Letter to the editor: Headricks should face stiff sentencing

By SANDRA McANANY

Coon Rapids, Minn., and formerly of Norwalk

Over the years we have heard of horrific child abuse cases across the country involving foster or adopted children and wondered how the system could fail the children involved. How could any parent(s) be so cruel and inhumane to their young victims? How can these victims ever have justice for the cases to offset the abuse? 

In Arizona, we had the case of Machalle Hobson, who used her seven adopted children in a YouTube series, “Fantastic Adventures,” and allegedly beat, assaulted and pepper sprayed her kids.  She died of natural causes before the case was resolved.

Janet and Ramon Barreto were another abusive couple who fled Mississippi and were arrested in Oregon in 2014 after a five-year search. A 2-year-old adopted daughter died in their care, and the six other adopted children from Guatemala were beaten and submersed in water. Janet was sentenced to 25 years in prison and died in custody shortly after sentencing.  Ramon was sentenced to 18 years and is currently incarcerated. Janet’s 17-year-old biological daughter, Marianna, also was convicted of manslaughter and served time in the case.

In Florida, we have the open case of Patricia Hyler, who allegedly abused her four adopted children and severely beat her adopted teen son for two years with a dog chain, cut him, hosed him down naked in the front yard and chipped his teeth with pliers. The adoptive father was not charged.

Monroe County unfortunately also has a shocking abuse case that is still open. In 2018, Amy and Travis Headrick were charged with nine felonies, including second-degree recklessly endangering safety, child abuse while intentionally causing harm, neglecting a child and false imprisonment. One of their four adopted children was kept in a horse trough with metal fencing over it, secured with industrial-strength zip ties.  Amy reportedly told investigators, “I don’t consider it a cage; it’s more of a glorified crib.”  Another child was kept in a locked cage.  A Freedom of Information Act request by News 8 found out that there had been 20 reports of child abuse, child neglect and false imprisonment dating as far back as 2009. It took nine long years for the children to finally receive help from the system designed to protect abused children.

A plea bargain reduced the felonies to two counts of child neglect and one count of false imprisonment. The DA stated that the plea agreement is fair based on multiple factors and, per court documents, agreed to cap his recommended prison sentence to three years of initial confinement, followed by eight years of supervision.  Sentencing is scheduled for July 7, 2020, when Judge Ziegler will have an opportunity to exceed this recommendation for the abused children.  One unique factor for this case was a pre-sentence investigation report filed with the court has been sealed.

At this point in time, there may not be a way to make a difference for the outcome of this case, other than a symbolic effort, but there are ways to try. 

A lady from Viroqua organized a petition on change.org asking Judge Ziegler to refuse the plea deal and give Travis and Amy Headrick a substantial prison sentence to make it clear that Monroe County does not allow people to torture disabled children for money.  Over 675 individuals have signed the petition so far.  It’s at www.change.org/p/monroe-county-wisconsin-judge-ziegler-justice-for-the-children-kept-in-cages.

Due to Covid-19, the Justice for the Children Kept in Cages Facebook page is not calling for any rallies on July 7, 2020, the day of sentencing, but there is a call to action on that page to contact the Wisconsin Attorney General about this case, asking for tougher laws and mandatory minimum sentences for future child abuse cases like this one.  If you are interested in contacting Attorney General Josh Kaul, the office is (608) 266-1221, or a post can be left on the Attorney General Office Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WisconsinAttorneyGeneral

Finally, if you see a child being abused that you know, please call your local police department and county human services department to make a report.  Although it took years of reports for this case to make a difference, an individual made that last police report that finally got the system to help these kids.

Comments are closed.

  • Letter to the editor: Is Big Brother already listening?

    March 14th, 2024
    by

    By DANI SULIK | Kendall When George Orwell’s novel 1984 was published in 1949, it was seen as a fictional cautionary […]


    Letter to the editor: Vote no on constitutional amendments

    March 14th, 2024
    by

    By JOAN KENT | La Farge Some things are not what they appear. Like the two constitutional amendments on Wisconsin’s April […]


    Letter to the editor: Oath/pledge

    March 14th, 2024
    by

    By LEE D. VAN LANDUYT | Hillsboro An oath is a solemn promise regarding one’s future action or behavior. Our Pledge […]


    Letter to the editor: Questions remain about Vernon County Landfill

    March 11th, 2024
    by

    By CATHY LUND | Viroqua I appreciated the well-articulated article Gail Frie wrote in the paper regarding the landfill. It is […]


    Letter to the editor: Vernon County and Wisconsin are national leaders in landfill safety

    February 8th, 2024
    by

    Recently I became aware of information being circulated in the county through social media and emails that questions the safety of the Vernon County landfill.


  • Your Right to Know: Don’t charge records requesters for redactions

    February 6th, 2024
    by

    You’ve already paid for them. They’re yours. But if you want to see the public records that show what your government is doing, some state lawmakers want you to pay again — this time, for redactions.


    Letter to the editor: Transgender lunacy: Let’s just call it nuts!

    February 5th, 2024
    by

    By BOB BREIDENSTEIN | rural Ontario Nuts! That the latest U.S. Supreme Court justice, at her confirmation hearing, with a bewildered […]


    Letter to the editor: The clock is ticking

    February 5th, 2024
    by

    You’re thinking, “She’s complaining about the Republicans again.” And you’d be right.


    Letter to the editor: Democracy vs. dictatorship

    February 5th, 2024
    by

    Otto von Bismarck once said: “Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” 


    Letter to the editor: Warm memories and perspectives 

    February 5th, 2024
    by

    Winter meant skating, ice and roller skating. The new pavilion in Ontario has taken the place of the old Ontario Community Hall for skating.


    Letter to the editor: In defense of grammar

    January 4th, 2024
    by

    By DANI SULIK | Kendall Who doesn’t love grammar? Okay, so you may not love it, but you know when it’s […]


  • Archives