http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/04/23/michigan.child.dead/index.html

(CNN) -- Michigan authorities are investigating whether foul play led to the death of a 9-year-old quadriplegic girl whose body was found inside a public storage facility.

Shylea Thomas, 9, of Flint, Michigan, was quadriplegic and used a feeding tube.

"This is a very sad and tragic case that hurts all of us involved in the ongoing investigation," Genesee County prosecutor David Leyton said at a news conference Wednesday.

Shylea Myza Thomas of Flint, Michigan, hadn't been seen in six weeks, and relatives reported her missing Tuesday, Leyton's office said. Her adoptive mother, who is also her aunt, is in custody as a suspect, special assistant prosecuting attorney John Potbury told CNN. No charges have been filed pending the results of the autopsy, he said.

Because of her physical disabilities, Shylea used a feeding tube. She suffered from quadriplegia because of a "suffocation issue" in her crib at 3 weeks of age, Leyton said.

On Wednesday, Flint police found her body stuffed inside a garbage bag in a public storage facility in Vienna Township, near Flint, Leyton said. The bag was covered in mothballs "in an apparent attempt to mask odors from the dead body," his office said in a news release.

"For her to have to live like that, and then to die and be stuffed into a bag and plastic bin in a storage facility, just breaks my heart," the prosecutor said.

He said that Shylea and other relatives had lived in "absolutely filthy" conditions.

CNN affiliate WJRT reported that the suspect could face charges including murder, first-degree child abuse and welfare fraud.

The station also reported that investigators are trying to determine why the girl's disappearance wasn't reported until six weeks after she went missing.

Relatives told WJRT that they remember Shylea as a happy child, who loved music and whose smile was infectious.

"The last memory I actually have of Shylea is seeing her when she was in my care," said her second cousin, Josette Thomas. "She was on the bed listening to the radio and smiling. Those are actually the memories I want to keep in my head. I don't want that memory to leave me."


Question, even if this child died due to natural causes how unfeeling can a person be to dispose of the body in this manner?

Because people are becoming more and more de-sensitized to compassion. Pure and simple.

Because people suck! By the brief amount of information provided in this article I would guess the girl's family was trailer trash and they don't like spending money on anything else other than self gratification. The girl behind the scenes was also treated like a burden they didn't want to endure any more.

I would lean on the girl died of (criminal) starvation. Let the autopsy reveal what it can. Then let justice be done!

It is Sh*t like this that adds more to my belief in how fuqued up humanity is in general to put human life on such a high pedestal only to treat others like this! If the family is criminally responsible I hope they get Major prison time!

it is sick and wrong

Its stories like these that make me lose faith in humanity

I agree some people sure do suck!!!!!!!!

I assist a special needs young man at school, and I have been noticing how a lot of people discriminate against him in little ways. Its sort of surprising to me since I haven't ever assisted a special needs person before. I feel like I have been blessed to know him.

Just another nail in the coffin of humanity. People have become so screwed up and cold.
Sad sad day. This kinda thing happens whether you be "trailor trash" or high scale.

Kat

Man has yet to evolve beyond fear and violence.

Man's inhumanity to man isn't a new thing, it's been going on since civilization has been recorded. We just hear about it more because we now have so much in the way of communication.

The world isn't getting worse, it's just not changing and growing as fast as some of us would like to see. The economy, war, people's anger and feelings of injustice, real or imagined all contribute to the feeling of hopelessness. Many things contribute to violence as they have in the past, people's fears can add to the unrest.

Even if this crime is deliberate, as digusting as it is it's not new.

please allow me to add that humans have yet to truly rise above self interest and greed as well.

Even with the economy, war, the way the world is now, the way people are now, this is no way to treat 'helpless' living human being, a child. These are all excuses used for their actions.

My goodness that is awful! People completely suck and it turns my stomach to read a story like that.

update on article - http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/04/24/michigan.child.dead/index.html

An adoptive mother has been charged with murdering her 9-year-old quadriplegic daughter, prosecutors in Michigan said Friday.

An official says Shylea Thomas, 9, had a "suffocation issue" at 3 weeks old that made her quadriplegic.

Lorrie Thomas was charged with second-degree murder and child abuse in the death of Shylea Myza Thomas, said John Potbury, an assistant prosecutor with the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office in Flint, Michigan.

Thomas is also charged with tampering with evidence.

Thomas, who is the girl's biological aunt, made no immediate public statement.