As a 3-year-old
boy with debilitating brain injuries due to child abuse, young Wyatt Rewoldt is
now taking slow steps toward mastering the basics of a normal life: talking,
eating, walking – and, yes, dancing.
But the St. Clair
Shores toddler who has made dramatic strides in his recovery may also soon accomplish
great things as the catalyst for a new state statute – dubbed “Wyatt’s law” –
that would allow parents to search a computer database to prevent their child from being subjected to child care or babysitting duties by a documented abuser.
The
legislation calling for a child-abuse registry, introduced this morning by a trio a
state representatives, was sparked by the relentless efforts of Wyatt’s mom,
Erica Hammel, and her letter-writing campaign to lawmakers and an online petition drive that
has generated 16,000 supporters.
Three brain surgeries
and suffered brain damage at the hands of her ex-husband’s girlfriend. Hammel had
harbored suspicions early on that the woman, Rachel Edwards, was not fit to
take care of Wyatt. But an online Google search turned up no reason for
concern.
After the attack, Hammel discovered that Edwards had a
history of child abuse – two criminal convictions in 2011 that resulted in
probation. As Wyatt began his recovery, his mom emerged determined to change state
law so that the public can scan a list of convicted child abusers, just as the
state provides a list of names and residential locations for sex offenders.
said Hammel, 26, last year. “But Wyatt fought to live so … I have to fight to
be the best mom I can be to him and to make sure that his story will help save
other children.”
Three state representatives
stepped up to take on the cause, Sarah
Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores), Derek
Miller (D-Warren) and Vanessa
Guerra (D-Saginaw). They held a press conference this morning to announce
a package of bills to create a child-abuse registry and they were joined by Hammel.
A registry similar to sex offenders’ list
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| Edwards |
“You took
my son’s innocence away, but I will not let you take his dignity,” Hammel
told Edwards in Macomb County Circuit Court earlier this year when she was sentenced to 33 months
in prison after pleading no contest to second-degree child abuse. However, Edwards
received credit for 236 days served in the county jail, which means she will be
released soon.
“Erica Hammel reached out to me and shared her
heart-wrenching story,” said Rep. Roberts. “She then asked for a solution. She
wanted a child-abuse registry so other parents and caregivers in the future
have a way to make sure their child is never in harm’s way of a convicted child
abuser.
“Parents have
the ability to search a database for sex offenders. They should also be able to
find convicted child abusers so that they can take steps to protect their
children. Wyatt’s Law will let them do that.”
extensive injuries, Hammel expressed concern about his father’s girlfriend, but
there was no way for her to check to see if the woman was a danger to Wyatt.
Hammel didn’t learn until it was too late that the woman had two prior
convictions for child abuse.
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| Wyatt and Mom, Erica, 2014 |
“We all want
our children to be safe, and this registry provides an invaluable resource to
help parents and guardians secure that safety,” said Miller, a former assistant
prosecutor for Macomb County who handled Edwards’ case involving Wyatt’s abuse.
“… I think it is our duty to do whatever we can to keep kids out of harm’s
way.”
Judge Caretti layed the groundwork
a big break by allowing her another chance. Caretti sentenced Edwards to 30
days of probation after she pleaded no contest to a third-degree child abuse
charge in a separate 2011 case. At the time the judge pontificated: “… To abuse a 1-year-old baby the way you
did is evil. It is almost beyond comprehension.”
 |
| Caretti |
Shortly after Caretti’s decision, as a result of the Nov.
1, 2013, “Shaken Baby Syndrome” incident, Wyatt suffered brain injuries, head
trauma, a skull fracture, broken ribs and eye injuries, according to a doctor
that treated the boy during seven weeks of rehabilitation at Children’s
Hospital of Michigan.
Wyatt underwent three brain surgeries that eventually
resulted in the insertion of a permanent shunt in his brain to drain excess
fluid. A cross-eyed situation that developed during his recovery is fading but
the child still has limited sight in his left eye.
Now 3 years old, Wyatt still struggles to eat solid foods or
walk in a typical gait. He attends physical therapy several times a week.
While
his recent entry in pre-school has sparked a breakthrough, Wyatt could grow to
become a healthy but intellectually challenged adult, or the prospect still
exists that he could live a life of disability.
Three solutions
The three-bill package introduced in the state House earlier today would:
* Create a child
abuse offender registry administered by the Michigan State Police.
* Require those
convicted of first- through third-degree child abuse to register for 10 years,
and fourth-degree child abusers to register for five years. They would have to
provide their name, address, photograph, physical description and a summary
of their convictions.
* Create
penalties for those who fail to register, or fail to update their registration
on the child abuse offender registry.
According to
the state police, more than 1,200 convictions for child abuse have been
recorded in the last three years.
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| Wyatt, 2015 |
“I suspected
that something wasn’t right when Wyatt would visit his dad, but there was no
way for me to look into this woman’s background to see if she could be a danger
to my son,” Hammel explained.
“Wyatt nearly
died. He continues to have challenges, but he’s a fighter. A child abuse
registry would be justice for Wyatt and could save the lives of other kids.”
While the legislation is expected to garner support
in the state House on an emotional basis, the bills come as a legal challenge
has been raised regarding the fairness of the minimal child-abuse reporting
requirements that currently exist within the state Child Protective Services
agency.
