Jury pins abuse squarely on mom

By John Agar

The Grand Rapids Press

Amber King thinks of herself as an angel, sent to protect other children.

At the heart of a disturbing abuse case, the 14-year-old -- chained in the basement, subject to beatings, with broken ribs, teeth, fingers and feet -- helped convict her adoptive mother, Sandra Parker, of first-, second- and third-degree child abuse.

Now, the girl said Friday: "Nobody else has to go through what I went through."

A juror, touched by the girl's ordeal, sent her a note after the verdict.

"I thought she was extremely brave," the Grand Rapids woman said. "She looked like an angel, because she was."

The jury deliberated 12 hours over three days before reaching a verdict Friday. After several skirmishes outside the courtroom during the four-week trial, Kent County sheriff's deputies and Grand Rapids police were stationed inside and out in case trouble arose.

When the verdict came down, two of Parker's adult biological children, Karla and L.J., broke into tears. They reacted angrily when Circuit Judge George Buth revoked bond and ordered Parker to jail pending her April 12 sentencing.

Her son pounded a gallery wall, and told others to keep their hands off him. Someone yelled, "Let me go, let me go."

Another sister tried to calm her brother, and said, "L.J., your dad's going to need you."

Sheriff's deputies took the son and others out of the 11th-floor courtroom and stayed with the family until they left through the main entrance.

Defense attorney Damian Nunzio said Parker's children were devastated to see her taken away in handcuffs.

"The kids just have a wonderful, loving devotion toward their mother. They are good kids, good children."

It was an emotional case for everyone. Several jurors, who didn't want their names used, said their hearts went out to Amber, who was 12 when the abuse was uncovered two years ago.

She had several foster and adoptive families before Parker adopted her in 2000. She joined two adopted boys, both then 16, and an 18-year-old woman, who were all classified as special-needs children. All said Parker abused them, and that the boys brutalized the girl -- hitting her, lighting firecrackers in her hand, nearly drowning and hanging her -- at Parker's behest.

"I don't know if we'll ever forget that little girl's eyes," a juror said. " .... I have no doubt that Mrs. Parker didn't think she did anything wrong. But you had all that evidence what went on, she had to have known."

Another juror said: "The mother was out of control, and didn't get the help she needed."

While they blamed Parker for the abuse, many had concerns about the child welfare system. Police and Protective Services workers investigated previous allegations of abuse, but the complaints were deemed unfounded.

"They failed all of the kids, all four of them, unfortunately," said Ruby King of Grand Rapids, who adopted Amber in October.

"The ball was dropped several times," the Grand Rapids juror said. "It doesn't excuse what happened in the house, but it was concerning."

Nunzio and co-counsel Helen Nieuwenhuis said the previous abuse reports went unsubstantiated because they didn't happen.

It was not hard to believe that abuse by the boys went unnoticed by Parker, too, Nunzio said.

"We're obviously disappointed in the verdict. I believe Mrs. Parker is definitely going to appeal her conviction."

Jurors said they decided the first day of deliberating that Parker was guilty of first- and second-degree child abuse involving Amber. They convicted her of third-degree child abuse involving one of the boys, but could not reach a unanimous decision on the other.

But "just because we had a hung jury does not mean we didn't think he was abused," the Grand Rapids juror said.

First-degree child abuse, the most serious charge, carries a sentence up to 15 years in prison.

After the verdict, Ruby King spoke to reporters with her adopted daughter.

Amber talked about the future, maybe becoming a chef. In the short term, she figured she deserved to stop at Krispy Kreme on the way home. She planned a party and a visit to her biological parents in Detroit this weekend.

Until Friday, she was not named publicly, but some friends at school had heard about her case. She didn't appear to mind being a celebrity. She offered a promo for a local TV station and signed an autograph.

Amber said she once blamed herself. She wondered what she had done or not done. She thinks she has kept Parker from hurting any other kids.

"I think I'm an angel. If it wouldn't have been for me, none of this stuff would've been (revealed in court)."

Her mother, who sat through the entire trial, had "not a doubt" that Parker was guilty. She was glad to put the trial behind them. Her daughter has been anxious.

Now, King said, she has "my baby back."