County sets up fund for boy in abuse case

County sets up fund for boy in abuse case

Adoptive mother alleged to have denied food to, mistreated 11-year-old

By BOB GARDINIER, Staff writer

First published: Tuesday, June 3, 2008

TROY -- A fund has been set up for anyone who would like to donate to help the boy who authorities say was found abused and living in deplorable conditions in the home of his adoptive mother.

The 11-year-old boy, whose name is being withheld by the Times Union, was allegedly abused by his adoptive mother, Sharmon S. "Sherry" Evans, who was charged May 10 in city court with misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.

Since the story broke three weeks ago, the Times Union has been swamped with requests from people in the community asking how they can help.

Christopher Meyer, spokesman for Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino, said the fund was set up because of the reaction from the public to the horror story of abuse. County officials did not comment further on the case.

Evans, who got the boy as a foster child then adopted him about 10 years ago, is free on her own recognizance awaiting trial.

The boy told police in a statement that he was neglected for as long as he could remember. He said he was regularly punched and slapped, denied food, not allowed to use the bathroom and forced to wear a diaper. He alleged he also had to sleep on a bare floor without blankets or a pillow.

According to a deposition taken from a 14-year-old friend, the boy was so hungry that he would stand near the garbage cans in the cafeteria at their school -- the Knickerbacker Middle School in Lansingburgh -- and ask classmates for their leftovers.

The case came to light when the child showed up at his friend's house May 9 with $15 in his hand saying he was running away from home. The friend's parents took him to police.

"I made up my mind to run away because I can't take it anymore," the victim told police in a statement on file with the City Court clerk's office.

How to helpMoney can be donated to the Rensselaer County Adoptive Children's Fund and sent to 127 Bloomingrove Drive, Troy, NY 12180. The fund has been specially set up for the boy, so his name need not be included on the donation.