Help for Family of Abagail Newman
Donation protected
Help the Family of Abagail Newman
Two-year-old Abagail Newman was shot and killed while at the home of her babysitter in October of 2015. The babysitter's husband left a loaded gun on a table and one of the children picked it up. It discharged and hit sweet Abagail. She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance but did not survive. Ababgail's mother, Angel, is a good friend of mine. She has suffered an unimaginable loss. Immediately after the incident and for a long time after, she couldn't function. She dropped out of school. She couldn't work. She suffered severe depression, which still affects her today. Angel didn't want to go on after losing her baby girl, but because she also has two sons, she pushed forward. In time, her marriage also fell apart. She is an amazing woman who continues to struggle with her loss.
The babysitter and her husband got off with a slap on the wrist. They were charged with involuntary manslaughter but pled guilty to a much lesser offense: Misdemeanor Negligent Storage of a Firearm. They each received a sentence of one year unsupervised probation and a fine of $200. At the time, Angel and her husband were too devastated to pursue any kind of legal action and they didn't want the babysitter's children to lose their parents by sending them to prison. Angel's grief embedded itself and in time she grew angry. Abagail's death was absolutely, completely preventable! A loaded gun was left out in the home with several small children! While the babysitter no doubt was affected by the incident, it seemed that she and her husband had gone on with their lives. She even opened a daycare center! How can that be? By the time Angel was strong enough to want to pursue legal action, the two-year statute of limitations had expired.
Angel found an attorney who would help her pursue a civil action against the babysitter and her husband for Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress and Wrongful Death. While money won't bring Abagail back and won't stop Angel's suffering, it will serve as a reprimand of sorts, since the court failed to act. The case has already been tried once. At trial , the court ruled that Angel did not experience emotional distress because she wasn't present when the incident occurred and the charges were dismissed. Angel's attorney appealed to the Court of Appeals. I can tell you that Angel has experienced pain, suffering and distress that no person should ever have to go through and it continues to this day, will always be there. The Court of Appeals ruled in Angel's favor and then the Defendants appealed to the state Supreme Court. The Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeals and sent the case back to be tried all over again. Going through the trial one time was excruciating. The thought of going through it all again is almost unbearable, but Angel is determined to get justice for Abagail.
While Angel's attorney hasn't charged her for his time, he has hired expert witnesses to help with the case and they are very expensive. In addition, Angel has returned to school to become an ultrasound technician and without the support of her husband, is struggling to get by. She wants to do the best she can to provide for her boys and to set an example for them. I am so proud of her. She deserves so much more than the hand she's been dealt. She will be so appreciative of any help she receives. Thank you for taking the time to read all of this and and any contribution you can make.
Two-year-old Abagail Newman was shot and killed while at the home of her babysitter in October of 2015. The babysitter's husband left a loaded gun on a table and one of the children picked it up. It discharged and hit sweet Abagail. She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance but did not survive. Ababgail's mother, Angel, is a good friend of mine. She has suffered an unimaginable loss. Immediately after the incident and for a long time after, she couldn't function. She dropped out of school. She couldn't work. She suffered severe depression, which still affects her today. Angel didn't want to go on after losing her baby girl, but because she also has two sons, she pushed forward. In time, her marriage also fell apart. She is an amazing woman who continues to struggle with her loss.
The babysitter and her husband got off with a slap on the wrist. They were charged with involuntary manslaughter but pled guilty to a much lesser offense: Misdemeanor Negligent Storage of a Firearm. They each received a sentence of one year unsupervised probation and a fine of $200. At the time, Angel and her husband were too devastated to pursue any kind of legal action and they didn't want the babysitter's children to lose their parents by sending them to prison. Angel's grief embedded itself and in time she grew angry. Abagail's death was absolutely, completely preventable! A loaded gun was left out in the home with several small children! While the babysitter no doubt was affected by the incident, it seemed that she and her husband had gone on with their lives. She even opened a daycare center! How can that be? By the time Angel was strong enough to want to pursue legal action, the two-year statute of limitations had expired.
Angel found an attorney who would help her pursue a civil action against the babysitter and her husband for Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress and Wrongful Death. While money won't bring Abagail back and won't stop Angel's suffering, it will serve as a reprimand of sorts, since the court failed to act. The case has already been tried once. At trial , the court ruled that Angel did not experience emotional distress because she wasn't present when the incident occurred and the charges were dismissed. Angel's attorney appealed to the Court of Appeals. I can tell you that Angel has experienced pain, suffering and distress that no person should ever have to go through and it continues to this day, will always be there. The Court of Appeals ruled in Angel's favor and then the Defendants appealed to the state Supreme Court. The Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeals and sent the case back to be tried all over again. Going through the trial one time was excruciating. The thought of going through it all again is almost unbearable, but Angel is determined to get justice for Abagail.
While Angel's attorney hasn't charged her for his time, he has hired expert witnesses to help with the case and they are very expensive. In addition, Angel has returned to school to become an ultrasound technician and without the support of her husband, is struggling to get by. She wants to do the best she can to provide for her boys and to set an example for them. I am so proud of her. She deserves so much more than the hand she's been dealt. She will be so appreciative of any help she receives. Thank you for taking the time to read all of this and and any contribution you can make.
Organizer and beneficiary
Lynne Beeson
Organizer
Brevard, NC
Angel Newman
Beneficiary