Note: Throughout the following direct quotes from various sources will be presented in Bold.
Commentary and opinion of the Editors of Bubbaworld will appear in Italic.

The Boy In the Closet - Part 3

Publication Date: 8/20/05

On August 11, 2005, a single child abuse count was filed in Sequoyah County District Court against Brenna Ann Smith, 30, of Gore, OK.  She is the daughter of Sharon Kay Smith who was previously charged in this shocking case of child abuse.  It is alleged that among other forms of abuse Brenna Ann Smith along with her mother took turns stomping on the feet of the 4-year-old victim.  Following her arrest Brenna Smith was released on $5,000 bond.

On the same day that Brenna Smith was charged, her mother Sharon was scheduled for a preliminary hearing.  However prosecutors announced that they intended to file an amended complaint against Sharon Smith adding a charged of child neglect.  Owing to this additional charge the preliminary hearing for Sharon Smith was rescheduled for August 18th.

Court records indicate that the victim told investigators that Brenna Smith placed handcuffs on his ankles, placed him in a darkened closet, withheld food from him, spanked him with a belt and stomped on his feet as a form of punishment all either at the direction of or in conjunction with her mother Sharon Smith.

Brenna Smith, who has a son who will be 1 year old in September, denied any involvement in the abuse.  She also claims that her mother didn't do anything wrong, and the child's parents are the ones responsible for abusing the victim.  She also claims they (she and her mother) contacted DHS on numerous occasions about the abuse of the child at the hands of Melanie Smith and Roy Albert Smith.  Brenna Smith also claims that she and her mother confronted Melanie and Albert Smith about why they were starving the child.   Brenna Smith told investigators that she and her mother fed the boy while he was in their care, but they never saw the bruises on his body because they never bathed him.

On August 18, 2005 the preliminary hearing for Sharon Kay Smith was once again rescheduled, this time to September 6.  Sequoyah County assistant district attorney Jeff Sheridan indicated that Sharon Kay Smith's case will be consolidated with the case of her daughter, Brenna A. Smith.

Regarding the child, all reports indicate that he continues to thrive and has 'fallen in love with his foster parents'.  News media reports quote Muskogee County Sheriff's Lt. Tim Brown as stating:

Talking to him is like turning a page in a book.  He doesn't know he was mistreated.

As cards and gifts for the child have poured in from around the country the boy had to be shown how to open the presents.  Lt. Brown was said,  He's never had a present.  He didn't know how to open it.

A point of contact has been set up for those wishing to send cards and well wishes to the child. That address is as follows:

Minor Child R.K.
c/o Eric Jones
1515 E Okmulgee St.
Muskogee, OK 74403

If you have any questions regarding sending cards or gifts you may call (918) 686-8181

As is always the case we at Bubbaworld take great pleasure in reporting the continued recovery of the victim in this case.  If ever there is a child that deserves love, kindness and lots of presents it is a little four year old boy that did not even know what presents were, let alone how to open them.

That another person has finally been charged in this case is also gratifying.   However the question remains how many other people in the 'Smith family circle' knew of the abuse this child suffered and failed to do anything about it?   Hopefully the continuing investigation will provide the answer and soon.

While it is expected that persons accused of a crime profess innocence and are certainly entitled to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a fair trail I just can not help but feel that claims of innocence attributed to Brenna Ann Smith ring hollow.

This is particularly the case in regard to Brenna Smith's claim that 'they never saw the bruises on his body because they never bathed him'.  This in spite of the child reportedly residing in Sharon Smith's home for three months prior to his rescue.  Does this mean that the child never had a bath over the course of three months or that they (Sharon and Brenna Smith) simply let him take baths whenever or however he liked?  Such a claim simply does not hold water with any sensible parent.  One that knows you should not leave a four year old unattended in the bath tub.

Likewise, Brenna Smith's claims that she and her mother Sharon Smith repeatedly called the Department of Human Services to report the child's abuse at the hands of his mother and her half-brother/husband simply do not ring true.  All it took was a single anonymous tip to DHS to result in the Gore, OK police department going to the Sharon Smith home, where the child was residing, and discovering his condition.  If Brenna and Sharon Smith were so concerned for the child's condition and abuse to call DHS repeatedly, why did they simply not load him into a car and take him into the DHS office for an examination while they had him in their possession for three months?  It is the opinion of this writer than Brenna Smith's claims simply do not pass the smell test.

Another aspect of this case which does not pass our smell test is the fact that while the Muskogee County District Court saw fit to hold Melanie Smith, and half-brother/husband, Roy Albert Smith without bond the Sequoyah County District Court saw fit to release Sharon Kay Smith on bond of $10,000 and Brenna Ann Smith on bond of $5,000 and this in spite of the fact that the charges against the latter two are just as serious as those against the former.

Hopefully someone is watching out for the welfare of the soon to be one year old child of Brenna Ann Smith...

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