Willie Robinson died last year of untreated Hodgkins Lymphoma. When the coroner discovered the disease, he ruled the death a homicide due to Willie's parents' negligence. Those parents, William Robinson Senior (Willie was his namesake) and Monica Hussing were taken into custody yesterday and are now being held on $150,000 bond (each) in the Cuyahoga County jail. They have pled not guilty to involuntary manslaughter, endangering children and felonious assault.
The only excuse the media has reported so far from these parents is that they "couldn't afford" to take Willie to the doctor. It's also noted in many of the stories about the case that they had a dog treated for fleas at some expense during the time Willie was suffering.
Apparently, since Willie's death the family has been under the surveillance of Children and Family Services and has been cooperative--getting their other children up to date on medical care and getting them into school.. (This conflicts with the first story I saw on the case that suggested that social workers had been involved with the family prior to Willie's death.) There is still also no word on why the other five children in this family have not been in school.
I find the case puzzling, because although today's story mentions that the parents are not married, it does seem that they are a solid family unit, living together and obviously, having many children together. There is no explanation about the children not being in school (they don't seem to be a homeschooling family) or why they haven't gone to the doctor (they don't seem to be part of a religious tradition that refuses medical care). Beyond the simple statement about not being able to afford it, there's no reason given.
I would speculate that the mother was depressed but after six kids, you'd think someone would have figured that out before now. And given the father's presence, why didn't he do something? It's such a sad story, I do hope we get some answers as the case unfolds, if only to understand what Willie went through and make sure his siblings have a better experience from now on.
The parents will back in court on 30 March. Perhaps we'll hear more after that.
See also:
Little Boy Dies of Untreated Cancer
