Remember Jennifer Petkov?
If not, here's a little reminder:
Dying Girl, 7, Taunted by Neighbors in Trenton
TRENTON, Mich. - Her family says 7-year-old Kathleen Edward is in the final stages of a degenerative brain disorder diagnosed as Huntington's Disease - the same disease which killed her mother, Laura, when she was only 24.
Neighbors Jennifer and Scott Petkov, who have been feuding with the family, admitted to posting grim depictions of Laura and Kathleen on Facebook. One photo depicts Laura in the arms of the grim reaper, while the other features Kathleen's face above a set of crossbones.
The couple also have a coffin hitched to a pick-up truck in front of the house, which they say is nothing more than a halloween decoration.
Here's the original local news report on this sickening story:
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OK. Now, the good news was what followed in the weeks after this:
--A Facebook page was been set up to bring attention to these pieces of human feces. (Note: Since deactivated)
--Another Facebook Group was been set up to support the little girl.(Note: Since deactivated)
--Reddit, among others, raised a bunch of money to help the family.
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Then came an incredibly heartwarming (if bittersweet) follow-up:
Dying little girl cyber-bullied by neighbors gets toy shopping spree of a lifetime in Ann Arbor
Since the neighbors' actions, the story has generated attention around the world. In comments and online forums, again and again, people asked: “How could they?”
Ann Arbor toy store owners Hans and Tricia Masing of Tree Town Toys wondered that, too. Hearing of the incident made him cry, Hans admitted. They began to construct a fundraising campaign and then a day of a lifetime for Kathleen and her family. The idea took off.
“This exceeds our wildest expectations,” Hans Masing said.
“Anything you want is yours,” Simone, the toy store owners' 8-year-old daughter, told Kathleen Thursday morning shortly after she walked through the door.
Simone took the little girl’s hand, and together they walked toward the shelves and shelves of toys.
What did Kathleen think of it?
Her answer: more big smiles and a shy giggle. She put on a toy fireman's hat. Wide-eyed, she made her way around the store, stopping to play with toys along the way.
Bless you, little one.
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Meanwhile, as for the piece of filth known as Jennifer Petkov, karma finally appeared to have happened:
Woman that taunted 7-year-old girl arraigned for reckless driving
WOODHAVEN — A woman who has gained worldwide notoriety for tormenting a 7-year-old girl dying of Huntington’s disease and her family was arraigned Friday afternoon in 33rd District Court on charges of felonious assault and reckless driving.
If convicted of felonious assault, Jennifer Petkov, 33, of Trenton could face up to four years in prison. The charge of reckless driving is a misdemeanor and carries a sentence of up to 93 days in jail.
Petkov is accused of trying to run over a neighbor at about 4:25 p.m. Wednesday as the woman was crossing the street in the 200 block of Detroit.
...
The squabble gained international attention after Petkov posted pictures on the Internet of Rose’s 24-year-old daughter, Laura Edward, who died last year of Huntington’s disease, and Rose’s granddaughter, 7-year-old Kathleen Edward, who also has Huntington’s. Her grandfather also died of the disease...
According to police, the woman crossing the street was going to visit Rose.
So, the final chapter last fall SEEMED to be that this horrible woman was hauled off to jail while the little girl, while still terminally ill, at least was showered in love and compassion by the community, and at least her family's financial burden was lifted somewhat.
That should have been the end of it, finally allowing little Kathleen Edward to at least live out her final months in something resembling peace and love.
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UNFORTUNATELY, that brings us to today's revisiting of the newest development:
Petkovs' Neighbor Tells Trenton Police: ‘I Can’t Take It Anymore’
Jennifer Petkov's former neighbor files a complaint with police, claiming the harassment of her and her dying granddaughter has continued.
Rebecca Rose, the grandmother of a terminally ill child who gained attention after a neighbor harassed her on Facebook last year, told Trenton police on Thursday that she's still being targeted.
“I’m done. This is my life ... this is my dead daughter, my handicapped daughter who can’t even sit outside without (being called) a retard...this is my life,” Rebecca Rose told Trenton Patch on Friday.
Rose, a grandmother of a terminally ill 7-year-old girl, spoke out Friday about what she told police is constant harassment aimed at her and her granddaughter that has been going on for years.
...
Rose was “crying and extremely upset,” according to the report, and told police that the constant harassment had been going on for years.
Facebook documents Rose gave to Trenton police showed comments allegedly attributed to the neighbors stating:
“Detroit St. Party, When that kid dies, cause boys and girls it’s to happen.”
“Dead and gone, only a few more hours till party time, I’m going to visit a grave and take a piss.”
...
"Doctors say Kathleen might not live another year," Rose said. "She has seizures and is in a wheelchair."
I don't know what else to add this time, except to say that in addition to raising money for the little girls' medical bills, perhaps we should be raising money to just flat-out buy the Rose/Edwards family a new house outside of the area. Trenton isn't exactly a high-rent district, especially these days; I'd imagine you could get a decent house several miles away for $60K or so.
I'll just close by saying that even in todays' ultra-partisan society, there are still a few issues that are completely non-partisan, like the universal hatred and disgust with the Westboro Church/Fred Phelps slime. The Petkovs seem to fit right in with them.
Beyond that, have at it...
UPDATE: OK, I guess that's not all; I just checked and saw that both of the Facebook pages linked to above have since been disbanded (presumably because everyone thought this horror story was done with), so I've gone ahead and set up a new one:
Save Kathleen Edward from Jennifer Petkov
Update x2: Here's another article from a couple of days ago regarding the latest developments; it doesn't add much, but does at least note that the police aren't blowing it off:
“We’re going to investigate this to verify who sent the messages,” Police Chief William Lilienthal said.
He said if there is an indication that the suspect violated a probation order, police will notify court officials.
Update x3: Someone in the comments took issue with my using terms like "piece of shit" and "evil" for someone who is clearly literally "sick".
My response is simple:
Have I called for violence against them (the husband isn't nearly as horrific as the wife, but he sure as hell has been enabling her)? No.
Have I called for them to be locked up? Not in so many words, but yes, I'm certainly calling for Petkov to be taken far, far away. Psychological treatment? Sure, whatever, as long as she and her husband don't torment this family any further.
What am I suggesting? I'm suggesting raising money to help get the FAMILY away from the PETKOVS. Obviously, they shouldn't have to move; it's the Petkovs who should lose their home. However, the legal system doesn't seem to be working very well in that regard, so the only logical alternative is to move the Rose/Edwards' family away from there.
Obviously they may not want to be the ones to move (understandable), but I think they should at least be in a position to make that decision.
And no, I'll be damned if I'm going to apologize for the language I'm using to describe Petkov.
As an aside, the Facebook page has broken through the 25-member mark, so I've shortened the link URL somewhat.
Update x4: Just FYI, the Facebook page already has almost 500 members (I hate the term "Likes"), one of whom has volunteered to see about taking the next step (setting up some sort of Causes campaign, hopefully fundraising, whatever).
Update x5: Someone on the Facebook page has informed me that Kathleens' family is actually requesting that no further funds be raised for their personal use, and instead would like people to make donations towards Huntington's Disease research. This is not only noble on their part, it makes perfect sense, and I'm kicking myself for not suggesting this in the first place.
Here's a direct link to the donation page of the Huntington's Disease Society of America.
Here's a direct link to the donation page of the Michigan Chapter of the HDSA.
