Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard about Christopher Barrios. He’s the 6-year old boy from Brunswick, Georgia, who went missing on March 8. His body was found in a black plastic garbage bag about three miles from his home on March 15.
A week after his disappearance (before the body was found), investigators brought in four people who wound up being arrested. George David Edenfield (32) who has a previous conviction from 1997 involving 7 and 9 year old boys, his father David Edenfield (58) who has a 1994 conviction for incest with an adult male relative (not his son), and his mother Peggy Edenfield. Also arrested was a friend of the family, Donald Dale.
Police announced that the family had murdered the boy, and Dale helped conceal the body. All of them kept giving conflicting stories and misleading officers who were searching for Christopher’s body.
The DA has said he will seek the death penalty against George and his parents, David and Peggy. In addition to sexual abuse and murder, the trio are charged with false imprisonment, cruelty to children and enticing a child for indecent purposes.
Donald Dale, who has admitted to helping dispose of the body, is charged with concealing a death and tampering wtih evidence. Investigators say he was not present when Christopher was abducted, assaulted and murdered.
These are the last three faces Christopher Barrios saw in his short life.
According to an indictment that was released Wednesday, George and his father David took turns sexually assaulting Christopher, sodomizing him and forcing him to perform oral sex on them while Peggy watched and masturbated. Then, ignoring his complaints that they were hurting him, they choked him to death and threw him out like yesterday’s garbage.
FOXNews.com – Funeral for 6-Year-Old Christopher Barrios to be Held Thursday; Suspects Took Turns Assaulting Boy | Kate blogs at The Original Musings.
53 users commented in " Christopher Barrios Update "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI hope that those three bastards aren’t put to death. They should be tortured to death. They are the sickest people in the world and they should be tortured, or beaten by the public. They shuld not be deathly penelized, what would that teach them? They had no suffering, no pain. Just grief then death. How should they be taught that they are sick and twisted and hated by everyone? NOT by the death penelty.
I am so SICKENED BY THESE MONSTERS who did this to Christopher.. I am in agreement with the previous post .. the death penalty is too good for these people… this is one of the MOST sickening crimes against a child that I have EVER read or heard about in the 41 years that I have been on this earth. The monsters who did this need to die in a slow painful way the same that they put this little boy trough, as I read the details of this crime … I read them and cry, my heart aches for what Christopher must of went through.. these dirty sick people who did this is beyond belief to me… and the woman the mother who was involved how sick and twisted is the entire family. I have searched my mind as to why and how somthing like this can happen and I just cant find any reasoning to this. I pray for Christophers family. I hope that Christopher is in a better place with no memory of the pain and torture he went through.
i hope all 4 of these criminals, not just the main 3 in the crime but the 4th invovled in concealing the crime are tortured, for the rest of their lives, they should but burned , released to the public for a public stoning, beaten and every other bad thing thikable to do this to a child, it upsets me and hurts me 2 know that baby suffered liked that, if they wanted sex so bad they could have hired a hooker of slept with eacother , instead they get pleasure from hurting a baby and then killing him, i juss wished someone was there to stop this from happening, poor baby chirstopher is in a better place
I have cried oever and over since hearing of this atrocity. This type of crime has got to be stopped.What can good people do in the world to protect these poor innocent victims? When are the lawmakers of this country going to start punishing these monsters who abuse, rape and kill? They have got to be stopped- it seems that they just give these people a slap on the wrist- they need to be punished- i agree with public having their way with these people- or poor Christopher’s family, let them do as they wish with them. We have got to stop this from happening. Can we all stand up together and make a change. I am tired of crying for these babies when the abusers are just left to continue causing pain. I need to be able help somehow.
There are no words, that can heal, i cannot understand
how much hate and cruelty there is in this world … i mean
to do what these people did to that poor kid..
sickning absolutly sickning….
a short poem
tears for you christopher
in jesus arms
he’ll hold you
away from your
pain and suffering
into his bosom
of love
and into our hearts forever
everybody please go to this tribute page
http://michaelbarrios.memory-of.com
I hope they rot in Hell. I have never heard of such a violent crime.
God bless Christopher. May he rest in peace forever in heaven.
Every time I see Christopher’s beautiful eyes and smile in a photo, I break down. What a sweet angel. These people are Satan in the flesh. I am so sickened and disgusted. I will never forget this sweet boy. Rest in heaven, angel.
I feel exactly like you Desta. I’m tired of crying. I’ve cried so many tears. I too, want to DO something. We spend so much time in this country being outraged over so many things….what could be more important than OUR children being raped, abused, tortured, murdered??
I am so sickened and feel so helpless.
Below is from a recent news story about Christopher. I hope this judge is feeling good about his decision. It cost Christopher is life. And I wonder who made the lawsuit? Probably some ACLU backed sex offender. I’m sick of the ACLU, sex offenders and everyone who is NOT protecting children. I’ve had it.
