Fort Worth Couple Says Babysitter Caught-On-Tape Abusing Triplets

April 19, 2011 1:04 PM

A mugshot of Carolyn “Carrie” Marie Easton. (credit: Mansfield Jail)

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Assault, Babies, Child abuse, Security Cameras

FORT WORTH (AP) – A North Texas woman has been accused of shaking and slapping the 5-month-old triplets she was babysitting in alleged abuse caught on videotape.

Carolyn “Carrie” Marie Easton of Watauga was in the Mansfield Jail on Tuesday with bond of $22,500.

Easton was arrested Thursday on three felony warrants of injury to a child. Her attorney, Edwin Youngblood, did not immediately return a call to The Associated Press.

The parents hid a camera in their home to determine whether the 65-year-old woman was giving their babies, who were born premature, enough playtime. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports they were horrified as the video showed the sitter shaking, shoving, hitting and throwing the infants.

Sgt. Jim Thomson says the video shows at least 37 incidents of careless handling and assault.

Fort Worth Couple Says Babysitter Caught On Tape Abusing Triplets

Liz

What a horrible woman!!!!!!!
John Wong

SLO-Frame Video cannot be used in court.
The individual frames cannot.
Reason – Very misleading often totally misleading

Blake

Not true.

rwe

where were the triplets parents shouldn’t they have been the caregivers of their own children or did they have other priorities like careers or they needed time off from parenthood i sure hope that’s not the case.

Kristi

RWE, you are an idiot. Name one family out there that can afford to stay home full time. I have 2 kids and a husband and we both have to work to make ends meet. I agree with Amber and think that you should use common sense before you spew your stupidity out there for everyone to read.

rwe

we had 5 kids mom stayed at home and we never went hungry we never wanted for anything so tell me again why you cant do that also?
KD

Dont have kids if you cant afford them.
Angela Parker

when my husband and I had twins, he quit his job to stay home with them. We make it to this day with under $2000 a month after taxes. If they could afford fertility treatment which was probably the cause of triplets, then one of them should be home with those babies. Having the latest technology, a fancy house, cable, internet and all the other extras we can live without woill never be able to take the place of a baby lost, or damaged for life because they were left with someone who really didnt care for them. I was surprised by my twins, no fertility treatments here, but we cut costs where we could to make sure that they had a parent home with them. There is no excuse for this
Blake

Kids would probably prefer having food to eat, clothing, toys to play with, family vacations, a running car, etc. over having a parent home with them. 2000 a month is not enough for a family of four to have any kind of quality of life. Sorry to be judgmental, but to suggest that staying home with a parent is always better for kids is ridiculous. When your kids get to kindergarten and all the other kids know their ABC’s, colors, shapes, songs, and most importantly how to get along with other kids, you might feel differently.
Kailey

Blake – You are wrong actually, it is the children whose parents stay home and read to them that excel in school. They typically read faster and do better in school than children who don’t. THey say it is good to have at least 1000 “lap hours” or reading hours with your child before they enter school.
You cant replace good parenting with vacations, toys, clothes and stuff they can live without. These generations need to learn to control their spending a difference between a want and a need. To save up for things. That way they wont have the problems we have now.
Smash Crasher

Krisit: You’re the feeble-minded IDIOT. Who the heck leaves their five-moth old babies with anyone. You’re showing your financial ignorance and just plain stupidity, You and you husband must be on of the 61% of the morons who spend more than they make. It’s called living within your means. I take it you’re just a GREEDY piece of garbage.
AngelaParker

Blake, my kids have plenty to eat (no foodstamps) lots of toys and are actually homeschooled since age , they are going to be in Sept and are halfway thru year old too, so that $with 1st grade…and we actually have custody of my husband’s $2000 a month covers 5 of us. We have a running and nice van, granted it is a 2001 but it is paid off. I budget with coupons, we have a small garden and shop a lot ot thrift stores. I never fail to get compliments on how my kids are dressed. It can and is being done. We even have pets to provide for. So, yeah, my kids know all their basic shapes, colors, etc and a lot more. They socialize with a lot of friends.We have family vacations to visit Mass. and Florida each year to see family, and have mini vacations thru out the year. So please, unless you know what you are talking about, dont comment.
AngelaParker

sorry, keyboard messing up, my twins are 5 and my stepson is 7…and we get NO child support from his deabeat mom, she hasnt even seen him in almost 5 years
Blake

I won’t go into the merits of homeschooling (or lack thereof), but it is your choice to raise your children how you choose to. At the same time, it is completely absurd to judge mothers who choose to work instead of staying home full-time with their children. You chose to judge the parents of these children and to say it is their fault their children were abused, and that is just WRONG. Your way of life is subject to criticism, too. God forbid something happen to your kids and someone were to blame it on you.
These kids were not abused because both parents chose to work, they were abused because the babysitter abused them. I worked for CPS for three years and I can tell you that stay at home parents abuse their kids way more often than childcare providers do.

