Yank charged with murder for sending daughter home in the snow.

[Chairman Mao]

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – The father of an 11-year-old girl who died, likely of hypothermia, after trying to walk 10 miles in the snow on Christmas Day has been charged with second-degree murder and felony injury to a child.

Robert Aragon, 55, of Jerome, made an initial appearance Monday in 5th District Court, where Judge Mark Ingram appointed a public defender for him. The judge denied Aragon's request to lower his $500,000 bond. He was being held in the Blaine County Jail.

Aragon was emotional during the short hearing. He banged his head on the defendant's table as Ingram read the charges against him, The Times-News reported. After Ingram noted that second-degree murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, Aragon said "Oh my God" as he banged his head on the table one final time.

Sage Aragon and her 12-year-old brother, Bear, were with their father on Thursday when his truck got stuck in a snow drift near state Highway 75, north of Shoshone in southcentral Idaho, according to the Lincoln County sheriff's office.

The children live with Aragon in Jerome and he was taking them to visit their mother, JoLeta Jenks, in West Magic.

After the truck got caught in the snow, authorities allege Aragon let the children out to walk to their mother's house while he and another adult stayed behind to free the vehicle.

Father of 11-year-old hypothermia victim charged - Yahoo! News

Terribly sad. But doesn't there have to be 'intent' for the person to die to qualify as murder? Isn't that what murder is all about - intending for someone to die?

Another child went with her, why isn't he charged with Attempted Murder too as they survived?

Is it just that can't understand it 'cause I'm not an American?

[blackgang]

I can't see why the murder charge, I have lived in that part of the world and winter is no big deal for anyone.
The kids most likely wanted to walk and took off and as it is normal weather, they were or should have been dressed for it.
I wasn't there and do not know what happed or why they walked off, but I would just say that shit happens.
I was raised in country just like that and we were outside most days as no kid wants to be kept in,
And my cabin is just up the road north of there about 60 miles and my nearest neighbor had 3 kids that were Home Schooled, they were young teens and preteens and they were always out practicing their cross country skiing as they were in competition almost all winter and always placed high.

[spiff]

They weren't out skiing, bg. The girl died.

The initial charge is "murder".
They'll have to make it stick, can't see this happening.

Gross negligence, so might be "manslaughter" in the end.

[keda]

The initial charge is "murder".
They'll have to make it stick, can't see this happening.

Gross negligence, so might be "manslaughter" in the end.

Must agree, can't see murder as the final charge but he still deserves a good hiding IF he sent her out expecting her to cover that distance in the cold...hey sTroller, shoulda reminded me to take my meds today.

[Mr Earl]

Everyone in this extremely sad story deserves the fukwit award. From the fukwit mexican american father to the fukwit Idaho DA for filling murder charges.

[blackgang]

You are really stupid, do ya realize that sTroller.

[Thetyim]

I can't see why the murder charge,

Reading how the thing has been worded it sounds like the parents were separated.
I don't know how US law works but could the mother have pressed the charges ?

[melvbot]

I cant understand why someone stuck in a snowdrift would let 2 kids walk 10 miles in the snow. What was he going to do? Pick them up further down the road?

Unbelievable that he put more of his energy into getting his truck out than safeguarding his kids.

[phuketbound]

I cant understand why someone stuck in a snowdrift would let 2 kids walk 10 miles in the snow. What was he going to do? Pick them up further down the road?

Unbelievable that he put more of his energy into getting his truck out than safeguarding his kids.

I agree. What a total reject. What the hell was he thinking? Why didn't he go with the kids at least. This story is sickening. Ten miles is a very far walk in freezing weather.

Blackgang and Thormaturge can kiss my ass. I totally disagree. Who cares with his problems, the fact is, he was irresponsible, and not thinking straight when he told the kids to walk by themselves while wearing not even the proper winter attire. He sounds like a neglectful father.

[Thormaturge]

I agree. What a total reject. What the hell was he thinking? Why didn't he go with the kids at least. This story is sickening. Ten miles is a very far walk in freezing weather.

We need to understand life in these situations.

You are suggesting this man should have left his truck, his only means of support, and walk with the children. So,when he returns to find the truck gone, or stripped, would he then be a lousy father for not supporting his family? He isn't going to leave the truck.

If he had expected the children to remain with the truck for an indefinite period while he tried to free it then the weather would not have got any warmer. Were the children going to miraculously find warmer clothes in the truck at nighttime? Perhaps Santa would have dropped some off. The children must have really wanted to see their mother on Christmas day and I bet they were not at all keen on sitting with the truck for hours.