“The slaying of a 6-year-old boy whose body was found dumped in a trash bag has outraged the child’s family, neighbors and elected officials who say a convicted child molester suspected in the crime shouldn’t have been allowed to live in the same trailer park. That’s because a Georgia law passed last year that prohibits registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school bus stop. But a pending lawsuit prompted a federal judge last year to block the school bus provision from taking effect.”
I have been grieving Christopher’s death for a week because I can’t stop thinking about him. He was such a beautiful boy who never deserved to have his final hours be like this. He deserved to have a normal life as a little boy. He wasn’t put here to be preyed upon by sick animals like the Edenfields!! How many more of our innocent children must die before the courts decide to give them the protection they deserve??? As the days pass, people will move on. But we who mourn Christopher cannot. Please take the time to write your congressional reps, especially Jerry Keen of Georgia who is still fighting the fight to get tougher laws against sex offenders. Give him your support. Also write Glynn County DA Stephen Kelley who is prosecuting the animals who did this to Christopher. Tell him you will not accept anything less than death for these maggots. Everyone should get together behind this and try to do something. We owe it to Christopher. We can’t let his death be in vain.
Blogs are nice, they allow you to grieve. But people don’t take action. They become increasingly complacent, inactive, less likely to truly make sure that civilization persists. Unless those who are outraged by these events stand up and take action, nothing will change within this society. It’s festering from the inside out. When, not if, when these foul people are found guilty, they should be immediately executed, in a public forum, for all to see. Then so should the rest of the abusers of children, and other scum that prey on human beings. These beasts in our midst, we cannot allow them to continue to exist among us, otherwise we are condoning them and their actions. Justice doesn’t pervail in the courtroom much any more, if real justice comes out from the corner, in a cell block somewhere, with a shank, and a slow death, then we can celebrate that someone has done a good thing, the right thing, to people who have no right to continue to breath another hint of air upon this earth. Trials that last months, then turn into years due to appeals, and crying bleeding hearts that disagree with the death penalty need to walk among these people, these sick, worthless, murderers and take a true assessment of what they stand for. For as a people, as a nation, as long as we continue to not take swift, and harsh action…appropriate action, against the wicked, perverted and evil, then we too are complicit in what they do to others. Folks, you are watching the decline of civilization. The slow death of America. A people that once revolted against their mother country over a pittance of taxation in comparison to what they’ve now acclaimated or conformed to. Where is the strength, where is the backbone, where are the people standing outside of that courthouse demanding the guilty be brought forth so that real justice can be meaded out. Ironic, in how some countries that we see as third world, these people would already would have suffered the fate of their victims and be in the ground, yet not here. We see third world countries that cut off the fingers or hands of thieves as backwards, yet they in many ways, are far more civilized then we are in the United States. Countries that have existed well beyond the infancy of the United States in terms of years as a people together. We the people, we are the ones allowing this country to slowly sink, therefore we must take action. We must not allow this to happen any more, and if it does, then we should make sure that the consequences are such that not even the most absolute miscreant among us would consider such a vile crime for a second, for they would know the true penalty and be scared, be frightened, and thus become the prey they should be!
God Bless America. And God Bless those who are not afraid to take action. Action out-weighs words every time. Unless you wish for this sort of crime to continue, then consider taking action and don’t rely on the current system of justice to take care of you, the ones you love, or even the ones you don’t know who shouldn’t ever have to suffer the evil that this poor child suffered. Ultimately, the guilt is upon us all, for allowing our justice system to mutate into what it has, and to allow it to persist in protecting the evil among us.
Action. Not words. Action.
Frank Russell
Amen, Frank. Powerful words. I don’t doubt for a second that all of us would love nothing better than to drag the evil scum who did this to Christopher out of Glynn County Detention Center and pummel them with stones until they die. And I don’t doubt for a second that we all truly wish that were possible.
Well said Frank Russell. I’m taking your words to heart.
Hi everyone. Thank you all for your posts – I am learning so much from all of your comments. Like most of you, I never knew little Christopher but his death ripped my heart out. Frank Russell, I concur with so many of your points regarding the disconnect between crime and punishment (consequences) in this country. I agree with so many of you, Christopher’s death while heinous and tragic, will not have been in vain if it spurs us (as a nation and as individuals) to do something. I take the position that sometimes bad things happen because good people do nothing. The easy thing (to do nothing) is not always the right thing. Doing the right thing often requires effort, persistence, follow-through and commitment that can be challenging, inconvenient and uncomfortable. And I indict and point the finger at myself first and foremost when I say these things. As long as there are humans on this earth, there are going to be people making poor/bad/wrong choices and the consequences of those choices to be dealt with….. I urge every one of you to please get involved – to do something – whatever you feel is appropriate for you to do wherever you are to help prevent this from ever happening again. Getting involved will only strengthen our families, our communities and our nation. From Christopher’s tribute video, it’s very apparent that he had people in his life that loved and cared for him dearly, but in an unguarded moment, he was taken and his innocence and his life were stolen from him. I am a single parent of a precious little boy not unlike Christopher and I urge everyone to be vigilant and be attentive to children, not just your own….but to those God may allow to cross your path because unguarded moments happen, poor/bad/wrong choices are made and a moment is all it takes for a precious life to be taken. If anyone has specific information on the “Justice for Christopher Foundation”, would you mind to share it? Another tragedy in my home state of North Dakota resulted in Dru’s Law — and the creation of a national database of sex offender public website. http://www.nsopr.gov. You can also read about Dru and get other resource information here: http://www.drusvoice.com. If you have not seen Christopher’s beautiful heartfelt tribute video, follow this link: http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/0307/2302_barrios_editorial.html. Kind regards, Sebi’s Mom
This is the first time I have ever heard of an ENTIRE FAMILY of pedophiles and I am half a century old. My mind still can’t grasp the horror of this crime. Normally, I am not pro-death penalty (“Vengeance is mine,” sayeth the Lord) but in this case I would make an exception. But PLEASE don’t let liberals like the ACLU come in and make a case for these people. PLEASE don’t let that happen.
