: MediaTakeOut.com just got some disturbing news. Apparently a 49 year old Baltimore woman named Jerri Gray was arrested for abusing her 14 year old son. The son, 14 year old Alexander Draper (pictured above) weighed 555 lbs.
But there’s more. MediaTakeOut.com learned that South Carolina officials had been investigating Jerri of abusing neglecting her son’s health. But before authorities could remove the boy, Jerri went on the run.
And it gets worse. Authorities are now saying that Alexander is at a "stage of critical health risk," but wouldn't provide and more details about his medical condition beyond his weight. Hopefully, they can find him some help.
Thats sad, she as a parent *** have let him eat everything and anything. That fast food catches up with you when your young and not active. She probably was cooking all that fried chicken, greens, macaroni and cheese, etc... No offense fatty food is good, but not all the time. Gotta remember that *** will catch up with you. Hope he is okay..
THAT MAKES NO SENSE. I MEAN HE IS 14 HE IS OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER BUT FROM THE LOOKS OF HIM I ASSUME HE HAS BEEN OVER EATING SINCE HE WAS VERY SMALL...SO I WILL GIVE IT TO HIM THAT MAYBE THIS IS THE ONLY THING HE KNOWS.
SHE ON THE OTHER HAND CLEARLY DOESN'T LOVE HIM WHEN YOU ALLOW A CHILD TO GET TO THAT SIZE....YOU HAVE TO SAY NO AND BE THE PARENT AND SHOW YOUR CHILD RIGHT FROM WRONG.
@good_downsouth-EXACTLY!!! {WAVING}
@TOPIC- She needs counseling and not prison!!! Jail isn't going to help this woman or her son. They need HELP FROM THE SYSTEM!!!She need to know the food chain patterns and lay a schedule on what her son can and cannot eat.Prison is not going to help this woman or her son. He might really start eating more if the mom is incarcerated because of STRESS.The JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS SO QUICK TO LOCK PEOPLE UP WITHOUT THE PROPER HELP THEY NEED{MONEY HUNGRY JUDICIAL SYSTEM }!!!I REALLY HOPE SHE GETS THE PROPER PARENTING HELP & HE GETS THE PROPER NUTRITION & EXCERSIZE THAT HE NEEDS!!!
I hope that she get him to a hospital QUICK! Alexander could die from a massive heart attack or stroke at any time.He isnt a happy kid,i feel sorry for him.his mother is selfish as hell,She is at fault for his size and i hope that the cops get her. She is just as bad as the Minnesota mother on the run with her 13 year old critically ill son who has cancer.Both mothers need to be arrested.
Wow...and why arrest the mom? I bet a lot of this eating is self induced....he's going in the kitchen and eating even when she doesnt know it..she has to change her whole mind set on grocery shopping--how much and what items...
Eating disorders are as hard to control as a drug addiction...its the same thing---just a different drug..
Lock her up and throw away the key! COMMON SENSE should tell someone that their child being that big or eating that much is not natural or healthy! A parent's job is to do what is best for their child and allowing their child to be obese is NOT in a child's best interest! She is neglectful, a bad mother and this child would be better off with this woman out of his life so that he can hopefully find good health.
That's a shame! Why would she want her son to be subjective to verbal abuse by his peers? Don’t' you care about his health and future! Self control obviously isn't important to her! I wouldn’t care how hard he cries for food no means no! Chain them cabinets down. At this point it might be beyond control. This boy will be miserable (that’s if he isn’t by now) if they don’t do something about it.
@ DirtyJokes, I definitely get your point and wholeheartedly agree, but the difference is that the other mother is claiming that her refusal to get her son treatment is a matter of religious choice. (And you know how sticky that subject is considering how this country is "supposed" to be founded on the religious freedom.) Sure race plays a factor in it, since the judicial system is quicker to throw the book at minorities, but it's also going to be harder for them to pursue the case for the mother denying her son treatment because she'll argue it's a violation of their rights.
this is a BIG problem in our community...the Resession made so many schools cut back on physed and parents gotta pay an arm and a leg for lunch now and these hood parents choose the "easy way out" AKA the dollar menu and we're gonna have a generation of FAT WADDLING GREASY LOOKING ***!!parents WAKE UP!!!I'm a parent so I can say that *** there are other options out there!
