Home Alone

Julie Belliard of Port Lucie, Florida, left her five children, who ranged in age from 3 to 9, in their grandmother’s care while she went to work. Later that evening, Belliard called the woman, Marie Pierre, asking her for a ride home.

Pierre agreed to pick up Belliard, deciding to leave the kids home alone to make the trip. She provided the 9-year-old with a cell phone, instructing him to call her in the event of an emergency.

While Pierre left the home, the children played and watched TV. Then, a 3-year-old child grabbed a knife. A 4-year-old child witnessed the younger sibling grab the knife and knocked it out of her hand. She then picked up the knife and tossed it across the room.

The knife struck a television, bounced off an entertainment center and sliced a 9-year-old boy in the back of the head, causing a half-inch deep laceration. Blood poured from his head as he lie on the floor.

One of the other kids tried calling Marie and his mother; neither answered the phone. The child then tried to call 9-1-1 but inadvertently dialed 991 instead. The child ran to a neighbor’s house for help.

The child told the neighbor about the injured sibling. The neighbor ran to the home and took all five kids to her home. She wrapped the 9-year-old boy’s head in an attempt to stop the blood, then dialed 9-1-1.

Paramedics transported the 9-year-old by life flight to St. Mary’s Medical Center. He was treated for his injuries and later released.

Women Arrested, Home in Deplorable Conditions

Back at the home, police noted the kids were dirty, each with big bug bites up and down their legs. The kids wore dirty clothes. The home itself was in deplorable conditions, although police did not indicate their exact findings.

The state Department of Family & Children Services removed all five children from the home and placed them into foster care. Belliard and Pierre were each charged with five counts of child neglect.

5-Year-Old Shot, Killed by Angry Brother

In Pennsylvania, a 13-year-old boy shot his 5-year-old brother when he would not stop jumping on the bed. The November 22 incident resulted in criminal homicide charges brought against the boy. Although police charged the teen as an adult, his case will be transferred to juvenile court. His name has not been released.

The victim, Connor Wolfe, attended kindergarten in the Penn Hills School District. He was struck with a single gunshot inside the family’s home. Paramedics transported the boy to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives determined four kids, ages 3, 5, 6, and 13, were left unsupervised with a loaded handgun within their reach. The teen told detectives he became angry when his brother would not stop jumping on the bed. He had asked them to stop a few times already. The boy then pointed the gun toward them to “scare them,” he told police. Assuming the safety was on, the teen pulled the trigger, shooting his brother in the head.

In December, the parents of the children were charged with child neglect.

Support CM

Help support Criminal Matters by sharing this post with friends on social media! Be sure to follow us on social media.

If you feel generous, consider leaving a small tip. Alternatively, you can choose to pledge to the page -and you’ll never miss another story!

You can also read one or two other stories from our collection to help support the page. Take your pick from the titles below or click here to visit the main page. CM and this freelance writing gig are funded entirely by your generous support. I greatly appreciate your support.

1-Year-Old Locked in Hot Car Dies After Dad REFUSES to Bust Windows in His New Car

The Killer Who Ate the Heart of His Victim

Lina Medina: Mom at Age 5