Also, it really burns me up when defense attorneys (there’s a special section in Hell reserved for attorneys who defend scum like this) use “retarded” as an excuse. I’ve worked Special Olympics. Most retarded people are not violent. Nor do they have the wherewithall to plan and execute a crime such as this. They are trying to use the same excuse for Cooey, the pedophile in Florida who kidnapped a young girl from her own bedroom, raped and killed her. Sorry, don’t buy it.
I note in a post above that Gretchen is bemoaning the fact that a lawsuit prevented enactment of the provision in Georgia law which prohibited sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school bus stop. According to Georgia lawmakers, it was hoped that this provision would banish all sex offenders from the state.
There is a fact of which very few seem to be aware. Little Christoper Barrios’ father is also a registered sex offender. He was convicted of statutory rape in 1997 when he was at least 23. These banishment laws don’t just affect former offenders. They also banish their families or force the family to split up. The State of Georgia tried to banish Christopher Barrios with his father or to banish his father from Christoper. Death is the ultimate banishment and separation. It is a terrible way to say it, but these murderers only completed what the State of Georgia had already begun.
Those calling for harsher treatment of registered sex offenders as a result of this murder are calling for the punishment of the father of a murdered child too. Some may protest that you don’t mean that these provisions should be applied to all sex offenders, just some of them. Wake up and smell the coffee! These Georgia sex offender residency laws apply to all former offenders regardless of offense.
It also should be noted that this crime would never have happened if Georgia had not passed sex offender residency laws. The Edenfield family was forced to move from their previous community to the one where Christopher Barrios lived.
All this being said, I would love to torture the murderers of this little boy too!
Certain posts seem to be citing the incident regarding Christopher Barrios’ father as the reason why tougher laws shouldn’t be enacted against sex offenders. At 23, his father had consensual sex with a 17-year-old!!! That’s obviously not the same as having three adults assault a helpless child!!! Furthermore, the point is that in addition to being given probation after TWICE molesting children, Edenfield violated the terms of his probation. Instead of throwing him in jail, Glynn County judge Stephen Scarlett gave him a slap on the wrist three days before Christopher’s murder. So it’s clear that with all the plea agreements that took place, the courts and prosecutors failed to protect Christopher. Had harsher penalties against Edenfield been given, Christopher would still be here. Sex-offenders, especially ones like Edenfield, have no rights and we’re tired of civil liberties groups telling us they do!!! The only right the Edenfields have is to die a slow, painful death.
Re: Justice for Christopher Foundation…Sam Lyons, who helped organize the search and rescue operation for Christopher, says there’s a fund at SunTrust bank. The account # is 1000048852254. He says he’s in the process of gathering petitions to deliver to the governor of Georgia as well as the President to see to it that harsher penalties and requirements against sex-offenders are upheld and enforced. He is appealing to everyone to help in this fight and says it will take the hard work and dedication of citizens across the country. He urged everyone to get involved.
Dee writes: “Certain posts seem to be citing the incident regarding Christopher Barrios’ father as the reason why tougher laws shouldn’t be enacted against sex offenders. At 23, his father had consensual sex with a 17-year-old!!!”
Actually, the age of consent in Georgia is 16. The “victim” could have been no more than 15.
I very much agree with your point that distinctions should be made between sex offenders. Unfortunately, Georgia lawmakers do not agree with you. Perhaps you should work on them.
I have written an article on this subject – “Thoughts on the Murder of a Little Boy” – http://theparson.net/so/barrios.htm
And now I read today that the very judge who gave this sicko probation days before he so brutally murdered Christopher, will be residing over the murder case. That is so cruel to the family. This judge better do right by them this time.
Here is the link to the story I just mentioned:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=78869
Gretchen, thanks for the link. Someone told me that the same judge I named in my previous post is presiding over the murder case, which is shocking. Not only is it a slap in the face to the Barrios and Rodriguez families but also to Christopher and all of us who are grieving for him. As I said earlier, the tap on the wrist that judge Stephen Scarlett and the prosecutors gave Edenfield three days before he killed Christopher, resulted in a beautiful 6-year-old boy not being with us today. We can only hope that Scarlett rights his wrongs this time and imposes the harshest of punishments for the Edenfields, which would be death.
