~Marcus Fiesel~ Rest In Peace

2006 September 5

by photomommy

I heard about this story through several of my myspace friends. The first time I read this article I cried like a baby. This is why we need to spread the word on autism. People need to understand these children. They are very special and deserve to be loved.

This article was published in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Foster Parents Charged in Boy’s Gruesome Death

BY MARGARET A. MCGURK ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Liz and David Carroll Jr. were charged today with involuntary manslaughter in the death of foster child Marcus Fiesel, whom they reported missing Aug. 15. Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said the Carrolls left the 3-year-old “restrained” in a closet in their Union Township Clermont County home while they went to a family reunion in Kentucky on Aug. 4. Investigators believe he was dead when they got home two days later. David Carroll is accused of then taking the boy’s body to Brown County and burning it. Marcus’ remains have not been found. Other family members knew about the death and helped cover it up, Deters said.”We believe everyone was aware, everyone covered up.

The press conference that they held was part of the cover-up,” Deters said, who added that the Carrolls did not confess. “They lied to the bitter end.”

Liz Carroll initially told police that Marcus wandered away during a visit to Juilfs Park in Anderson Township, when she passed out because of a heart condition. She appeared at a lengthy televised press conference a week later and said, “I want my son back.”

At the same press conference she said, “I love children, children are my life.”

She also claimed that she intended to raise Marcus permanently. “He’s ours until he’s 18,” she said.

Deters said more charges are likely.”These charges are to hold them in custody,” Deters said. Liz and David Carroll are each charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child endangering. David Carroll also faces one charge of abuse of a corpse. A Hamilton County grand jury returned indictments on Monday.”We have the potential of other more serious charges, but we wanted to alert the people so they know what happened to Marcus and I know people on the east side that are still looking for Marcus,” Deters said. Hundreds of volunteers and rescuers searched the park and the neighborhood for several days after Marcus was reported missing.

The Carrolls were arrested around 1:30 p.m. and taken to the Hamilton County Justice Center. About 5 p.m., the Clermont County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit arrived at their home on Valley Wood Drive and surrounded it with crime scene tape. They were joined by detectives, Clermont County deputies and Union Township police. At 5:23 p.m., a Crime Scene investigator went into the house to take photographs.Meanwhile, children and neighbors gathered nearby to watch.

Deters said he would meet with Clermont County prosecutor Don White to determine where the case will be tried. The Carrolls lived in Clermont County, but the investigation has been led by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office because Marcus was reported missing in Anderson Township.”Evidence was uncovered that these individuals on Aug. 4 went to a family reunion in Williamstown, Ky., and Marcus was left in a closet for two days by himself,” Deters said. “When they got back, the evidence will show, he was deceased.”Marcus’ body was taken by David Carrroll and, we believe, incinerated in Brown County,” Deters said.Deters said the Brown County sheriff’s department is searching for the boy’s body.

Marcus was said to have the developmental level of a child half his age.”The bottom line is you wouldn’t treat a dog like this,” Deters said. “They never should have had a child like this in their custody.”