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Mar 21, 2008 4:09 pm US/Central
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Boys Thrown Off Bridge Had History Of Being Abused
Marianne Martinez
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
CBS 11 News has learned new information about the two boys thrown from a Dallas bridge by their mother earlier this month. Court documents are alleging that other family members may have abused the boys.
It's been a week and a half since witnesses say Khandi Busby threw her two sons off the Jim Miller Bridge onto Interstate-30 in Dallas, before jumping off herself. One of her sons, 8-year-old Gary Ford, continues to recover at Children's Hospital.
Court documents show the two boys had been victims of physical abuse and neglect since October of 2004, not just from their mother, but by other family members.
Papers show Ford, and his 6-year-old brother Derrick Tennison, have had a long history of physical abuse. According to the documents, in fall of 2004, Tennison had an, "old burn on his upper left arm" and "a bruise on his eye." For those injuries Child Protective Services determined neglectful supervision and the family received CPS services until January 2005.
In March of 2005, the boys were placed into foster care after their mother was arrested for assaulting her ex-boyfriend. The kids were returned to her in November.
"When she was out of jail, and she was able to complete some of the things the court asked her to do, the judge approved for the children to go back home," explained Marissa Gonzales with CPS.
In October of 2006 Tennison's aunt allegedly, "hit him with a brush." Papers also state that the child had, "burns on his forehead" and "bite marks on his arm." Upon further investigation, family members told CPS that Tennison got the injuries from playing rough with his cousins. For this incident, CPS workers referred the family to an outreach organization.
CPS did not receive any reports of abuse between 2006 and March of this year.
The court documents show that Ford suffered life threatening internal injuries when his mother allegedly threw him 22 feet from the bridge. "We've heard it was possible that Gary was clipped by a car," Gonzales said.
Tennison was released from the hospital last week and is now in foster care. Gonzales told CBS 11 News that the 6-year-old is doing "okay" and has been able to visit his brother in the hospital.
During a court hearing, scheduled for next week, CPS officials say they will push to keep Tennison in foster care and to place Ford in foster care once he is released from the hospital. According to officials, CPS interviewed family members for possible placement, but found they were not suitable.
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