Definitely differentiation within the sex offender category needs to happen. Whether stiffer restrictions on sex offenders are the more effective response remains to be seen, but harsher penalties seem to be. The debate over sex offender residency laws is not without merit. Studies are underway to determine effectiveness and we should caution against “not in my backyard” band-aid containment policies that create backlash and unintentional consequences that make addressing the root causes of the issue more difficult. I don’t agree with David’s post that the logical conclusion to the state of GA’s sex offender residency laws is irrevocable separation unto death. The consequences of the choices and behaviors of sex offenders are what really tear families apart and is the root cause of any anguish and heartache, not the reactionary laws and policies to their crimes. Having said that, I acknowledge that there is much room for improvement of sex offender laws and policies and that flawed legislation compounds the overall problem. Additionally, I too, have concerns regarding the legal maneuvering that happens in child molestation cases and “piggyback” onto Dee and Gretchen’s posts regarding the questioning of the choice of Judge Scarlett in Christopher’s case. For District Attorney Stephen Kelly to say in a statement to the Brunswick News, “that we didn’t have any knowledge that he [George Edenfield] would offend again” reveals a disturbing level of ignorance and/or stupidity (about child molestation) for a decision maker in his position. Edenfield’s attorney, Charles Taylor told Judge Scarlett that Edenfield was living in an acceptable place in regards to state law and that he was living with his parents. The world now knows of the Edenfield’s broken and dysfunctional family system, but the signs were evident prior to Christopher’s abduction, assault and homicide. Why were legal decision makers in the state of GA continually interpreting the facts in such a manner that culminated in the gross violation of public trust and safety? What cultural beliefs and assumptions (specifically about child molestation) are at the root of the decisions they made? I have read accounts that it would have been a “nuisance” (yes, imagine that) for the court to renegotiate a deal to include a harsher penalty, intensive probation, in Edenfield’s case. Is this not negligence on the part of Judge Scarlett and the courts?
why is this judge presiding over this case? doesn’t the family have a say? i am insulted over this. how can that expect justice this time, when their child would be alive today if it wasn’t for him. this country protects animals mor than children, i bet if the edinfields had done those things to a dog the first time, they would not have gotten probation. i cannot get this child out of my mind, and i know he has touched so many people, that his torture and death will cause these laws to be changed, all over the country, there should be a one strike law. i’m not talking about teenagers who are consenting, i’m talkng about grown adults with children, babies,.
“this country protects animals more than children, i bet if the edinfields had done those things to a dog the first time, they would not have gotten probation.”
Unfortunately Darlene, I think you’re absolutely right. Very sad.
Sony, I agree that this is indeed a case of gross negligence. Not only on part of judge Stephen Scarlett, but also the prosecutors and everyone else who chose to ignore the red flags from the beginning. With TWO molestation convictions and a probation violation behind him, George Edenfield should’ve been in prison. Instead, a disgusting series of plea bargains allowed him to remain free. And we all now know the tragic consequences of the court’s reckless decision. Everyday, I see Christopher’s face before me and I cry for him. And then I become angry. Angry that he was robbed of his innocent young life because no one gave a damn!!! And it is this anger that inspires me to seek justice for him. As you urged in your earlier post, everyone should get involved to help prevent this from happening again. Phone calls, letters and e-mails are a good start. I have already written the governor of Georgia, my state governor and the legislators of my state as well as those in Georgia, especially those who have fought for tougher sex-offender laws. I was also told that Bill O’Reilly and Oprah Winfrey have made it their mission to ensure the safety of the nation’s children, so I contacted them as well. None of us should rest until predators are banished from Earth, or at the very least, imprisoned for life.
The news about this young, beautiful child really touched my heart and made me go through many emotions. I didn’t even want to read the details of his murder because I knew they would give me sleepless nights. But I learned enough to feel pain and sadness inside me. And every time I hear about innocent children being victimized, I have the same questions no one is able to answer: Why are these sick people even free? How can they be allowed to be around children? Where is our justice system and why doesn’t it protect children?
I wish for only one thing, that Christopher’s brutal assault and murder wakes us up, forces our government, our justice system to change things, and change judges when they’re unfit such as the one who let George Edenfield out in the first place. Prisons are overfilled, but not with these sick people. They belong behind bars, not a poor homeless person who steals a piece of bread just to survive. When it comes to our children there is no justice, else little Christopher could have been alive today, playing with his toys, going to the park with his father, doing all the things children do. I wish to never forget this case. I want people to demand change. Go out on streets to protest, keep the media on this case, just do it for little Christopher. Protect our children, not sex offenders!!!!!
