Politics | 05/14/2009 10:00 am

Mothers Turn to Internet for Clues in Children's 'Murders' (Video)

Suspecting foul play — and police corruption — mothers of the children they suspect were murdered find community online.

By Liza Porteus Viana

Lois Duncan Arquette with daughter Kait, 1983

When Cynthia Robinson got word that her son, Joshua, was found hanging from a tree in a nearby park in McGregor, TX, on February 16, 2006, she simply couldn’t believe it. The police told her it was suicide, but that was impossible, she thought. Her husband committed suicide in 2003, and Josh made a vow to her then and there.

"He turned to me and said, ‘Mom, I would never hurt you like this,’" Robinson recalls. "I still, three years later, do not believe my son would take his own life."

Cynthia and her son had had a fight about his girlfriend the night before, but nothing out of the ordinary — a typical son getting frustrated with his mother for getting into his business. "He’s almost 20 years old. I try not to worry but I am a worrywart and I am a good mother," Cynthia told wOw. Josh left the house and still wasn’t home by three o’clock AM, so Cynthia turned off the lights. "I got this strange feeling that something was wrong and I started scrubbing my kitchen — which is what I do when I get nervous," she explained.

Soon, in the wee hours of the morning, Robinson received a call from a neighbor saying there was someone in the park and that police were on the scene. Her younger son, Michael, ran to the park, about a block away. Cynthia began to follow but collapsed in the road, overcome by despair. A police car then pulled up and an officer got out.

"I said, ‘Please don’t tell me what you’re gonna tell me,’" Cynthia recalls telling the officer, who then explained that Josh’s body was found in the park. He had hanged himself, said the officer. Cynthia simply couldn’t believe that her son would wrap a chain around his neck and end his life. So she went looking for answers.

Incredulous, Robinson hired a private investigator, and asked police and other local officials for documents relating to her son’s death — toxicology reports, autopsy results, 9-1-1 tapes. All documents had been destroyed, she was told. Unsatisfied, Robinson soon schooled herself in open-records laws and finally gained access to some of the reports.

Pictures show Josh hanging from a tree, yes, but low enough so that his knees are on the ground. Bruising on his hands and arms suggests he tried to free himself from the chain, and there are no signs of a broken neck or brain hemorrhage, which are indicative of such a suicide. But to this day, Cynthia hasn’t gotten very far in her search for justice. She suspects the police not only had something to do with her son’s death, but helped cover it up. Many lawyers won’t touch her case, she says, because trying to prosecute law enforcement isn’t an easy endeavor. And the case can’t be reopened until the cause of death is changed.

"I want the truth. I want justice for Joshua. He’s earthbound" until the truth comes out, Cynthia says.

‘It’s the Mothers Who Become the Tigers’

Unfortunately, Cynthia’s situation is by no means unique in the United States. There are many parents out there — mothers, in particular — still searching for answers about their children’s sudden, mysterious deaths. In fact, a community of mothers who believe law enforcement either impeded the investigation or played a role in the deaths has sprung up on the Internet. When they can’t find answers from investigators, they take to the Web to correspond with other women about their plight, look for private investigators and simply console one another.

7 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

My heart goes out to these women and to all women who have losted children. I could not imagine loosing my daughter to anything especially murder. I hope these women keep up their fight and one day get answers they so truly, truly, truly deserve.

By C Hardy on 05/14/2009 10:38 am

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I hope they find answers. It must be such an endless ache, to know that somebody harmed your child and may not ever be punished for it. That they may get clean away, and not even be revealed as a murderer. I can’t imagine how that would eat away at a person. It makes my heart hurt just to think about it.

By Gramma J on 05/14/2009 3:31 pm

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This is truly tragic. Law enforcement officials have a sacred duty, and most perform it admirably and faithfully; it’s always terrible when some break and abuse that trust.

By Rachel F on 05/14/2009 3:55 pm

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I am the mother of Joshua Robinson. I feel I must amend some of this report.

The officer only said, "I’m sorry, Ma’am." He did not tell me that this was a suicide. Nothing.

I did contact the former Interim Chief, Chris Molina, on Feb. 22, to inquire into the progress of the investigation. He told me, "We don’t begin an investigation until something suspicious is found." I told him the whole thing is suspicious, because my son would not take his own life.

