year old or not he needs to learn his lesson and the Law!! I mean , was the parents at home when it happend? Cuz if they were they should have stoped there son by beating there daughter. yeah he should be in prison for the rest of his life cuz if it was a growing up like our age we would get arrested and put in prison. I think the kid should be the same way ! because he know's he did wrong, and should be punished.( sorry spelling)? :lol:

it didn't say in the article whether or not the parents were around at the time this had happened, though i very much doubt it. there are so many mentally screwed up people, what on earth possessed this kid to do something like this? either he was jealous of the baby- which if he was, then he is an arrogant little ****- or he has mental issues

it didn't say in the article whether or not the parents were around at the time this had happened, though i very much doubt it. there are so many mentally screwed up people, what on earth possessed this kid to do something like this? either he was jealous of the baby- which if he was, then he is an arrogant little ****- or he has mental issues


Oh ok. well if the parents left him alone with the baby they are wrong there .. they should have left him with a babysitter and not alone with the kid. he probley had mental issues.... and also probley jealous of the baby cuz usually the new borns get the most attention then the oldest ones because they are just born and need there parents help exc. but the 12 year old should have NEVER NEVER hit the baby with the bat and killed her. I hope the parents are proud of there son.. for what he did i hope they dont baby him after this. i'd be really mad at him if he was my son i would let him pay the price. ( in my opionion).. :mad:

Oh ok. well if the parents left him alone with the baby they are wrong there .. they should have left him with a babysitter and not alone with the kid. he probley had mental issues.... and also probley jealous of the baby cuz usually the new borns get the most attention then the oldest ones because they are just born and need there parents help exc. but the 12 year old should have NEVER NEVER hit the baby with the bat and killed her. I hope the parents are proud of there son.. for what he did i hope they dont baby him after this. i'd be really mad at him if he was my son i would let him pay the price. ( in my opionion).. :mad:

if i was the mother of that boy, then first of all i'd disown him and so he'd having nothing to do with me or my family for the rest of our lives and two, i'll send him to prison or have him locked up in a mental hospital

if i was the mother of that boy, then first of all i'd disown him and so he'd having nothing to do with me or my family for the rest of our lives and two, i'll send him to prison or have him locked up in a mental hospital


I would do the same thing.. I would put him away in a mental hospital. agreed there !!

A 12 year old simply isnt old enough to take care of such young children, this shows total irresponsibility on the part of whoever the adults involved were, what a horrible tragedy! I'm not saying the12 year old isnt responsible for his actions but, he never should have been put in charge of other children, at his age, in the first place.

Please refrain from nasty thread titles and sensational stories in general. TJ put a stop to this last year, as it had gotten out of hand. SitcomsOnline isn't 'News of the Weird' or whatever that site is called. In this particular case, at least make the thread title easier on the eyes. Thanks.

Um, a 12-year old babysat me when I was five, and she took very good care of me. Not ALL 12-year olds are irreesponsible, immmature children. There are a lot of responsible, mature YOUNG ADULTS at the age 12.

Please refrain from nasty thread titles and sensational stories in general. TJ put a stop to this last year, as it had gotten out of hand. SitcomsOnline isn't 'News of the Weird' or whatever that site is called. In this particular case, at least make the thread title easier on the eyes. Thanks.

janice, if you want me to change the original titles or headlines into something less 'sensationalist' sounding, next time, then ok i'll do it. btw, i didn't write that headline, i didn't come up with that- i just copied and pasted it along with the story, that's all

Um, a 12-year old babysat me when I was five, and she took very good care of me. Not ALL 12-year olds are irreesponsible, immmature children. There are a lot of responsible, mature YOUNG ADULTS at the age 12.

of course. i wasn't going to blame all 12 year olds- its just that at 12, that person is still developing emotionally and that it is some responsibility to place in the hands of a 12 year old looking after a little one. but a 12 year old is still technically speaking a child, no matter what it all depends on how mature he/she is as a person and of whom is willing to face the consequences, but also tries to do the right thing

janice, if you want me to change the original titles or headlines into something less 'sensationalist' sounding, next time, then ok i'll do it. btw, i didn't write that headline, i didn't come up with that- i just copied and pasted it along with the story, that's all
I know you didn't write the headline, and I changed it. That's not the only issue. Content is the problem, as well. That guy cooking his girlfriend or whatever, no way is that story fit for this site. Chit Chat isn't a police blotter where we find the most outrageous stories to post. As I said, last year, TJ put a stop to that, as it had gotten way out of control. Those types of headlines/stories are ugly and disgusting and have no place on Chit Chat. The headline of this story was awful. The story itself is borderline, so I'm allowing it.

I know you didn't write the headline, and I changed it. That's not the only issue. Content is the problem, as well. That guy cooking his girlfriend or whatever, no way is that story fit for this site. Chit Chat isn't a police blotter where we find the most outrageous stories to post. As I said, last year, TJ put a stop to that, as it had gotten way out of control. Those types of headlines/stories are ugly and disgusting and have no place on Chit Chat. The headline of this story was awful. The story itself is borderline, so I'm allowing it.
I absolutely agree. Some of these stories are just way out there. Nobody wants to read about cooking body parts when they're getting ready to eat dinner. :puke:

the parents are just as much accountable for what had happened, not just their own son. if they had kept an eye on him and made sure he wasn't doing something bad, -which he did, then perhaps their daughter would've been alive.
child killers-be it young or old- have absolutely no sympathy from me.

Well, he could've been babysitting the child or something. You can't watch over a 12 yr old every minute of the day, i'm sure they had no idea he would do this. The boy needs to go to jail for life, any 5 year old can tell you that hitting someone with a baseball bat can hurt and kill someone. He's just as much a criminal as a 20 year old or 60 year old who would do that.

I absolutely agree. Some of these stories are just way out there. Nobody wants to read about cooking body parts when they're getting ready to eat dinner. :puke:


These type of threads are disgusting and have no business on a PG-13 site. I swear, I hate to say this, but I am really noticing people caring more and more about their stupid post totals than contribute anything positive at all. These stories are ****ing useless.

I know you didn't write the headline, and I changed it. That's not the only issue. Content is the problem, as well. That guy cooking his girlfriend or whatever, no way is that story fit for this site. Chit Chat isn't a police blotter where we find the most outrageous stories to post. As I said, last year, TJ put a stop to that, as it had gotten way out of control. Those types of headlines/stories are ugly and disgusting and have no place on Chit Chat. The headline of this story was awful. The story itself is borderline, so I'm allowing it.

okay, point well made janice :) .i'll take that on board from now on