You have got to be kidding -- the state imprisoned the child's mother FOR A LOUSY MARIJUANA CHARGE and then ripped away her children in order to pay a pair of fiends to pummel him to death in her absence?

Let's hope that little T.J.'s death was not in vain, and that all of us will be a little quicker to act when we see signs of rage and abuse in our own communities.

It's time for Rhode Island to re-visit the death penalty. It was instituted specifically for unspeakable crimes such as this.

I'm wondering what happened to the other two boys and to the accused woman's two girls. I hope they're being well taken care of and not in another abusive home.

His mother was no saint, he was neglected there as well, he had fallen out of a 2nd story window at least twice in his mother's care. The problem was DCYF never should have placed him with these bums. I hope they never see the light of day again.

Reading the account of what happened to that poor baby is totally disgusting. Why didn't they both plead guilty to avoid re-hashing this heartache?? Do they actually think they are going to get away with this? These two are worst than animals, and I hope the judge and jury give them everything (and more)of what they deserve. Maybe they will find what they deserve in prison.

TOTALLY, TOTALLY DISGUSTING!!!

The mother was drug trafficing and she was caught with large amounts of marijuana and was held in a federal prison.

DCYF should be held accountable for this as well as Brunell and her boyfriend. They were informed that the two were drug addicts and should never have been given custody of her sister's children. Yes, the DEATH PENALTY SHOULD BE REVISITED IN CASES LIKE THIS, OR WORSE,

In the place where they are hopefully going, perhaps they will learn what it feels like to be awakened in the middle of the night and beaten. They are inhuman.

The child's mother was in prison in Illinois, not here in Rhode Island.

These subhumans need to be put to death. I have read what the babysitter testified about yesterday and it is hard handle. God be with TJ. I would like to know what types of drugs they were on.

I agree with the death penalty. Tax payers should have the right to say that they do not want to pay for murderers. Any normal human being would want to be dead after committing such a horrible crime.

I get physically ill each time I read an updated article of the trial....I hope each defendent gets exactly what they deserve. Oh, and Katherine, it's really too late for tears.

You know R.I. trips me out when it comes to stuff like this because dcyf is so quick to take someone children and place them some where else instead of putting the parents in rehab for all the crack out ones who are on drugs bad neglecting there children for the drug those are the doors that they need to be at...............

I was the foster parent to whom the brothers were place with after this tramatic act.These boys suffer so much because of what these people did their brother T.J. what child could something so bad that he deserve this.I hope she lives with this for the rest of her life and realizes the damagee has done to TJ's brothers.

i can't believe that this happen in woonsocket not to mention i went to school with the two invovled i pray for tj's brother and the 2 little girls i hope dcyf makes sure this never happens again

my wife and i addopted T.J.'s 2 brothers and we also have guardianship of his sister. they are in a loving home where we do not tolerate hitting for any reason.we are trying to keep their lives as normal as we can.please let the jury co their job so T.J. can rest in peace , Steve

I hear your cries. Oh, of course you want to avenge T.J. You want to avenge him because you love him and care for him. In fact, you need him. After all, he may have been a poor kid with trash parents, destined to do no more to propagate anything but the trash from which he was begotten -- but, then, he never asked you to make sure DCYF has enough money to do right by him. He's never going to show up at the State House to complain about being cut from RIte Care. He's not even going to need a free lunch? So, you can cry your tears, and feel righteous, thrice-blessed Rhode Island!

This makes me think about whether orphanages ought to come back. If they were well run and well supervised, the children might be safer. There are just too many instances of children being placed in dangerous homes.

I have to be honest. I can't even follow this story. I can't get past the daily headlines without crying. All I keep thinking about is this poor 3 year old BABY being awoken and beaten for spilling milk. Imagine the fear. Every adult in this poor baby's life failed him. His mother failed him, his aunt failed him and his DCYF social worked failed him. It sickens me as I know it does everyone else. I agree with the reader who said they should just plead guilty and skip the trial process. I can't even begin to imagine how anyone can sit on the jury. Justice can never be served in this case. There is no punishment to fit this crime, even execution is not good enough for these animals.

DCYF...is part to blame, as this is where the Initial Decision was made of whom to care for the children. I can see that these lower than low.. Low life family members decided to cash in and get paid from DCYF to take these innocent beautiful children and than use and abuse them. I cannot even write more! The blame lies in many hands and the perpertraters should get a life sentence. Disgusting and Dispicable!

To Steve (May 9 6:11 pm): God bless you and your wife...there is a special place in heaven for you and the rare others like yourselves. You have quite a daunting task raising these kids after the damage that was inflicted upon them at such a young age. I sincerely wish all the best for all of you.

For everyone blaming DCYF, yes there are flaws in the system but I haven't seen enough specific facts on this case to blame them --maybe DCYF is partly at fault, maybe not. It's easy to be a monday morning quarterback. I wouldn't want the responsibility these social workers have, but anyone who feels they could do a better job really should apply to DCYF. The sad truth is there are far more kids in need of a home than there are beds, and the staff at group homes/ shelters generally are so horribly underpaid that it is hard to keep experienced workers. Despite the tragic outcome of this case, on paper it makes sense to place young siblings together with relatives who hopefully love them and will nuture them than to separate the kids and place them with strangers in a group setting.