About two weeks later, I spoke with former Det. Kory Martin. He said, "As of today, the investigation is over, the death was ruled a suicide." I asked, "What investigation, Molina told me there wasn’t one?" He told me he had conducted his own investigation, talking to three people I knew he hadn’t! After double checking, I called him back, telling him he hadn’t talked to anyone but my son, Michael. He told me he had found out all he needed to know from him. I told him, "NO, it was Josh and I arguing, had you talked to me, you may have gotten a different perspective!" Besides, Michael went into shock, when he arrived on scene, recognizing his brother from the clothes he had on! Yet, Martin asked him to positively ID his OWN BROTHER!!!!!!!!

In March, 2006, I found out that Joshua had been seen in Amsler Park by a McGregor patrol officer @ 1AM. I have asked the former Interim Chief, the former successive chief, and the current chief, which officer had seen Joshua. The former chief, Ron Wadkins, said, "I can’t remember." [Two officers on duty!]

As for the documents, I used the FOIA to obtain these, however, police protocol was not followed. The statements of the former on duty officers, Kirby and Norris, were not generated until after April 24, 2006!

I specifically requested the official time/taped copy of the 911 call. I was told these documents had been destroyed! WHY????

I located the complainant, the man who called 911. He told me he called 911 @ 5:15AM. McGregor dispatched 1 officer to Amsler Park ‘For Possible Suicide’ @ 5:35AM! Why the 20 minute difference?

All 8 McGregor officers knew my sons, especially Joshua, very well. All four officers, on scene, stated they did not recognize the subject. Yet, only 8 minutes later, Norris ran a wants and warrants check on the ‘unknown’ subject with NO identification! Some 45 minutes later, when he was removed from the chain, the back of his shirt was pulled down, revealing ROBINSON tattooed across his upper back. Norris commented, ‘because of the proximity to the Robinson’s home, they figured he must be a cousin they had never dealt with.’ [??????]

Former Chief Wadkins, when asked about the wants and warrants check, said, "It’s not like the officers have drivers’ license numbers in their heads. A wants and warrants check is done in case there’s a warrant, it can be dismissed." I said, "Who cares, he’s dead!!!"

The autopsy report does not support the suicide theory:

"Tardieu spots on the anterior surfaces of the thighs, as well as on the posterior surface of the body." "Red-purple parenchyma with pulmonary edema." "Suicide/Hanging."

No investigation, thus, no investigative findings!

Questions? Contact me: welovejoshua@yahoo.com

By Cynthia Robinson on 05/15/2009 10:23 am

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God Bless you Cynthia! I hope you receive the answers you seek!

By Tee Zee on 05/16/2009 10:51 am

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Cynthia,

I read of your story a few months ago and my heart goes out to you. I pray that the case involving your son is solved soon and that you maintain the strength and courage you have, to see you through. My thoughts and prayers are with you and all parents who have lost a child, especially under suspicious circumstances.

By HA BIBI on 05/17/2009 8:00 pm

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Cynthia here~The story of my son’s tragic death…..It’s no longer simply to make the public aware of what can REALLY happen by the officers that carry a badge, a gun, and are grown-up bullies/got picked on by bullies!

Becoming an LEO, is the right career path to take, if you uphold the LAW!

My story is posted all over the web, on a variety of sites….but the real tragedy here…is the "Equal Justice For All"????

Where did the American Justice System go? Behind lobbyists, representatives of US, power, money……..America is BROKEN!!!

Wake up and smell the coffee!

In my mind, there is no fathomable reason that Joshua’s case can’t be looked into…AT ALL! At the very least, an Equivocal Death Investigation should be already underway.

Joshua WAS and IS my son! A horrifying thought hit me 3 days after his death~THEY FOUND HIM ALONE IN THE PARK IN THE DARK!!!!!

However, I also knew I couldn’t do my own research/investigation on this case, if I didn’t open my mind to the possibility that Joshua may have committed suicide…..I had to eliminate my other son/Joshua’s brother, as a suspect!!! This process is called Criminal Investigation 101~ALL DEATHS ARE INVESTIGATED AS A HOMICIDE, UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE!

I read a report, today, that the DPS is need of an overhaul! I’d say! Read the Texas Rangers website…read what investigations they are allowed to participate in by their own Doctrine!

I just don’t understand….What happened to the little man???? The ones that our Congress men/women are supplying the nutrition on their tables!

By Cynthia Robinson on 05/16/2009 12:13 pm