I AM ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE JUSTICE FOR CHRISTOPHER FOUNDATION.WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS IN THE MAKING RIGHT KNOW.WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO GET UP AND RUNNING ,BUT WE DO NEED HELP WITH DONATIONS YOU CAN DO SO AT ANY SUNTRUST NATION WIDE.MIKE BARRIOS WILL BE JOINING US SOON AND TOGETHER WE WILL FIGHT TO CHANGE THE LAWS TO GET THESE MONSTERS OFF THE STREETS.THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODYS SUPPORT
April, Dee, Gretchen, Darlene, Mark et al…. I, too feel the same way about Christopher. He touched my heart in a way in such a way that I cannot explain. His death deeply and profoundly affected me. Dee, thank you so much for already acting on your convictions and for the information you posted previously about the Justice for Christopher Foundation. Mark, I agree with you and also say that GA and national lawmakers have blood on their hands. It’s time to stop and fix the system. Christopher’s death was so heinous and so preventable, which should provide reasonable doubt as to whether there was negligence on the part of Judge Scarlett and the legal “perpetrators” complicit in Christopher’s death. The state of GA should be sued for gross negligence; for engaging in legal wrangling and chicanery that cost a little boy his innocence and his life, and that’s only the beginning. For those who counter that the Judge’s ruling is normative in cases like Edenfields, then I say this is indicative of the larger problem. Hello…. I truly believe that if it hadn’t been Christopher, it would have been some other victim. These perps needed to behind bars at strike one…. as all of you have previously mentioned. I’m all for rehabilitation – behind bars. As far as the whole expense to society argument– as a taxpayer, that’s a tab I’m more than happy to pay because our children, all of our children, are worth it. April, thank you for your information, I think when the foundation is ready to go national, you will find scores of people like us at the ready with a desire to be involved. I work in the nonprofit sector and will be thinking of ways to fundraise in my community for support of the foundation.
“Christopher’s death was so heinous and so preventable, which should provide reasonable doubt as to whether there was negligence on the part of Judge Scarlett and the legal “perpetrators” complicit in Christopher’s death. ” should read, “Christopher’s death was so heinous and so preventable that proving negligence, beyond a reasonable doubt on the part of Judge Scarlett and the legal “perpetrators” complicit in Christopher’s death should be possible.” …..sorry, I had a moment.
It isn’t just enough to pass tougher laws. They have to be funded and enforced. The “Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Protection Act of 2006″. (HR 4472 the bill to force Sex offender registration) was signed by the President last July yet only Mississippi has implemented it. There is still a large number of states which have not passed “The Jessica Lunsford Act”
http://www.missingchildprevention.wordpress.com/
This nation is hypocrytical , I am ashammed to be an American…….with a judicial system that protects scum
like this…..I just wonder how the feds are benefiting by the sex offenders revolving door program!
You Americans are so nieve and stupid……just keep eating the govenments poison and living in fear of the real
terrorist aka the boogyman. Child molesters have more rights than law abiding citizens yet, we have to cage our
f&cking kids up like dogs. I promises you this I won’t wait for you F4cking pigs to protect my young. A child
molester will have it’s head blown off first.
Mothers will become warriors, I’ m a soccer Mom but don’t get it twisted…..I would gladly pull time
rather than live with my child being raped murderd by the hands of those magots.
I’m proud to be Gun-toting American mom who would do time for my children or any child for that matter. I do believe in the death penalty in some cases. In this case, it’d be too easy for them. I understand there have been studies – sexual predators can not be rehabilitated. They serve no purpose – but death would be too easy. These freaks will probably enjoy being subjected to the General Population in prison – they’re inbred. The justice system failed that sweet boy and has failed so many others. No slap on the wrist, no 2nd chance – send them for medical testing rather than using helpless animals. As dimented as that may sound – it would be the only possible justice – let them feel fear – pain – with no end. I do not want to use my tax dollars to feed them one meal. I wonder how the attorney who defended this guy the first time and the judge who let him go can sleep at night…. I can’t.
THIS LITTLE BOY DID NOT DESERVE TO BE
ABUSED THEN THROWN AWAY LIKE GARBAGE
WE NEED TOUGHER LAWS FOR SICK #$@^^^^^LIKE
THESE
GO TO HIS MEMORIAL PAGES
LOOK AT HIS FACE
THIS CANNOT EVER HAPPEN AGAIN
IT’S JUST SO UNFAIR IT MAKES ME ANGRY
AND VERY SAD, I CANNOT SLEEP
WE NEED A MARCH ON WASHINGTON
WE MUST FIGHT FOR OUR CHILDREN
KEEPING THEM PENNED UP IN THE HOUSE
IS NOT FAIR EITHER. THINK ABOUT THIS THE MAN WHO KIDNAPPED JESSICA LUNSFORD STOLE HER OUT OF HER BEDROOM, YOU COULD BE ON THE PLAYGROUND SUPERVISING YOUR KIDS AND TURN TO GET A DRINK OF WATER AND YOUR CHILD IS GONE
WE HAVE TO GET THESE BASTARDS OFF THE STREET
THEN CHILDREN CAN PLAY OUTSIDE AGAIN
REST IN PEACE LITTLE CHRISTOPHER
YOU DID NOT DIE IN VAIN
http://michaelbarrios.memory-of.com/
http://christopher-barrios.last-memories.com
Harold Turner, I agree with a march on Washington. I think the new civil rights movement should be for children. I am an avid news reader, I read everything on the internet, every day, and I am so damn sick and tired of reading about children being raped, tortured, abused, mistreated, neglected, murdered and often even by their own parents, or a mother’s boyfriend or a sick predator. I am angry and I know so many in this country are too. These children have no voice. I want to be that voice for them. Fighting terrorism is important, yes. Social Security and the environment too are important causes. But, no one cause deserves more attention than our children. I’m tired of a sad case making the news, followed by a few weeks of outrage, then back to business as usual, until the next murder. Washington needs to know that this is a #1 priority. That voters aren’t going to be quiet until real action is taken. We all need to be the voices of these children.