As for this mother, it IS her fault. Parents shape their children's dietary habits. It's their responsibility to provide their children with healthy foods and to ensure that they are getting the proper nutrients. It's okay to have junk food once in a while but it *** be the bulk of their diet. I may be weird because I'm the only 30 year-old that voluntarily eats grapefruit, beets and cottage cheese, but I thank my mom for giving me healthy snacks instead empty calories. (Don't get me wrong, I LOVE junk but I know when to say when.)
creoles Flag post THE LATE FRED STANFORD ONCE SAID, FAT FOLKS WILL GET VIOLENT IF THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT! SHE WAS TOO AFRAID NOT TO FEED HIM! ***, CUT THE LADY SOME SLACK! HE PROBABLE THREATEN TO SIT ON HER!
All jokes aside, I grew up around a kid like that. When he was 1 he'd throw glass bottles at his mom and grandma b/c he wanted table food. He REFUSED formula and had been since around 7 months. When he was 3, he was 85 pounds. Once he was around 6, they were scared of him. They'd give him what he wanted. Now he plays football. A 16 year old the size of Warren Sapp
@ Dirty69Jokes
Definitely agree that it's a tragedy on both sides. It's a shame that parents inflict their personal beliefs or upbringing on their children, who at the end of the day have no choice in the matter. And for the mother of the boy with leukemia, I'm not understanding how she's claiming it's a matter of religion when she initially allowed him to undergo treatment. If she's using that as her defense, then she would have refused treatment from the beginning. I still wouldn't agree, but at least I'd know she was truly adhering to her personal principles.
@ Nubian & Dirtyjokes - The mother of the boy with cancer is on some 'other stuff'. The religion line is a cop out b/c she's allowed him to r'c treatment all of this time. It's a sad situation in both cases. What will jailing either woman solve (long term)? If the overweight boy becomes a ward of the state is his quality of life really better? Both cases are sad.
This is really not that shocking. Obesity in the black community is at an all time high.Obesity in America period. I do not care about all of America. I do care about our people. this woman and the mother of the white boy who refuses cancer treatments need to sit and simmer in jail for a spell. This is tantamount to homicide. One is overkill the other is neglectful. He can have a heart attack at any given moment. Wow. SMH. killing them slowly and softly with a big mac.
You know what? this is exactly right, I've been saying that for the longest, over feeding your children to the point of obesity should be considered child neglect, no excuse. A child's life is controlled by their parent(s), so whatever they are taught, that's what they learn to do, ppl saying "he's old enough to know what to eat" NO he isnt, this is what he's been fed each and every day, therefore it's what he's become familiar with.
I am a parent myself, and I know not to bring junk into the home because nothing good comes from it, dont buy it = can't eat it!
Wow my best friend and I were discussing this the other day, that these so called mothers that feed all those babies junk food for all day long should be arrested for neglect at the very least but also child endangerment. I was watching something the other day and the baby was 2 and weighed almost 90 pounds, eating plates and plates of food, donuts in the tub & $hit like that. The parents are being irresponsible and neglectful they are producing future SSI dependents, I think jail time is too harsh, but there has to be some type of intervention
COMMON SENSE WOULD CLEARLY SAY THE MOTHER NEEDS HELP!!!SHE IS OVER WEIGHT HERSELF, CONSIDERING HER PICTURE.THERE'S REALLY NO TELLING HOW MUCH SHE WEIGHS AND WHAT MORALS OR FOOD PATTERNS SHE WAS RAISED UNDER.HER BEHAVIOR I'M NOT EXCUSING, BUT SHE NEEDS HELP, SO HER AND HER SON CAN LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE.SHE NEEDS TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE FOOD CHAIN, WEIGHTLOSS,HEALTH,ETC...I DON'T WON'T THE SON TO DIE OR SEE THE MOTHER LOCKED UP BECAUSE SHE IS NOT EDUCATED AND AFTER THEY BOTH GET EDUCATED A SOCIAL WORKER AND/OR A FOOD NUTRITIONIST TO MAKE VISITS TO THE HOME, TO MAKE SURE THEY DOING & EATING THE RIGHT THINGS.
Why must MOST single mothers take on ALL responsibility & then ALL blame when things go wrong?Did she conceive alone?Daddy not being in the household is NO EXCUSE unless he's dead.If, I was her, the cops would have to stop and pick up daddy on the way to jail so he could take up residence in the cell next door.That's the problem.Dad needs to participate in this boy's life. He would have seen this happening. This case should not move forward without BOTH parents to share the blame like they shared the bed!Bet dad would be there then.GO ARREST DADDY TOO!!
