Readers can you imagine a step-father doing this to their stepdaughter? When I read this story on NBC News.Com, it made me sick to my stomach, I could not believe any human being would stoop this low.
A well-known Delaware doctor who is accused of suffocating his stepdaughter as a means of discipline testified on Tuesday her step-father told her she could survive without air for “five minutes” without any brain damage to her.
It’s my opinion it’s beyond comprehension that a father or a step-father would even consider discussing this type torture with an 11-year-old daughter or step-daughter.
The girl said, “I thought, ‘What if he loses track of the time or something?’ and I could die or something,” she told jurors in Dr. Melvin Morse’s child-endangerment trial.
In my opinion it’s hard to comprehend that Morse, who is a best-selling author on near-death experiences, could have the audacity to try one of his near-death experiences on his own step-daughter as a punishment.
Morse is facing charges of endangering the welfare of a child, reckless endangerment and conspiracy. He was arrested in 2012 after his step-daughter, who was then 11, told authorities that in addition to other abuse, she had also been subjected to water-boarding on four occasions.
It’s my belief this young girl was in the hands of an evil person. Morse should have been reported to authorities long before any of his repeated abuse to the girl occurred; and I’d like to know why the Mother of this child had never reported these accusations to officials.
The girl said, “I threw up all my milk, and he water-boarded me in the bathtub. He kept asking me if I was going to throw up again, and she told him, ‘No,’” according to her testimony.
The abuse included holding the girl’s face-up under a running kitchen faucet for a period until she could not breathe, according to opening arguments last week by Prosecutor Melanie Withers.
Defense lawyer Joe Hurley stated at the beginning of the trial that Morse was joking as he used the term “water-boarding” in describing to the girl what he was doing to her. He stated he was performing an activity that the girl hated, and that was trying to wash her hair. How could Morse expect an 11-year-old girl to understand what water-boarding is if he didn’t used the punishment on her?
A video of the girl was shown of her being questioned at a children’s advocacy center in August 2012 in which she stated Morse, 60, had pulled her hair, pushed her against walls, hit her with a broom and suffocated her with his hand as he water-boarded her.
The video also showed the girl telling a counselor about her half-sister, who was then 16, molesting her for a second time.
Morse’s attorney, Joe Hurley, asked the girl, “That was a lie under oath, wasn’t it?”
The girl who is now 12-years old replied, “Yes,” but added, ‘The first time it was the truth;” and the second time I lied.”
The girl explained by stating she didn’t want her half-sister, who was sent to juvenile detention center for molesting her in 2007, to return to live with the family.
She also admitted to telling a therapist that Morse had never really slapped her, that she had gotten the idea from talking to her half-sister.
The girl also testified Monday that Morse had given her anti-depression medication to cause her to “behave better.”
Morse’s attorney, Joe Hurley, also claimed the girl, who is the daughter of Morse’s now-estranged wife, had a long history of lying to adults.
Pauline Morse, the girl’s Mother, was arrested too; and she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges and she has agreed to testify against Morse.
Morse heads the Institute for the Scientific Study of Consciousness and he has also appeared on “Oprah” and “Good Morning America.”
I believe this young girl suffered abuse at the hands of Morse long before it was called to the attention of officials and I do hope that no other child has suffered because of Morse’s abuse.
Barbara Kasey Smith is the writer of this article based on a NBC News.Com report.
Source:
US News.NBC News.com