Yes this guy is a "reject". He drives a truck and his wife has left him with the kids. His life is garbage now. Now add to this that this poor guy has tried to take his kids to see their lousy mother at Christmas and it has all gone wrong for him.

I'm not surprised he banged his head on the table when the charge was explained to him. He was screwed whatever he did. Trying to raise two kids who really miss their mother while doing a job that takes him way from home fo hours. The kids were probably used to looking after themselves. Meanwhile the mother who clearly cares not one jot whether she sees her own children or not can sit pretty and use the situation to make this guy's life even worse. If she is so good a mother and he so lousy a father then how come he has been placed in this situation?

Seems to me that being poor is his greatest crime. So shoot him, it seems he is as guilty as Hell. What he should have done is to keep the two children at home and told the mother she can come and visit, except I bet she wasn't coming and the kids were giving him hell. Yep, put him on suicide watch because he's done his best and the ex has screwed him again.

[Chairman Mao]

A civilian, press the charge of murder?

I should hope that can't be the case in any country.

[spiff]

You are really stupid, do ya realize that sTroller.

Can't be, even keda agrees.

Any thoughts on topic to share? - thought not. Thanks for playing.

[blackgang]

I don't know how US law works but could the mother have pressed the charges ?

No not really, she could have raised hell with the cops, but it is the DA that files those charges, and yes it seems that they were divorced if ever married.
But in that country winter is just another season and no one thinks any thing of it,
I was wrong, my house was no where near there, I misread Twin Falls, which is south and I was above Post Falls which is on I-90 and in the northern part of the state.
His kids might have told him that they would walk on to moms house, it says nothing to the fact that he forced them or even told them to walk. and kids there take winter in stride and most like winter.
When I was pre teen I ran a trapline and went out everyday and ran it before school and a lot of that was before daylight and as far as I know, my dad was not worried about me and it was along the river and thru a swamp with running water and I caught a lot of musk rats, mink and a few beaver, but beaver were heavy for a kid so I really didn't try to hard or have many beaver sets. plus beaver were a bitch to skin and stretch, but $30 was a lot of money too.
But winter is just not that big a deal for those that live in that part of the world.
And kids used to go out and go ice skating on the river above town at an irrigation dam on the river and be gone from home all during daylight hours and no one ever worried about us, just the way it is.

[spiff]

I am sure your preteen activities in the snow were most enjoyable, but let's get back on topic.

This is what the article says:
"After the truck got caught in the snow, authorities allege Aragon let the children out to walk to their mother's house..."
Well, if he hadn't, the girl would still be alive. It's as simple as this.

[DrB0b]

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – The father of an 11-year-old girl who died, likely of hypothermia, after trying to walk 10 miles in the snow on Christmas Day has been charged with second-degree murder and felony injury to a child.

Robert Aragon, 55, of Jerome, made an initial appearance Monday in 5th District Court, where Judge Mark Ingram appointed a public defender for him. The judge denied Aragon's request to lower his $500,000 bond. He was being held in the Blaine County Jail.

Aragon was emotional during the short hearing. He banged his head on the defendant's table as Ingram read the charges against him, The Times-News reported. After Ingram noted that second-degree murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, Aragon said "Oh my God" as he banged his head on the table one final time.

Sage Aragon and her 12-year-old brother, Bear, were with their father on Thursday when his truck got stuck in a snow drift near state Highway 75, north of Shoshone in southcentral Idaho, according to the Lincoln County sheriff's office.

The children live with Aragon in Jerome and he was taking them to visit their mother, JoLeta Jenks, in West Magic.

After the truck got caught in the snow, authorities allege Aragon let the children out to walk to their mother's house while he and another adult stayed behind to free the vehicle.

Father of 11-year-old hypothermia victim charged - Yahoo! News

Terribly sad. But doesn't there have to be 'intent' for the person to die to qualify as murder? Isn't that what murder is all about - intending for someone to die?

No, that's what degrees of murder are about. Premediated murder in particularly nasty circumstances (such as murder of a cop or murder with torture) is first degree, conviction of first degree murder may result in a sentence of death.

Second degree murder is the standard pre-meditated murder charge. In the United States the degrees of Murder can be defined by individual States. Some States have two types of Second-Degree murder, one of which is the standard pre-meditated homicide but the other of which is defined as a killing caused by dangerous conduct and a lack of concern for human life. Sounds like he's been charged under that last definition.

Another child went with her, why isn't he charged with Attempted Murder too as they survived?

Is it just that can't understand it 'cause I'm not an American?

