A Failure to Protect. Resolving the Battered Mother's Dilemma Evan Stark Woodbridge, CT. 06525 203-393-5515; e-mail
[email protected] Draft:12.27.99 Page 1 of 96 Page 2 of 96 INTRODUCTION On September ll, l992, based on injuries observed on the hands of 7 year old Daniel Lazarra, the principal of the Sandy Hook school reported a case of suspected child abuse to the Newtown police department and the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF). Further investigation revealed numerous bruises on the boy's back, buttocks, legs and arms. Daniel told police that he had been struck recently with a belt and slapped by his mother, Lavonne Lazarra, and her life-in boyfriend, Miguel Sabastian, after he was found playing with a B.B. pistol. When Daniel failed to return home as usual, Lavonne called the school and was told he had missed the bus. Shortly afterwards, the police arrived at the house, accompanied by a caseworker from Connecticut's DCF. Lavonne's four other children were taken into custody, including a new born, and she and Mr. Sabastian were placed in the back of a police car and taken to the station for questioning. The same DCF investigator had visited the home a week earlier. She found the baby in the basement washroom. The picture painted in her report had the poignancy of Victorian melodrama. The baby, Candy, age l year, was lying on the mattress with a bottle in her mouth. She had a variety of blankets around her. She was noticeably dirty, has a smell about her.