Justina Morales
Encyclopedia
Justina Morales was a young girl from the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York, USA who was killed at the age of eight years by her mother's boyfriend, Luis Santiago, on New Year's Eve
in 1995. Morales' body was never found. Her murder case gained notoriety primarily through the New York City
newspapers.
and Nadine Lockwood
in the same time-frame, disclosed shortcomings of the New York City child welfare system.
reunion that year, saying: "At this point, I see no basis to allow her to visit with any child, particularly her own child". Bruno further said: "It may be disappointing, but it should not be a surprise that this is my position."
. It compared Morales to Nixzmary Brown
whose murder trial began the same month.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
in 1995. Morales' body was never found. Her murder case gained notoriety primarily through the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
newspapers.
Disappearance
Morales' disappearance had gone unnoticed for more than a year. Teachers and school officials failed to take note of her long absence. In February, 1997, a relative informed the police that Morales had been missing and was possibly killed. The subsequent investigation, similar to those in the deaths of Elisa IzquierdoElisa Izquierdo
Elisa Izquierdo was a six-year-old Cuban American girl who became a symbol of child abuse in the USA after being beaten to death by her mother Awilda Lopez, a New York City drug addict, in 1995...
and Nadine Lockwood
Nadine Lockwood
Nadine Lockwood was a child from Washington Heights, New York City who was murdered by her mother.Nadine was systematically starved to death by her mother, Carla Lockwood, who admitted to police that she hated the little girl, and specifically singled her out for abuse...
in the same time-frame, disclosed shortcomings of the New York City child welfare system.
Luis Santiago's Trial - 1997
In 1997, Santiago's trial revealed that he had abused the girl physically for several years and that he had beaten her to death when she had refused to take a bath. Morales' mother, Denise Solero, who was Santiago's girlfriend, had likewise been abused by him. Several news reports and editorials portrayed Solero as a victim who was terrified to inform anyone that her daughter had been killed, while other accounts depicted her as an accomplice to the crime who displayed a depraved indifference toward her daughter's plight. Two years after Morales' murder, Santiago was sentenced to a minimum of six and a maximum of nineteen years in prison. Solero had agreed to testify against Santiago in exchange for probation. It was reported in 1999 that Solero wanted to be reunited with another daughter. It was reported that Solero had changed her name to "Forbes" and was seeking supervised visits with her then 2-year daughter, Sierra. Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Joseph Bruno said there was no chance for a mother-daughterreunion that year, saying: "At this point, I see no basis to allow her to visit with any child, particularly her own child". Bruno further said: "It may be disappointing, but it should not be a surprise that this is my position."
Comparison to Nixzmary Brown in 2008
In January 2008 The New York Post published an article by Andrea PeyserAndrea Peyser
Andrea Peyser is a columnist for the New York Post, well-recognized for her coverage of many "scandals" involving public figures.-Career:...
. It compared Morales to Nixzmary Brown
Nixzmary Brown
Nixzmary Brown was a seven-year-old abused child and murder victim from the Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn section of New York City, New York...
whose murder trial began the same month.
See also
- AbuseAbuseAbuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
- Child abuseChild abuseChild abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
- Child sexual abuseChild sexual abuseChild sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
- Nixzmary BrownNixzmary BrownNixzmary Brown was a seven-year-old abused child and murder victim from the Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn section of New York City, New York...
- PedophiliaPedophiliaAs a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
- Sexual abuseSexual abuseSexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
- Statutory rapeStatutory rapeThe phrase statutory rape is a term used in some legal jurisdictions to describe sexual activities where one participant is below the age required to legally consent to the behavior...
- Joseph WallaceJoseph WallaceJoseph R. Wallace was a two year old boy who was murdered by his mother on April 18, 1993 in their Chicago, Illinois apartment...
External links
- Morales at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...