Illinois Mom Won’t Face Charges After Abandoning Disabled Daughter at a Bar
- Posted on July 11, 2012 at 6:23pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Lynn Cameron's mother will not face criminal charges after abandoning her at a bar last month. (Image source: Knoxville News Herald)
An Illinois woman won’t face criminal charges after abandoning her 19-year-old severely disabled daughter at a Tennessee bar last month, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.
Eva Cameron of Algonquin, Ill. told Caryville, Tenn. police Tuesday she left her daughter Lynn at the Big Orange Bar and drove away because she “just couldn’t handle her anymore,” Assistant Police Chief Stephanie Smith told the News Sentinel.
“She let her out to use the bathroom and drove away,” Smith said.
Still, while Tennessee prosecutors said Eva Cameron’s actions were morally wrong, she did not break any laws.
“There has been nothing presented to our office to show she has been physically harmed or suffered any immediate or irreparable harm,” Assistant District Attorney Scarlett Ellis told the McHenry County, Ill. Northwest Herald of the disabled teen. “While it morally is not right – it’s something that goes straight to the heart – it does not rise to the level of criminal codes here.”
According to the Herald, police were called to the bar the night of June 28 because a mentally disabled woman had walked in. Lynn Cameron has multiple disabilities, including visual impairment and cerebral palsy.
“When we found her, she had been at the bar for around 20 minutes and was fine physically,” Smith said.
Because of her disability, Cameron — whom Smith described as having a “30- to 40-word vocabulary” — was unable to tell police her name or address and showed no signs of distress that her mother was gone.
Police on Sunday got an anonymous tip about who she was, and her mother voluntarily returned to Caryville Tuesday give police a statement. She will not take her daughter back.
“My daughter Lynn is a ward of the state of Tennessee,” Eva Cameron told the Herald. “They thought she was a child. She is an adult and I do not have any guardianship.”
Eva Cameron — who called the incident “just a big hoopla out of nothing” — said she and her daughter had been at a Waffle House when Lynn refused to use the bathroom there. She said she then took her to the Big Orange Bar, thinking it was a restaurant.
She said she was waiting in the parking lot when police arrived, then drove away. She said she has another disabled child at home and could not handle caring for two.
“The way the laws are set up, they don’t have enough for families with multiple disabled children,” she said. “You can only stretch yourself like a gummy bear so far until you rip.”
According to the Herald, Lynn Cameron is now in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Human Services and will be moved to a center for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
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ENIGMA28724
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 7:16pmIt doesn’t appear that the acorns fall too far from the [nut] tree.
Report Post »do_it_all_again
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:34amis there not a law against endangerment, or abandonment? how can they say no law was broken? someone with these disabilities can not fully care for themselves, no matter what their age is!
Report Post »This girl depended on her mother, and was betrayed !
This makes me sick what this mother did, and i use that term loosely! not much of a mother if you ask me!
She abandoned her child, there is no excuse for that !
do_it_all_again
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:09amhere are the links to more info on this story
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jul/10/authorities-identify-woman-left-at-caryville-bar/?partner=popular .
http://www.nwherald.com/2012/07/10/algonquin-mother-wont-take-disabled-teen-back/awybm7g/?page=1 .
one report says:
{ Eva Cameron left Caryville after being interviewed by Smith and said she was returning to Illinois.
“She said she was going to put it behind her,” Smith said. }
{ Eva Cameron left her daughter with no money, no identification and no extra clothing. }
the other states:
{ she couldn’t tell police her name. Eva Cameron said her daughter’s state ID was lost, which was why she wasn’t identified. }
{ Eva Cameron said she brought her daughter to Tennessee because it has the “No. 1 health care system in the United States of America” and she wanted the best care. She also said her church directed her there because it is a more Baptist area. }
This is bull about “theres no help for parents”, If you would ask there would be more help than you could ever use !
Report Post »People like this woman make me so sick !
warzilla
Posted on July 15, 2012 at 3:08pmShe is one cold hearted woman that no man should ever say I love yo to.She needs to be in jail….
Report Post »WTF
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:31pmAs a parent of 2 children with disabilities, I understand the challanges, and stress it can bring, but this Mothers actions are reprehensible. To just dump your child on the streets, whether or not she’s legaly by age an adult, WTF. I personally worry about the future for my children. Who will have the compasion to aide and care for them if they are unable to help themselves once my wife and I have passed. Even on the most challenging days, the thought of dumping them off anywhere would never cross my mind or be an option.
Report Post »Owt_Raged
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 6:42pmEveryone has a breaking point. Perhaps 19 years was this woman’s point.
I don’t agree with her actions but at the same time, I can’t imagine trying to care for two severely disabled children, what sounds like, alone.
I hope her daughter gets the care she needs and hopefully the Mom will be able to better care for her other child.
Report Post »Bruce P.
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 2:14pmThis story is very strange. When they did an physical examination on Lynn to check for injuries, they found a caesarian scar. When they asked her where the baby was, she said, “With God the Father.” She said the same thing when they asked who the baby’s father is.
Report Post »MrSunshine
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:36pmWhere di you gleen this info Bruce? Did you read a more detailed article somewhere? Or, are you just a disgusting ******* troll with too much time to spend in mommie’s basement?
If you are quoting facts, I apologize, if not, I hope you rot!
Report Post »Disco_Obama
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:48amThe girl has the mental capacity of a two year old and has a limited vocabulary, I wouldn’t take anything seriously that she says.