Carol

everyone isn’t that fortunate; it is sad that it happened, they just pulled a bad egg. she was too old to be left all day with 3 kids, they should have had a part time nanny as well, or two 6 hour nannies.

Susan

My parents had five kids and my mom stayed home while my dad went to work. She also physically and verbally abused us. Having a parent stay home with the children does not guarantee they will not be abused.

Dove

What planet do you live on? I would -love- to see you survive by yourself in real life without your head in the clouds. Parents gotta work. Bills don’t pay themselves. Unless you’re Bill Gates. Idiot.

Kim

No, Dove, I think rwe just thinks everyone should live on welfare. Obviously it worked for their mom, just look how rwe turned out

iev

rwe that REALLY was a stupid comment or question whatever you want to call it. where were her parents?? duh they have to work, could you afford triplets by just sitting at home? your mom was lucky she didn’t have to work, but then again how long ago was it?????? that women needs to be punished, obviously she’s not a grandma or mother.
Kay

Oh please! If they can afford a nanny for triplets then they obviously have full-time careers! Most households can’t survive without 2 incomes.
Kim

rwe…Not everyone wants to live in a trailer or the slums and get welfare checks every month. If your mom wanted that kind of life for her kids, then more power to her, but some people prefer to raise their children by working for their income.
MELISSA JENKINS

BECAUSE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN YOUR MOM HAD 5 KIDS, TIMES WEREN’T AS HARD. WE HAD BETTER PRESIDENTS AND GOVERNMENTS TO RUN OUR COUNTRY. WHO CAN AFFORD TO STAY AT HOME WITH 3 KIDS, UNLESS THEY ARE ON WELFARE AND FOOD STAMPS, IN WHICH CASE THEY USUALLY DON’T WANT TO WORK ANYWAY. I SAY THAT THE COST OF LIVING USED TO BE CHEAPER, BUT NOW EVERYONE WANT’S BIGGER 2 STORY HOMES, NICER CARS, AND BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, IT TAKES 2 PEOPLE TO WORK NOW DAYS. BACK IN THE OLDEN DAYS MAYBE THE WIFE COULD OF STAYED HOME. YOUR PARENTS STRUGGLED, YOU JUST DIDN’T HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT IT, AND YOU HAD A LOT BECAUSE YOU GOT THINGS PASSED DOWN FROM ONE CHILD TO THE NEXT..THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK…
Nada

Um having triplets is costly, I would think they may actually have to work. Blaming the parents is moronic.

Ctina

Wow she is unfortunately probably not going to be prosecuted severely because she is old and white.

Carol

that’s not right; she will be judged according to the deed. don’t be so cynical

CB

Thanks, Ctina, tell Al Sharpton and Quanelle X I said hi, once you finish your short ribs and grape soda.

MELISSA JENKINS

COLOR AND AGE HAVE NO BEARING ON THE SITUATION. SHE STILL ABUSED SOMEONES KIDS. ALOT OF OLD PEOPLE GO TO PRISONS . THEY HAVE PLACES FOR THEM IN THERE, BUT THEY CAN SURVIVE. IT IS A SENIOR LIVING FACILITY FOR ELDERLY EXCEPT THEY CAN’T COME AND GO AS THEY PLEASE, AS SHOULD BE.

http://fortworthinsight.com/news/fort-worth-couple-says-babysitter-caught-on-tape-abusing-triplets/ Fort Worth Couple Says Babysitter Caught-On-Tape Abusing Triplets « Fort Worth News Feeds

[...] Fort Worth Couple Says Babysitter Caught-On-Tape Abusing Triplets A North Texas woman has been accused of shaking and slapping the 5-month-old triplets she was babysitting in alleged abuse caught on videotape. Go to News Source [...]
PLM

Ctina, obviously you are of african american race, otherwise such a stupud comment would have never left your lips. It does NOT matter if she was white or black or hispanic or asian, she will be doing hard time regardless of her race or age. Todays society does not forgive and forget when an innocent child is abused. A little more sympathy for these childrfen would have been a much intellectual comment then your blundering idiotism’s …Don’t comment if you can’t get your head out of your butt

Carol

I am an African American and I disagree with Ctina’s comment also but you have shown a racist response as well., sort of like the pot calling the kettle black. I uphold her right to have an opinion and her skin colour would have nothing to do with it. your heart is black based on your comments.

