Parents of murdered children pray for CT families

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- While most parents hope what happened at Sandy Hook never happens to them, the sad reality is there are parents all over our area whose children have been murdered. They've created a support network that helps them cope.

We were with parents who look forward to the third Tuesday of every month, when they know they'll be among friends who truly know what they've been through. But on this Tuesday night, their hearts ached even more.

In the basement of Grace United Methodist in the Heights, there's a group no one wants to join. But it's also one everyone is grateful exists.

"The holidays are some of the roughest times," mother Carolyn Hardin said.

Parents of murdered children met Tuesday night for their monthly meeting, not only carrying their pain of losing a child but also weighted down with more grief.

"It's been almost 15 years, I still hurt everyday of my life," Hardin said.

"It's like reliving it again, except my son was 23, and these poor innocent babies were just babies, they were angels," mother Maria Castro said.

Sure the circumstances are worlds apart. But they all can relate.

"I think about my son and I know what the mothers and fathers are going through," Hardin said.

Each mother and father here shared their story and also said a few words about the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary, starting with a prayer.

Because for most here, like Hardin, if she could be there she would.

"I'd like to just be able to hold them and tell them we're here for you," she said.

There is a chapter of Parents of Murdered Children in New York, but it's near Newtown. Parents here hope families in Connecticut will take advantage of it.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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HPD: Parents in club while kids asleep in vehicle

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A mother and father are facing child endangerment charges and a local rapper is under arrest after a wild night at a Washington area nightclub.

It all happened around 2am at the Nox Bar on Nett near Parker in the Heights area.

Police say a group was fighting in the parking lot, but they were eventually allowed into the club.

Police went outside to investigate and discovered a weapon and ski mask in the back of one car. They went inside to tell the bar owner and to pull that group out of the club. In the process, they discovered yet another weapon.

While investigating, police also found two small children sleeping in the back of another car, seeming left alone as their parents were in the club.

"We located a 3-year-old and 5-year-old and they were sleeping the entire time," said Sgt. MT Ferguson with the Houston Police Department. "Both parents are in custody."

"Anything could have happened. Something could have happened to those kids," said club-goer Allen Bethea. "They could have gotten out the car on their own."

The parents in custody are facing charges of child endangerment. The officers brought food for the children, who woke up and were hungry, while they called welfare authorities.

The local rapper will be charged with possession of a weapon.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Parents of sextuplets speak out for first time

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- They're the babies the world wants to see -- the Perkins sextuplets. They were born just last week. Today we saw them for the first time and heard from their parents.

Five of the six babies are doing well. The smallest baby has more medical problems but doctors are optimistic that she will catch up. A 35-person medical team delivered the babies in four minutes. And they ran two simulations, including one in the middle of the night, to ensure the complicated delivery went smoothly.

Mother Lauren Perkins said, "It was definitely a huge shock when we found out there were six in there."

Lauren and David Perkins were hoping for one child when they began infertility treatment, never expecting six.

"A one percent chance, you don't think it's going to happen to you," Lauren said.

Today, the Perkins sextuplets are nine days old and five of them are doing well.

"They're coming off the IV feedings and getting off their breathing support and we couldn't be more excited," Lauren said. "Then Leah, she's coming along, coming along."

Dr Charles Hankins, Texas Children's Hospital Neonatologist, said, "Her lungs were sicker. Your lungs are connected to your heart, so we've had to support the cardiovascular system more intensely and that puts every other organ at risk, so we've had an issue with her intestines."

On Monday little Leah had emergency surgery on her intestines. But they'd worried about Leah the whole pregnancy.

"She had stopped growing," Lauren explained. "We were definitely nervous about her."

Timing the birth was tricky. The healthier five babies needed more time, but Leah needed to be born.

"You don't want to sacrifice five kids and their growth for the sake of one, but they made it 30 weeks and one day and that played a pivotal role in their survivability," David Perkins said.

Lauren was a runner, and she ran 40 to 50 miles a week pre-pregnancy. Her health and the very good prenatal care helped get the babies to 30 weeks.

Lauren said, "This has been an overwhelming experience, every step of the way, ever since learning there would be six babies."

"We're just an ordinary couple entrusted by God with an extraordinary blessing," David said.

Lauren and David are already helping care for their babies and they realize how challenging it will be when they all get home.

"We're going to have a volunteer schedule for people that want to help with feedings and things," Lauren said. "We just hope they don't get tired of helping."

The sextuplets are expected to leave the hospital at different times, depending on how healthy they are. Some of the healthier babies may go home in the next month or so.

The three girls and three boys were born last week. They have been named Andrew Noah, Benjamin Luke, Levi Thomas, Allison Kate, Caroline Grace and Leah Michelle. The Perkins thanked everyone for their support, and said they're appreciative of the prayers they're receiving from around the world. Their friends, family and church members have been assisting the family, in helping to prepare the home, providing meals and transporting Lauren to medical appointments.

"We're thanking God every day for our babies and we're looking forward to bringing them home," Lauren said.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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HISD hosts School Choice Fair for parents

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- With the school year winding down, it's time for parents to start thinking about where they want their children to attend school in the fall.

Local parents got help Saturday with making the right choices regarding their children's education at the Houston Independent School District's second School Choice Fair in northwest Houston.

School officials and teachers from dozens of schools met with parents to discuss the various kinds of schools in the district, including magnet and vanguard programs.

Campus principals and coordinators were also present to answer questions and give application and transfer information.

HISD is an open enrollment district, and students can apply for schools outside their attendance zone.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Pasadena parents accused of nearly starving children

PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- A Pasadena father and mother are now facing charges after their baby boy was found to be severely malnourished, and we spoke with the grandmother and great grandmother of the six children who were removed from the couple's home.