Report Post »v15
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:53pm1930s Nazi-Style Euthanasia: It’s coming to the United States. Remember the 90% vs 10% vote? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33mic-7BSgk
Report Post »normalmom
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:53pmMy son is autistic, but high functioning so he will have a mostly normal life. However some of the children on my bus route ) I am a special needs attendant) would fall under the concept behind that. The government could say they are not worth being allowed to live. Scary but heading this way with obamacare.
Report Post »Glenfin
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:44pmThis breaks my heart. I would love to have 2 minutes with the mother and she would know what disabled means. It should be a crime to abandon a helpless individual anytime and anywhere if you are the responsible guardian. Her mother doesn’t deserve this girl. I know what it is to have a seriously disabled adult son and sister.
Report Post »cranberry
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:40pmWhat a nasty woman. She doesn’t deserve the kids she has. If she can pay her own mortgage, then she can look up some help in a phone book or ask around for places to help her. Really no excuse for throwing her child away because that is what she did. Alecto, why don’t you go help her, sounds like you think the mom did no wrong.
Report Post »Alecto
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:58amI cannot judge this mother, nor should any of you. Two developmentally disabled children? If any of you had to deal with that 24/7/365, you could not find it in your heart to condemn her. She probably has no help, no resources, no one. She needs physical help, money and prayers to deal with this heavy, heavy burden.
Report Post »Glenfin
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:52pmRead my comment above I am one of the 24/7/365 people with a seriously disabled son and sister. She has resources and should use them,
Report Post »normalmom
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:56pmSpeak for yourself I have an autistic and ADHD son they and the youngest who has a temper are a handful but My husband and I wouldn’t give them up for anything. She should have at least talked to people at a hospital they would know somewhere to take them to.
Report Post »gunslingerpatriot
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:35amFor one of the first times in my life, I am without words to express my total disgust for this “mom” and what she did to her daughter. And yes, I would consider taking this child in.
Report Post »toomuchgovt
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:20amJust sad that mother would abandon her. I for one would be happy to provide a loving home. I am happy the “mother” didn’t abort, this child needs real parents.
Report Post »florida123
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 7:58amSo what! we have women killing unborn babies and people just ignore it…………..
Report Post »GMP
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:17amJust because one thing may be worse than another doesn’t mean the lesser should be ignored.
Report Post »battles
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 7:20am“Still, while Tennessee prosecutors said Eva Cameron’s actions were morally wrong, she did not break any laws.” What the prosecutors were really saying here was: “Still, while Tennessee prosecutors said Eva Cameron’s actions were morally wrong, she did not break any laws – DAMN IT!”
Report Post »LameLiberals
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:15amThere is NO LAW that makes a mother A SLAVE to a disabled adult they gave birth to.
This mother choose TN DELIBERATELY to drop her disabled daughter off because she said TN takes better care of the disabled.
The people screwed here are the TN taxpayers. If the mother doesn’t have to pony up the money to care for her disabled spawn – TN taxpayers (or any taxpayer) should NOT have to either.
Report Post »jhrusky
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:02pm@ lameliberals
Aren’t you just a box of sunshine and love! You are the perfect example of what is wrong with America. Compassion and caring takes second place to greed. Money has apparently become your god. I believe you will one day be confronted with your mistake. I hope your heart changes before that time.
Report Post »jdw2469
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 7:11amI wonder what she did that caused her to have multiple children with disabilities!?!?
Report Post »LameLiberals
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:11amI was wondering the same thing! If it is genetic, the mother AND this young woman should get sterilized. Stop passing on crap genes.
Report Post »Glenfin
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:54pmIt’s not always genetics, people. There are a myriad of reasons children are born with disabilities.
Report Post »blackfeather
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 7:03am…this could be why some “eugenics boards” were created.
Report Post »ENIGMA28724
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 7:19pmNC is now in the process of rewarding those who were involuntarily sterilized by the eugenics board years ago with a $50K cash payoff. Still, I think it probably was a bargain.
Report Post »JStrick
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 6:51amShe’s a breeder, not a parent. Human garbage as well.
Report Post »Msgt Ret
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 6:16amobviously the tree didn’t grow far from the apple!
Report Post »l garrett
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 6:15amIf this woman has another child somewhere to look after, THAT child needs to be removed from the woman’s custody. While they say there are no applicable laws broken, a huge moral transgression HAS been committed and, at least, this woman needs to be evaluated. It‘s heartbreaking to read of her lack of concern and saying that it’s “no big deal” it certainly was and is. Hopefully, this incident will get those children the help they need and that woman too, if she deserves any.
Report Post »Disco_Obama
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:55amYes, agreed.
Report Post »MRMANN
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 6:05amMore than a little depressing to see that someone like Cameron is a mother.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 5:59am@ALL…
Report Post »Post here, if you desire to take Guardianship…
Diane TX
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 5:31amI always wonder – where’s the daddy in these cases.
Report Post »Karron
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:33amThere are a million things she could have done instead of dumping her at a bar. Poor kid was probably scared to death, and her mother should be in jail.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:11amReal parents do not abandon their children. I would never dream of doing that to any of mine! That breeder is evil.
Report Post »ContinentalArmy
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:36amThat “mother” is a cold-hearted b*itch!
Report Post »Disco_Obama
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:00amUnbelievable. “She’s an adult”, says the mother. She has the mental capacity of a 2 year old. AND YOU LEFT HER! She’s your daughter and you just left her there alone.
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