MELISSA JENKINS

I AGREE WITH CAROL..YOU ROCK. HOWEVER THE CASE STILL REMAINS THAT 3 INNOCENT CHILDREN WERE ABUSED. I WAS A FOSTER CHILD AT A YOUNG AGE, AND THE ONES WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT ME, ABUSED ME. MY CAREGIVERS, STAYED HOME AND BEAT ME AMONG OTHER THINGS. SO ALL WE CAN DO IS PRAY THAT THEY DON’T HAVE PHYSICAL SIDE AFFECTS FROM THE ABUSE. ABUSE CAN BE VERY DETREMENTAL . I WAS ABUSED UNTIL I WAS 5. I STILL SUFFER EFFECTS OF THE ABUSE . COLOR HAS NO BEARING ON THIS CASE. IT IS A CRIMINAL THING NOT A RACE ISSUE…

Ty

Let all working parents take notice TO INSTALL ANY HIDDEN CAM as CLEARLY MANDATORY…thank GOD they had purchased on.
dotherightthing

Think about it. If you don’t make enough money so that the mother can stay home and care for her own babies, then you don’t make enough money to have kids in the first place. Get some birth control!

Kay

Based on your ignorant comment; no one should have kids since the majority of households can’t function without two incomes.

KD

How is that an ignorant comment? dotherightthing is stating an opinion that doesnt need any factual basis. It’s a completely logical statement. You however, do sound ‘ignorant’ when you over generalize the public. I can do that too! I believe the reason why the american public is overrun by uneducated, trailor trash people is because educated people make smart, logical decisions to use birth control and choose to wait to procreate until they are financially stable. You however have obviously fallen victim to that self indulgent desire to have a bunch of “little you’s” running around and pop out kids when you couldnt afford it…thus subjecting your little ones to impoverished lifetstyle as well and only giving more life to the cycle of dumb breeding more dumb.

By the way, you used the semi colon incorrectly.
CD

KD – By the way, YOU spelled trailer incorrectly. It’s TRAILER, not TRAILOR. Didn’t go to SMU, did you? It’s in Dallas, near all those pretty houses you drive by and wish you could just afford the property taxes on.

Kim

dotherightthing…did you happen to read the story of April 14, 2011 where a 10 year old boy escaped as his mom drove their van into the Hudson River killing his 4 year old, 7 year old sister and herself? Not all children are in good hands just because mom is taking care of them rather than a someone else.
MELISSA JENKINS

CHILDREN ARE A GIFT FROM GOD. BACK IN THE OLDEN DAYS PARENTS HAD LARGE FAMILIES. PARENTS WORKED ON FARMS, NEIGHBORS HELPED WATCH YOUR KIDS, PEOPLE WERE GENUINE AND HONEST IN THOSE DAYS. IF YOU GOT CAUGHT DOING SOMETHING WRONG, YOUR NEIGHBOR COULD SPANK YOU AND NOTHING WAS SAID. WHEN YOU GOT HOME YOU WERE WHOOPED AGAIN BY YOUR MOM AND DAD. AND LOOK AT ALL THE RICH AND FAMOUS ACTORS AND ACTRESSES AND SINGERS. THEY TRAVEL ALOT FOR THEIR CAREERS, AND WHO DO YOU THINK WATCHES THEIR KIDS, NANNYS. PEOPLE WITH ALOT OF MONEY ALSO TEND TO HIRE SITTERS AND NANNYS JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN. THEY WANT THEIR NEIGHBORS TO SEE THEIR WEALTH.

rwe

there is no such thing as a stupid question, i was asking a question. but it seems we can have stupid responses and your it.

Amber

Looks as if plenty of people agree with me and not one person agrees with you. Thanks for proving my point
KD

No. I agree with rwe. If you cant afford to raise children, then dont have any. It’s not fair to subject a child to an impoverished lifestyle bc you have a self indulgent desire to have ‘little yous’ running around. I blame the parents for choosing to procreate in the first place and then subjecting their children to an unfit caregiver bc they couldnt provide a better alternative.

Susan

The same could be true of a man going to work and leaving his children with their mother. I’m sure there are much more cases of child abuse at the hands of parents rather than unrelated caregivers.

Why do we need to attack the parents whenever anything bad ever happens to a child?
Blake

There are many more cases of child abuse by parents than by strangers. Licensed daycare providers would probably have been a much better choice than an individual, but either way this is not the parents’ fault. It is 2011 and both men and women work, both out of necessity and out of desire. Working hard in a career sets a good example for children. I know my children are getting a better education from people who have degrees in early childhood education than they would get from me, whose expertise is not in that area.
texas heartland

How sad that a trusted sitter would hurt a child. Thank God that she was caught before serious injury occured. I would think though, in this country, if this is a first offence, she will get a slap on the wrist and told “bad girl”. The life of a baby is not worth squat in this country.
Amber