Nicholas and Andrea Murrey are the parents of the 8-week-old baby boy. Each is wanted on a charge of injury to a child by omission. No one answered the door at their home on Friday, but Eyewitness News was able to track down Andrea's grandmother.

"What can you say? They're my grandchildren," said Andrea's grandmother who asked us not to identify her.

She says she told her granddaughter to feed her children more, but detectives found something else.

"The child weighed seven pounds when it was born, and when our officers made entry into the home and CPS got involved, the child still weighed seven pounds," Pasadena Police Department Spokesman Vance Mitchell said.

It all began last August when Andrea brought her four-year-old daughter for treatment at Bayshore Medical Center. Doctors say the girl was dirty and had bruises, so police were called. Soon, CPS moved the girl and her three siblings out of the home.

"You think they're better off in CPS custody?" we asked the great grandmother.

"I do. And I know it hurts so bad, because for some reason, we can't even see them for ourselves," she said.

Investigators say at one point, there were six children inside the house. The Murreys had four, and Nicolas Murrey's girlfriend also live there with her two kids.

"Her father and I don't appreciate her being there, but she's her own person, and we can't stop her. She doesn't live with us, we can't tell her what to do; but I'm in charge of her children," said Bobbie McCoy, the grandmother of the other two children.

McCoy is now raising the toddlers even as her daughter still lives with the Murreys, a couple that the great grandmother describes, as unfit parents.

"They couldn't provide for them; it's why they would be in a better place," the great grandmother said.

While family members cope with what's happened, police are hoping the suspects will turn themselves in.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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FBISD students, parents fight to save fine arts programs

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Parents and students from one Fort Bend ISD high school are fighting what they say is the district's efforts to slash the school's fine arts programs.

On Monday night, they spoke before the school board, trying to get Austin High School assistant band director Adrian Caswell reinstated. He's been reassigned to an elementary school. Students and parents organized a grass roots effort through Facebook, where they write they want to "open the eyes of the leaders of our administration..." and that they are "blinded by the economic crisis." Fort bend ISD is dealing with a budget shortfall of as much as $70 million. It says there have been cuts to bands district wide, and to sports programs, too. The school district denies any allegation that fine arts programs alone have been the target of cuts. In a statement, the district said: "As a direct result of the State budget shortfall, there was a redistribution of staffing standards throughout the District. Most high schools will continue to have a band director and an assistant band director, as will Austin, according to student enrollment in the band program. Some schools have only one Band Director. Austin will lose the third assistant band director position only. The assistant band director has been reassigned to an elementary campus with the opportunity to apply for any vacancy in the near future." (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Bullying victim's parents file lawsuit against Cy-Fair ISD

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The parents of a boy who killed himself over bullying has filed a lawsuit against the Cy-Fair Independent School District.

The lawsuit filed by Asher Brown's parents claimed the 13-year-old killed himself in September after repeated bullying at Hamilton Middle School. The suit accuses Cy-Fair ISD and the school of failing to protect Brown and not punishing teachers or students who bully students. The lawsuit also says the school destroyed evidence that shows Brown's father went to the school to discuss the bullying. The suit also requests "that the school adopt a policy known as Asher's Rule whereby students will be able to report issues of bullying and harassment confidentially; that the school provide a marker designating Asher's Place in the school library, where books and other materials would be made available to students dealing with bullying harassment." We called the school district for comment, but they have not returned our call. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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Parents react to possibility of 17 HISD school closures

 HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Parents are reacting to news that their child's school is now at risk of closing because unprecedented budget cuts has HISD scrambling for every penny. Now four times as many neighborhood schools could close as a result.

Initially, HISD said Love, Grimes, McDade, and Rhoads elementaries were at risk of closing down. But now that list has increased to 17 schools across the city. They include both elementary and middle schools. Parents say they're devastated their schools are even being considered for closure. For HISD, it's another option as they're desperate to battle that budget gap. The possibility of closing Memorial Elementary brings an immediate response among parents. "I think it's sad, so sad, because I went to school here, and my mom went to school here," said parent Josette Juarez, whose children now attend the school. HISD's board of trustees is already considering closing Rhoads, Grimes, McDade and Love elementaries. They are now considering the closure or consolidation of 13 more schools including Memorial Elementary. "I think there's plenty of children to keep them running and it would be devastating. There kids have gone to school here forever," parent Kathy Howard said. Memorial Elementary has fewer than 400 students. Closing small schools, says HISD Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier, could save an estimated $600,000 per campus. However, Grier says there is no quota for how many schools will close. "No, there is no magic number. We're looking at each individually and we're looking at proximity to another school where you might be able to combine some savings," he said. Savings have already been found elsewhere. Just this week, HISD announced their latest numbers for teacher layoffs. Budget cuts mean 567 teacher positions so far have been eliminated. Add to that 163 teachers not renewed because of performance and the number equals 730 teachers gone starting next year. Parents realize classroom sizes will be bigger. Some say they have a solution. "That's where we're going to have to rally the parent volunteers to come up and put time in and be more involved than ever," Memorial Elementary PTO President Kelly Henrikson said. Parents say that's what they're planning to do. They're going to fight as hard as they can to keep Memorial Elementary open. HISD is planning to meet Thursday, but this issue isn't on the district's agenda. Another option for the school district would be raising its tax rate. If HISD closed every one of those schools, it would save about $10 million -- nowhere near what is needed to cover the $63 million budget gap. HISD's board of trustees can raise property tax up to 7 cents per $100 valuation without voter approval. Each 1-cent raise in tax would equal approximately $9.9 million in revenue. However, the possibility of raising tax is on not any agenda for vote. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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