Mom Who Left Special Needs Child at Bar Won't Face Criminal Charges in Tennessee
Eva Cameron, 45, of Algonquin left her 19-year-old special needs daughter, Lynn Cameron, at a bar northwest of Knoxville, Tenn., in June.
Charges will not be filed in Tennessee against Eva Cameron, an Algonquin mom who left her special needs daughter at a bar just northwest of Knoxville, Tenn. in June.
The Campbell County Grand Jury has been reviewing the case involving Lynn Cameron — Eva's 19-year-old daughter — since September, according to a press release from the 8th Judicial District of the Tennessee District Attorney's General Conference.
"There is no disagreement that the actions of the mother, Eva Cameron, in this case were inexcusable," according to the news release. "However, Tennessee law has not anticipated such behavior and thus the Grand Jury was faced with conduct which was not necessarily indictable."
"The Grand Jury made a very thorough investigation, looking at all factors and the appropriateness of any criminal charges and did not return a true bill against Ms. Cameron," according to the news release.
Cameron, 45, left her daughter at the Big Orange Bar on June 28 in Caryville, Tenn., so she would become a ward of the state and receive assistance from Tennessee, according to the Northwest Herald. Eva Cameron said Illinois does not provide enough assistance for disabled adults.
Lynn Cameron suffers from multiple disabilities and has the mental capacity of a 2- or 3-year-old child, according to media reports.
After spending weeks in Tennessee, a judge ordered that the state of Illinois would assume responsibility of Lynn Cameron, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.
In the news release, the district attorney's office thanks the many caseworkers that helped care for Lynn Cameron while she was in Tennessee.
"[They] went above and beyond the call of duty to care for this young lady to ensure that she suffered no harm during the short time frame between her discovery and the subsequent intervening actions from the state of Illinois, which placed her in an appropriate facility in her home state," according to the news release.
Moving forward, the Campbell County District Attorney's office will be working with a local state representative to enact legislation "specific to this issue in the upcoming General Assembly," according to the news release.
Sherri Modrzejewski
2:47 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
That is absolutely SICK! How could you do that to your child no matter what the issue!? Terrible!!
Susan Ciesla
3:02 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
Not only is this sick, but I find it troubling that Patch publishes a photo of the daughter, when she is the innocent party here. Lynn didn't do anything wrong!
Larry Sliwa
3:24 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
Agreed....the picture of the daughter should NOT be shown! It's wrong on all levels. Shame on the Huntley Patch!
Dave Knapp
8:10 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
Thank you, Patch, for removing Lynn's photo. Good judgement call on your part.
Sherri Modrzejewski
3:31 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
Would like to see a photo of the mother. I agree she should not be protected, Lynn should!
Dan Arenov
4:00 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
I tried linking to the story that Patch cited here, talking about how the mother complained that Illinois' didn't have enough benefits, but the link was outdated.
Was the mother's complaint that Illinois didn't fork over enough cash? or does Illinois just not have enough resources for support?
Regardless, we all agree that this was wrong; what mother would do this?
However, if the mother's contention is legitimate, this may not be the last time we hear of people dumping their physically and mentally challenged adult children in states that have more tax funds to take care of folks like this.
Once again, we can blame the public employee unions and the willing Democrats who have screwed up Illinois to the point of bankruptcy... they asked for more pension money, the Democrats gave it to the public employee unions. The union employees voted for these Democrats and then a few years later, the unions asked for more pension and benefits money. The Democrats gave it to them. The union employees voted for these Democrats and then a few more years later they asked them for more pension, higher salary and better benefits.. the Democrats gave it to them, etc.., etc.. etc.. etc...
and now we are all screwed, including those with special needs..everyone except for the public sector union employees.
Dave Knapp
4:56 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
As a parent of a special needs child, I understand that the trials of raising a disabled child can be overwhelming. There are days when my frustration levels go through the roof. That said, I am sickened and disgusted by this woman's behavior. Dan, you are 100% right about the liberals and unions causing an environment where parents feel they cannot raise their children in this state. Let's hold this woman accountable for what she did, but let's not ignore the greed and corruption that undoubtedly caused her to behave the way she did. Obviously, economic conditions are no excuse. By the way, Dan, I read your comments on Patch regularly- thank you for being a voice of reason in a nation populated by Obamazombies and people who are too ignorant of issues to put together a coherent statement. Keep speaking the unvarnished truth- Patch readers need to hear it, whether they like it or not.
Dan Arenov
9:27 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Thanks Dave!
Many people refuse to look behind the curtain and ask 'why'? are things so screwed up in our country, particularly in Illinois, but it's not hard to connect the dots if you are open minded. Blessings to you and your yours.
Erin Michele
7:35 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
What this mother did is terrible. And as much as it troubles me to say this, she is right about one thing - funding and availability of programs for people with disabilities in this state is disgraceful, especially for adults with disabilities. Illinois is ranked last in the ENTIRE country for services for people with disabilities. As a special educator I have seen this first hand and decided years ago that if I have a child with a disability, I am moving out of Illinois (seriously). With that said, there are certainly better ways the mother could have handled this, maybe bring her daughter to a hospital or police station. A bar?! Come On!
A Martin
7:36 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Okay. Money prob. had nothing to do with this. This woman would come to my work and spend hundreds of dollars. I think she has her own issues. She seemed instable to me the times she'd visit my work. I think she was having a breakdown when this happened. Not making excuses by any means. After I saw this I could not believe it. I had such a strange encounter with her. The last time I saw her she was with her daughter (whom she abandoned) and she walked right out of our place of business without her. But believe me when I tell you, something was not right mentally with her.