Wow this story is bringing a lot of ignorant comments of people wanting to blame the parents for wanting to do the right thing. Are you forgetting that food, gas, utilities, etc are increasing in cost and some have not been this expensive since 2008 maybe this family wanted to stay home when they planned their family but a lot changed from conception to now so they both have to work to make sure their family has everything they need and also to provide for future expenses. Also did you read the children were premature which means they were in the hospital longer then the two days after delivery so that was an added medical bill that was probably unexpected. Instead of making them feel worse be happy that the family caught this early.
JESSE

It just seems strange to me that there were so many instances. How long did she watch the children before they viewed the tape? I know that one session you could still have that many.
Glenn

We are finally in a place where my wife can stay home. You can cut where you need to in order to stay home….figure the parents drive time/gas and what she pays for three kids. Unless she has a GOOD job…they can figure a way. But if they can not…this will open their eyes. I dont want to be in their shoes.
KD

If you cant afford to raise children, then dont have any. It’s not fair to subject a child to an impoverished lifestyle bc you have a self indulgent desire to have ‘little yous’ running around. I blame the parents for choosing to procreate in the first place and then subjecting their children to an unfit caregiver bc they couldnt provide a better alternative

CD

You moron. I live in Westlake, and I know multimillionaires who have nannies and sitters looking after their kids. It’s not a matter of not being able to afford quality care or provide a better alternative for the children – it’s a matter of conducting thorough background checks, calling multiple references, and performing random visits.

MELISSA JENKINS

OK MR. KNOW IT ALL CD…WHAT GIVES?? YOU SEEM TO HAVE ALOT OF NOTHING TO SAY. I GREW UP IN MISSOURI, ON A FARM IN A DOUBLE WIDE TRAILER, AND WE HAD 10 ACRES OF LAND, AND I WASN’T TRAILER TRASH. WHAT DOES A TRAILER, HAVE TO DO WITH THE SITUATION AT HAND?? WHY BLAME THE PARENTS?? AND WHO ABUSED THE CHILDREN, NOT THE PARENTS..SO LET’S HOPE YOU ARE NOT ON THE JURY POLL, BECAUSE YOU WILL SAY SOMETHING STUPID IN COURT, LIKE OOPS…NOT GUILTY..OH I FORGOT YOU ARE THE SMARTEST DUMB PERSON I HAVE EVER MET…LOL
MELISSA JENKINS

OOPS MY BAD THE LAST COMMENT WAS MEANT FOR KD NOT CD MY APOLOGIES TO THE GENTLEMEN. THATS WHY I USE MY REAL WHOLE NAME…

Donna

Man you people can’t blame it on the parents. They did the right thing. I hope that abuser rots in prison and she is abused everyday. Sorry, thats how I feel.

Kim

I agree with Donna. The parents did nothing wrong, except ended up with a poor choice for a babysitter. At least they got proof of what they thought might be happening so they could proceed without it being their word against hers.

CB

I hope the inmates set her on fire.
James Deangelis

can I go visit her in Prison and then slap her, shove her, shake her and throw her around too?

Can I? Can I?

Who’s with me?

Kim

Maybe they should make that video the lunchtime movie at the prison so the other inmates can see what she did and then they’d know exactly how to treat her

ruby

Omg reading all the comments about race and working and non working parents….we need to hope and pray that the babies are ok and hopefully they are able to grow up and not have any kind of disabilities because of what this person has done to them. Im sure that this care taker will receive her full punishment when received!

diversity

Thank you Ruby; my thoughts exactly.

lakey

Why are you guys blaming the parents for someone else’s demons. Apparently the lady has a problem and it is no one’s fault but her own.
diversity

I am glad the parents had a camera. Most parents have to work. Whether by babysitters, parents, or mama’s current boyfriend children are abused and mistreated. So lets all be protective of children and less judmental of each other
2sister

Someone could afford to have kids, and then something happens that changes that. For example, one parent might get really sick. If the parent gets well, then they might both have to work to pay off bills. I’m not saying that some people don’t have their priorities in the wrong place, but is wrong for us to judge.
2sister

Why are there so much hateful comments on the board toward other posters? If you don’t agree with them, it is possible to say that in civil terms. It isn’t necessarily to call them names or make fun of them. Even if they are rude to you, you don’t have to be rude back.

By the way, I don’t think we should judge the parents. People could have children, and then find themselves in financial woes at a later time. They really might have to work. I imagine that the children have some very expensive medical bills. Also, we don’t know what kind of jobs they have. They might both need to work to put food on the table.
mother of 3

I’m not judging because you have to do what you have to do to put food on your table. My husband works hard in order for me to to stay home w/ our pre-school aged multiples. We live by following Dave Ramsey. We drive two older reliable paid off cars. We eat at home. We clip coupons and we do not live beyond our means. We purchased a home basing it on one salary. We do not live in a shack. We live in a 4 bedroom home in a nice area with good schools .We also just returned from a family vacation to Disneyland. We do all this on 53k a year. It can be done. Dave Ramsey folks and you too will see what it’s like to be free of car payments!