April, I need to contact your organization. Please e-mail me dakuute1@yahoo.com I spoke with Donna who has been working with Christopher’s dad. We need to pull all the signatures together. I have been in contact with florida law makers. We also have a lawyer willing to do pro bono in helping to get the law written so the law makers can take this to the house floor.
I know i’m a florida resident. But we are pushing for a FEDERAL LAW! I believe we can make this happen together! Federal laws supercede state laws. Justice for Christopher! We will not fail! We The People owe it to Christopher.
sorry, I know I am talking alot. But I’m so fired up over this baby’s death. Can you all believe the fourth guy pleaded NOT GUILTY! That bastard! He is most certainly GUILTY!!!!!!! They all confessed! Did his lawyer tell him to plead not guilty? And he is only facing 20 years! I know he did not commit the acts or kill him but he participated in hiding his body in a garbage bag! Like the baby was garbage! Christopher was an innocent baby! With his entire life ahead of him! Maybe a doctor or scientist. Maybe he would’ve been a regular guy with a wife and kids but now that maybe is a definate no! He WAS NOT GARBAGE and they treated his little body like garbage and threw him away! and then to add insult to injury the nasty dirty filth pleads NOT GUILTY!!! What in the James Brown in going on!!!!!!! sorry I’m venting here!
Legal counsel most certainly would have advised a not guilty plea. Also, there is a fund set up through Bank of America to assist the family directly. I believe it is to help them move away from the area where they lost Christopher. Donations can be made at any Bank of America to the “Christopher Barrios Fund”.
My name is Sam Lyons, I was the Lead Volunteer Coordinator on the search for Christopher Barrios. After the 3rd day of searching when the local law enforcement had pulled out of the search to do investigations I became the Lead Volunteer and remained so until Christopher was found then a few days later 7 others and myself sat down and founded the Justice for Christopher Foundation. We hope that this Foundation and all those who are out there volunteering their time in efforts to have petitions signed nation wide will make the difference needed to get the attention of the national media, the politicians and the liberal legal system and show them that we demand that not one more child be sacrificed to their broken down system. Everyday we read where another child is missing or has been found murdered, raped or molested and this nation has become callous to these acts prepetrated against our children. Tomorrow makes 4 weeks since Christopher was murdered and already most of the media and the nation have already put it out of their minds and are more focused on who is the father of Anna Nicole’s baby.
I am very proud that there are so many out there who refuse to just forget. The one thing that Ms. Sue (Christopher’s Grandmother) has asked me to do is to make sure that he is not forgotten. When he is forgotten we will face this all over again with another child and I do not want to live through this again because 4 weeks later I still don’t sleep well when I do sleep. I will go any where any time to help set up or coordinate another search for any other missing child but I well intend to keep my promise to the Barrios/Rodriguez family that I am so sorry we could not bring Christopher home safe I promise to never stop fighting to make sure he didn’t die in vain!
God bless you all and please remember to focus on Christopher, Mattie, Jessica, Polly and all the murdered innocents in every thing you say and do…it’s not about any of us…it’s about the children and bringing them JUSTICE!!!!
Thank you all,
Sam Lyons
President/Spokesman
Justice for Christopher Foundation
“Demanding Justice for Christopher, Demanding Justice for All!”
Donations made to SunTrust Bank acct# 1000048852254
You are all amazing. Every one of your posts is so heartfelt and profound. Christopher would be proud to have us as his extended family and happy to know how hard we are fighting for him and children like him. But let’s not stop here. We have to continue working until we have achieved our desired result which is justice for the beautiful little boy who brought us together. As mentioned earlier, I have sent out a slew of letters. And now my friends and family have joined in to contact their own Congressional reps as well as the governor of Georgia and the reps there. I know many people are busy and might not have the time to sit down and compose several e-mails or letters. But this is one instance where you have to allow yourselves to be second. Sam said that Christopher’s grandmother is worried that he will be forgotten. I can assure her that he won’t be. Certainly not by us. And that’s why we have to act. A March on Washington–as brilliantly suggested by some on this blog–is a great idea. And I hope that Sam–one of the leaders at the forefront of this movement–will eventually get a chance to pull it together. When he does, I know we’ll all be there. But until then, please write your legislators and insist that they implement and enforce laws to protect children.
I am a member of SOhopeful International. Here is our organization’s press release on Christopher:
Christopher Barrios Didn’t Have to Die
Sex Offender residency restrictions failed to prevent “just one victim.” It created one instead.