Yes

[ceburat]

What happened to the other child? I don't see how one poster thinks he was Mexican unless because of his last name. If he is, could explain his being charged so fast.

[Chairman Mao]

that's what degrees of murder are about. Premediated murder in particularly nasty circumstances (such as murder of a cop or murder with torture) is first degree, conviction of first degree murder may result in a sentence of death.

Second degree murder is the standard pre-meditated murder charge. In the United States the degrees of Murder can be defined by individual States. Some States have two types of Second-Degree murder, one of which is the standard pre-meditated homicide but the other of which is defined as a killing caused by dangerous conduct and a lack of concern for human life. Sounds like he's been charged under that last definition.

Another child went with her, why isn't he charged with Attempted Murder too as they survived?

Is it just that can't understand it 'cause I'm not an American?

Yes

The States are fuked. Had a mate in Aussie shot a bloke 11 times with 10 bullets (one went through his leg, out again, then into the other one - 11 entry wounds). With a .22. Couldn't prove intent - he went there to threaten him into dropping a lawsuit against him, other guy went for the gun, and it just started going off. No witnesses, couldn't prove the intent to kill him, manslaughter with a minimum of 6 years and his entire life savings gone on a shit-hot lawyer.

[tuktukdriver]

that's what degrees of murder are about. Premediated murder in particularly nasty circumstances (such as murder of a cop or murder with torture) is first degree, conviction of first degree murder may result in a sentence of death.

Second degree murder is the standard pre-meditated murder charge. In the United States the degrees of Murder can be defined by individual States. Some States have two types of Second-Degree murder, one of which is the standard pre-meditated homicide but the other of which is defined as a killing caused by dangerous conduct and a lack of concern for human life. Sounds like he's been charged under that last definition.

Another child went with her, why isn't he charged with Attempted Murder too as they survived?

Is it just that can't understand it 'cause I'm not an American?

Yes

The States are fuked. Had a mate in Aussie shot a bloke 11 times with 10 bullets (one went through his leg, out again, then into the other one - 11 entry wounds). With a .22. Couldn't prove intent - he went there to threaten him into dropping a lawsuit against him, other guy went for the gun, and it just started going off. No witnesses, couldn't prove the intent to kill him, manslaughter with a minimum of 6 years and his entire life savings gone on a shit-hot lawyer.

What does an Aussie shooting someone have to do with the US being fuked?

The USA has "jury of peers" to make the final decision. There are plenty of nasty prosecutors who love to make ridiculous charges but the jury has the final say. I have been on jury duty and seen it myself. It isn't a perfect system but works fairly well. Let the jury decide after they hear the facts.

My problem with the legal system in the US is when there is no jury, like in divorce settlements. All it takes is some feminazi divorce judge and any guy can walk out screwed, have seen it more than once.

[blackgang]

Pre med murder is usually with aforethought and you had planned it,, but first degree can also with just getting pissed off and doing it, but in his circumstance I would bet that he might stand trial for manslaughter but even that will be reduced.
That is what dangerous action is usually.
I really do not think that he will even stand trial because there is no use of it.
People in that area will not blame him over the fact that he should maybe have told them to stick around the pickup.
we do not know what really happened or what was said by who.

[blackgang]

I don't know that he was a Mex, I have never heard that name but it might be, but there is a link on the bottom of the OP,, they got the boy OK, but the girl was returning to the pickup, so I do not think that the father told them to go.

I got a letter off to a friend in Sandpoint and have him look up and see what he can find in local papers or news.
maybe give us a better idea.

[panama hat]

their mother, JoLeta Jenks

The mum's surname points to a different ethnicity.

Also can't see a murder charge of any degree sticking

[SnotGoblin]

Was the poor child dressed for the weather conditions ? if she wasn't adeuately dressed would that not be tantamount to murder to let her walk 10 miles in the snow ??? could explain the charge. x

[lom]

after trying to walk 10 miles in the snow

Aragon let the children out to walk to their mother's house

Let them walk alone 10 miles in snow? What a fukwit!

[kingwilly]

sad, i dont know the full details, but sad nonetheless.

I understand what blackgang is saying, so the charges may be a little OTT.

[The_Dude]

Sad to hear stories like this. This winter season in the States is pretty harsh. I can only think -what a hard time the family is going through now. Living in snow country is not easy, one must plan ahead in case extreme circumstances arise. I dont think he may have had clear thoughts. Has anyone heard if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Not to be sterotypical. But, IMHO he looks like plan country trailerpark trash with an appetite for booze and/or drugs!