Cosigning a lot of the comments here. Thats abuse right there. Concerning the Religion Card being played, thats tricky, but still... We recently learned my Grandmom has cancer. The bad kind. We're worried and praying, but not simply "letting go and letting God", but praying that He will bless *** provide for the surgeons and doctors as well as only He can (and has before).
That's a shame! That is not love, love is making sure that your baby is in the BEST condition. Of course its okay to be a little overweight, but 555 pounds? Gee whiz, what was she feeding him? Nevertheless, she should have had her baby in a proper diet and nutrition program. Apparently she wasn't even taking him to the physician regularly, because I'm pretty sure someone would have had him evaluated and possibly on his way back to good health. Triflin' parents, she need to be locked up. What a disgrace!
@ Arrimative-action, thats very true. Both parents should be held accountable for not properly providing for the kid. During child support hearings, the kids health issues should've been recognized and factored in like, how much is it gonna cost the mother (and therefore the father) to provide a healthy diet for the boy. i dont know when and where this should've been but either the mom should've said something long ago, or the dad, when visiting, shouldve spoke up...
I AGREE IF MOMA GOES TO JAIL THE DADDY SHOULD GO TOO!!!WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT ARE THESE PARENTS THINKING WHEN THEY DO THIS TO THEIR CHILDREN. WHAT IS GOING ON AND IF SHE GOES TO JAIL EVERY CHILD THAT IS OVER WEIGHT, THEIR PARENTS NEED TO GO TO JAIL ALSO IF THIS IS THE CASE. WHY ARE THEY MAKING AN EXAMPLE OUT OF THIS WOMAN? I USED TO WATCH THE TALK SHOWS WITH OVER WEIGHT KIDS AND THEY DID NOT GO TO JAIL. IT'S BECOMING AN EPIDEMIC AND JAIL IS NOT THE ANSWER. WE NEED TO GET TO THE REAL ISSUES AT HAND AND FIGURE OUT WHY THE PARENTS ARE ALLOWING THEIR CHILDREN TO BE OVER WEIGHT AND NOT SEEKING THE PROPER HELP. IS IT BECAUSE OF NO HEALTH INSURANCE, LAZINESS, TRYING TO PLEASE THE CHILD, DEPRESSED, STRESSED ETC…? HE SHOULD BE ACTIVE PLAYING SPORTS OR RUNNING DOING SOMETHING. SOMETHING FAILED SOME WHERE TO CAUSE THIS MOTHER TO BE OBLIVIOUS & NIEVE TO HER CHILDS WEIGHT GAIN? WELL, I HOPE SHE GETS HELP FOR HER & HER SON!!!SAD
THAT'S SAD! it's possible that he has a problem with the functioning of his thyroid gland, as well. many times it goes undetected/untreated. if interested, visit the link below to learn more about thyroid problems and obesity.
http://www.professorshouse.com/family/health/thyroid-problems-obesity.aspx
POOR BOY! I FEEL HIS PAIN. HE IS NOT A NORMAL KID AT ALL. HIS MOTHER SHOULD LOVE AND CARE FOR HIM MORE THAN THIS. HE'S PROBABLY A GOOD CHILD WITH A EATING DISORDER. OR ANOTHER TYPE OF DISORDER THAT SHE ISNT EVEN TRYING TO GET HIM HELP FOR. YES SHE NEED TO GO TO JAIL AND GET COUNCELLING. HOWEVER THERE ARE ALOT OF MOTHERS WHO ARE LETTING THERE KIDS EAT WHAT EVER AND BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT FAT OR RAPIDLY GAINING WEIGHT THEY THINK ITS OK AND ITS NOT OK. YOU HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR THE WELL BEING OF YOUR CHILDREN NO MATTER WHAT SIZE THEY ARE. DONT LET THEM DO WHAT THEY WANT EAT HOWEVER MUCH THEY WANT!
Hold On Wait A Minute let me put some realness in this, Let me get this straight they put a woman in jail because they feel as if she's neglect her son just because he weighs 555lbs Oh No Society is a B**** you mean to tell me all of the kids whose bigger than him and whose youger their parents not in Jail but they want to send a Black Woman to jail "What's going on because all of these obese kids that's walking around on this earth and nothing is being done to their parents so why are they messing with her she needs to get her a good *** lawyer to fight this case and then she need to sue.....