Portland, OR (PRWEB) April 2, 2007 — SOhopeful International, Inc., an organization dedicated to reforming Megan’s Law, would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and community of Christopher Barrios.
If effective methods of protecting children is the goal, it must be recognized that young Christopher’s life was ultimately jeopardized by recent legislation passed by the state of Georgia that prohibits registered sex offenders from residing anywhere near an area where children congregate.
Christopher’s father, Mike Barrios, is also a registered sex offender and was subject to the same restrictions as George Edenfield, the sex offender implicated in the murder. The media has reported that Edenfield and his family recently moved to the trailer park where the murder occurred because his previous residence was in violation of the new law.
Young Christopher Barrios may have never come in contact with George Edenfield had Georgia’s residency restrictions not placed these two families together as a result of the limited places available for them to live in compliance with the law.
This latest murder is one example of the current evidence showing how residency restrictions disrupt the stability of ex-offenders that is vital to recovery, how the lives of innocent children of offenders are equally disrupted, and how little residency restrictions actually safeguard children at an enormous cost to law enforcement resources.
This law failed to prevent “just one victim.” It created one instead.
For information on prevention of child abuse, and solutions to child safety, please visit SOhopeful.org (http://www.sohopeful.org).
David, I don’t know who writes SOhopeful’s PR but someone needs help. “This latest murder is one example of the current evidence showing how residency restrictions disrupt the stability of ex-offenders that is vital to recovery, how the lives of innocent children of offenders are equally disrupted and how little residency restrictions actually safeguard children at an enormous cost to law enforcement resources.” In SOhopeful’s swift attempt to capitalize on the attention given to Christopher’s death to promote their own agenda, some of the assertions given haven’t been carefully thought through. Was George Edenfield, or any of the Edenfields ever on the road to recovery? Tragically, I don’t think this dysfunctional family would have been able to find that road even if their lives depended on it. So what stability is SOHopeful referring to, relevant to this case? How is Christopher’s case an example of the evidence that the lives of innocent children of offenders are equally disrupted? In what manner is the life of a child of an offender “equally” disrupted and to whom is being compared here? In Christopher’s case, he was permanently disrupted: he is no longer here. To state that his murder is an example of current evidence that other innocent children are “equally disrupted” is not only wrong and inaccurate, but reflects poorly on an organization that potentially provides a valuable service to society and to offenders and non-offenders alike. The last assertion raises the most relevant question: does sex offender residency restrictions safeguard children? And if so, which children? The law certainly failed to protect Christopher. Did the law “create” a victim as SOhopeful asserts? Only if you remove all individual responsibility on the part of perpetrators. Where SOhopeful goes astray is in the causal identification of the problem. Legislation, no matter how flawed, didn’t ultimately jeopardize Christopher’s life, as SOhopeful would like to claim. The horrific and heinous choices/actions of the Edenfield family are ultimately to blame. Not only did the Edenfields commit atrocious acts against an innocent child unto death, they were aware of the wrongness of their acts as demonstrated by their actions after the murder.
Additionally, focusing solely on the residency restriction laws in Christopher’s case is “missing the forest for the trees” and negating other glaring factors in this particular case such as the gross failure of the system to adequately do two things in George Edenfield’s case prior to his family’s assault and brutal murder of Christopher: adequately protect – vis a vis an effective assessment of “risk to society” and appropriately consequence for violations of the law. Edenfield’s violation of probation was based on sex offender residency restriction laws — this gave authorities an opportunity to immediately imprison and contain George Edenfield. THIS DID NOT OCCUR. Christopher’s heinous and horrific murder is an example of judicious negligence par excellence.
WOW. Sony, you’re a tough act to follow and I won’t even try except to say that I wholeheartedly concur with EVERYTHING you’ve written here. Indeed, Christopher is no longer with us because of evil choices the Edenfields consciously made, not because of alleged flaws in the residency laws. In fact, as David repeatedly fails to realize, residency laws aren’t exactly the culprit here. George was in violation of his probation and should’ve been locked up. Period. Had this happened, none of us would be on this blog. By cloaking his real agenda in mock concern for Christopher, David not only does a disservice to his organization but also desecrates an innocent child’s remembrance.
Dee — I second that….The SOhopeful press release (PR) is riddled with unwarranted assumptions resulting in flawed logic and erroneous reasoning, which is truly unfortunate. This can lead to misunderstanding, unintended ill will and the undermining of SOhopeful’s mission. Perhaps a better reasoned application of the organization’s mission with Christopher’s death might have resulted in better understanding (and support) of the role SOhopeful and similar organizations play in preventing tragedies such as Christopher’s from ever happening again.
I agree that the primary responsibility for this horrible crime is the Edenfields’. I agree that it is impossible to know what set them off. One fact is beyond dispute, as far as we know the Edenfields were living crime free for 9 years. This horrible crime happened shortly after they were forced to move.
Don’t miss the forest for the trees. The perpetrators of such horrible crimes generally live on the margins of society. Society’s rush to push all sex offenders (including Christopher’s father) to the margins of society only helps create more monsters.
