Nadine Lockwood
Encyclopedia
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
. She kept Nadine, whom she referred to as "it", in squalid conditions, locked in a room in a covered crib. When Nadine was found dead, less than a month before her fifth birthday, she weighed only 15 and a half pounds.
Nadine became known in New York-based tabloids such as the New York Daily News
and The New York Post due to the circumstances surrounding her death. The press called her "the girl who was never loved" and followed the trials of both of her parents closely. Her story was also publicized because it greatly paralleled that of Elisa Izquierdo
, who had been murdered by her mother nine months earlier; both girls had been singled out, among their numerous siblings, for abuse. Later, the case would also be compared to that of Nixzmary Brown
, another child that was specifically targeted for abuse by a parent.
As in the Izquierdo case, investigation into Nadine's death revealed that many potential opportunities to intervene had been missed. The family had been known to city agencies since 1989, when neglect proceedings were initiated because one of Carla Lockwood's other children tested positive for cocaine
at birth. The matter was dropped when Lockwood entered a drug treatment program. Nadine herself had tested positive for cocaine at birth, but again, a case against Lockwood was dismissed within six months. Neighbors allegedly called the Child Welfare Administration several times in regards to the abuse Nadine suffered at her mother's hands. Four of Nadine's siblings had abysmal attendance rates at local public schools and were missing required immunization
s, but little was done to investigate the reasons behind their absences from class. The mishandling of Nadine's case was one of the factors that prompted a major overhaul of New York City's child protective services and protocols for investigating abuse allegations.
Carla Lockwood eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison (until 2010, same as Awilda Lopez
). Nadine's father, Leroy Dickerson, went to trial, was also convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life.
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
Child abuse
Child 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...
. She kept Nadine, whom she referred to as "it", in squalid conditions, locked in a room in a covered crib. When Nadine was found dead, less than a month before her fifth birthday, she weighed only 15 and a half pounds.
Nadine became known in New York-based tabloids such as the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
and The New York Post due to the circumstances surrounding her death. The press called her "the girl who was never loved" and followed the trials of both of her parents closely. Her story was also publicized because it greatly paralleled that of Elisa Izquierdo
Elisa 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...
, who had been murdered by her mother nine months earlier; both girls had been singled out, among their numerous siblings, for abuse. Later, the case would also be compared to that of 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...
, another child that was specifically targeted for abuse by a parent.
As in the Izquierdo case, investigation into Nadine's death revealed that many potential opportunities to intervene had been missed. The family had been known to city agencies since 1989, when neglect proceedings were initiated because one of Carla Lockwood's other children tested positive for cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
at birth. The matter was dropped when Lockwood entered a drug treatment program. Nadine herself had tested positive for cocaine at birth, but again, a case against Lockwood was dismissed within six months. Neighbors allegedly called the Child Welfare Administration several times in regards to the abuse Nadine suffered at her mother's hands. Four of Nadine's siblings had abysmal attendance rates at local public schools and were missing required immunization
Immunization
Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent ....
s, but little was done to investigate the reasons behind their absences from class. The mishandling of Nadine's case was one of the factors that prompted a major overhaul of New York City's child protective services and protocols for investigating abuse allegations.
Carla Lockwood eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison (until 2010, same as Awilda Lopez
Awilda Lopez
Awilda Lopez gained infamy in late 1995 as the mother and killer of her daughter, 6-year-old Elisa Izquierdo.When Elisa was born addicted to cocaine on February 11, 1989, she was placed in the custody of her father, Gustavo Izquierdo. It has been the source of much debate whether Lopez initially...
). Nadine's father, Leroy Dickerson, went to trial, was also convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life.
External links and references
- Review begins in case of starved girl, CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, September 3, 1996 - "Funeral held for NY girl starved to death", CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, September 9, 1996, Special Commissioner of Investigation for NYC School District, February 1997 - "Fatal Preservation", City Journal, 1997
- "Children deserve chance to live", Orlando SentinelOrlando SentinelThe Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
, December 22, 1996 - "When home is hell", Washington Post, December 1, 1996
- "For dead child's family, long history of troubles", New York Times, September 5, 1996
- Nadine Lockwood 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:...
Persons
- 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...
- Elisa IzquierdoElisa IzquierdoElisa 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...
- Justina MoralesJustina MoralesJustina 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...
- 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...