thedrifter
06-27-07, 06:59 PM
Mom sues over 4-year-old’s death on base
By Seamus O’Connor - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jun 27, 2007 18:50:03 EDT
A mother has sued the Air Force for negligence in the death of her 4-year-old daughter.
Zakiyyah Sabree accuses the Air Force of failing to inform her of an abuse investigation against her daughter’s stepmother, and of failing to keep track of her daughter while on base, according to the complaint filed June 25 in New Jersey District Court.
The child, Nailah Sabree-Williams, was killed May 15, 2004, after severe physical abuse by her stepmother, April Williams. Williams, 26, pleaded guilty two years ago to voluntary manslaughter and is in prison until 2013, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.
Nailah is the daughter of Sabree and Air Force Staff Sgt. Donnyell Williams, who was living with his wife April Williams at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. when Nailah was killed. Donnyell and Sabree shared custody of Nailah, according to court documents.
The girl went to stay with the Williamses in October 2003. In early November, a neighbor alerted base officials that Nailah was locked out of the house, naked and crying in near-freezing temperatures, according to court documents. The complaint says that a base Family Maltreatment Case Management Team opened an investigation into the matter. A spokesman for the Air Force press desk said that base officials could not confirm any details pursuant to pending litigation.
The complaint then says that the FMCMT closed the case because Nailah returned to Sabree’s residence, but failed to notify Sabree that it had determined an incident of maltreatment had occurred.
Unaware of the abuse, Sabree allowed Nailah to stay with the Williamses again in May 2004, the complaint says.
Base officials should have notified the FMCMT that Nailah was back on base, but that didn’t happen, according to the suit.
Shortly thereafter, Staff Sgt. Williams was sent to Texas, according to the Star-Ledger, leaving Nailah alone with her stepmother, who killed her.
Sabree is seeking damages in excess of $300,000 -- her attorney, Edith Pearce, did not immediately return a phone call asking for an exact figure. Sabree also filed a wrongful death suit last year against Staff Sgt. Williams seeking damages in excess of $200,000, and the Star-Ledger reports Pearce expects to consolidate the cases.
Ellie
By Seamus O’Connor - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jun 27, 2007 18:50:03 EDT
A mother has sued the Air Force for negligence in the death of her 4-year-old daughter.
Zakiyyah Sabree accuses the Air Force of failing to inform her of an abuse investigation against her daughter’s stepmother, and of failing to keep track of her daughter while on base, according to the complaint filed June 25 in New Jersey District Court.
The child, Nailah Sabree-Williams, was killed May 15, 2004, after severe physical abuse by her stepmother, April Williams. Williams, 26, pleaded guilty two years ago to voluntary manslaughter and is in prison until 2013, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.
Nailah is the daughter of Sabree and Air Force Staff Sgt. Donnyell Williams, who was living with his wife April Williams at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. when Nailah was killed. Donnyell and Sabree shared custody of Nailah, according to court documents.
The girl went to stay with the Williamses in October 2003. In early November, a neighbor alerted base officials that Nailah was locked out of the house, naked and crying in near-freezing temperatures, according to court documents. The complaint says that a base Family Maltreatment Case Management Team opened an investigation into the matter. A spokesman for the Air Force press desk said that base officials could not confirm any details pursuant to pending litigation.
The complaint then says that the FMCMT closed the case because Nailah returned to Sabree’s residence, but failed to notify Sabree that it had determined an incident of maltreatment had occurred.
Unaware of the abuse, Sabree allowed Nailah to stay with the Williamses again in May 2004, the complaint says.
Base officials should have notified the FMCMT that Nailah was back on base, but that didn’t happen, according to the suit.
Shortly thereafter, Staff Sgt. Williams was sent to Texas, according to the Star-Ledger, leaving Nailah alone with her stepmother, who killed her.
Sabree is seeking damages in excess of $300,000 -- her attorney, Edith Pearce, did not immediately return a phone call asking for an exact figure. Sabree also filed a wrongful death suit last year against Staff Sgt. Williams seeking damages in excess of $200,000, and the Star-Ledger reports Pearce expects to consolidate the cases.
Ellie