CNN has just broadcast a story of sex offenders in Miami being forced to live under a bridge. How does this make anyone safer? When we treat people like animals, don’t be surprised when one acts line one.
There is no more dangerous person than one who is continually hounded and made to feel that there is no hope for them no matter what they do. How can former sex offenders rebuild their lives and become productive members of society if we never permit them to?
In 1989, 11 year old Jacob Wetterling was kidnapped and never seen again. His mother, Patty Wetterlilng, was instrumental in the 1994 passage of the federal Jacob Wetterling Act which required states to establish sex offender registries.
The Jacob Wetterling Foundation advises: “Community Notification is not about chasing sex offenders out of our neighborhoods. We all face the challenge of building new communities, which recognize that sex offenders live and work among us. Experts state that sex offenders are less likely to re-offend if they live and work in an environment free of harassment… If we are going to make our communities safer, we need to use this law to our benefit. We need offenders to succeed, because if they don’t, that means there will be another victim.”
Today marks the one month anniversary of Christopher’s disappearance. He was a sweet child with an angelic face who adored Spider-Man and enjoyed riding his bike. But, sadly, those things he so loved were taken away when he was viciously murdered. Not by people who lived on the margins of society but by repeat sex-offenders who resided in a nice neighborhood with families. The Edenfields had a chance to rebuild their lives and become productive members of society but instead chose to rape and kill a helpless child. No amount of flawed logic will convince me or anyone else that sex offenders deserve anything other than contempt. The Edenfields and predators like them are animals because they choose to be, not because of where they are made to reside.
Rest in peace, Christopher. We think of you everyday.
Nicely said Dee…. nicely said. I wholeheartedly agree. A month later and my heart still hurts when I think of what Christopher suffered and lost at the hands of the vile Edenfields. I am in this for the long haul – committed to seeing that Christopher Barrios is not forgotten, working toward redefining punitive measures towards child molesters and ensuring that we have judges on the bench that apply them. David and SOhopeful: Christopher’s case presents compelling reasons for lawmakers and stakeholders to take a closer look at not only the residency restriction laws, but at the whole system. My point was that the laws don’t happen in a vacuum and by fixating solely on the residency restriction laws; you miss the forest for the trees. You successfully ignore other key elements in Christopher’s case. Having flawed suppositions will result in flawed conclusions.
I JUST CANT BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED SO CLOSE TO WHERE MY CHILD AND I LIVE. IT IS SO SCARY TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE JUST WAITING FOR A CHANCE TO MURDER, RAPE, TORTURE, A CHILD. I CANT BELIEVE HOW ANIMAL CRUELTY PUNISHMENTS ARE MORE HARSH THAN CHILD ABUSE. ITS JUST SO SAD TO KNOW THAT CHRISTOPHER IS NOT THE LAST CHILD TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS, THERE WILL BE MANY MORE, BUT WE HAVE TO PREVENT THIS, WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHO LIVES NEXT TO US, AND KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS AND BE VERY CAUTIOUS. I MEAN KNOWING WHO LIVED RIGHT THERE IN THAT PARKING LOT, WHY DID NOT ONE PERSON, ACCOMPANY HIM HOME, THEY DIDNT TAKE A SECOND TO CARE OR THINK, PEOPLE JUST FORGET FROM TIME TO TIME, THE ISSUES THAT HAPPEN EVERYDAY, IN OTHER PLACES, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU OR CLOSE TO YOU THAT IS WHEN YOU FEEL YOU WANNA DO SOMETHING, PARENTS NEED TO START TALKING TO THEIR CHILDREN AS EARLY AST 2 YEARS OLD ABOUT NEVER WALKING ALONE, OR GOING OUTSIDE BY YOURSELF, PARENTS SHOULD MAKE SURE YOUR HOUSE IS SECURE, WINDOWS SHUT PROPERLY, AND DOORS LOCKED AT ALL TIMES. ITS NOT LIKE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN YOU COULD SLEEP AND LEAVE THE SCREEN DOOR OPEN AND UNLOCKED AND WINDOWS UP. WE CANT DO THAT ANYMORE. THERE ARE TOO MANY SICK PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. KEEP YOUR SIGHT ON YOUR CHILDREN ALL THE TIME NO MATTER WHAT, EVEN IF THEY KICK AND SCREAM, ITS FOR THEIR OWN GOOD. I LIKE TO THINK THAT ME AND MY FAMILY OF 8, WERE LUCKY GROWING UP BECAUSE THAT NEVER HAPPENED TO US. BUT NOW WE HAVE TO THINK OF OUR CHILDREN AND CARE FOR THEM EVEN MORE. GOD BLESS ALL OF THE CHILDREN IN THE WORLD.
I just wanted to say that I feel like I have thought about Christopher ever since the story broke on the news and I cannot get him out of my mind. If a complete stranger cannot forget a person they’ve never met, that must have been a very special little boy. I send my thoughts, blessings and prayers to the family. I truly send my deepest sympathies!
Burn in hell you sick bastards!!! I pray that your little soul is with God. God bless you little boy..
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