Defense Witness State Gentries Cared for Daughter

VAN NUYS - JESSICA TAYLOR-Misunderstanding a rare disease and its symptoms that mimic the signs of child abuse go to the heart of the defense's argument in the Gentry child abuse/manslaughter retrial Wednesday. The Gentry's -- whose 15-year-old daughter, Lindsay, weighed a mere 44 pounds was afflicted with myotonic dystrophy -- are accused of child endangerment and starving their daughter to death. 

"The local community failed to help this couple with their [daughter's] disease," said Richard S. Weston, whose son also suffers from myotonic dystrophy, a disease that eats away muscle tissue, causes blindness and mental retardation, curves the spine, and causes difficulty eating and swallowing. Spurred by several complaints and allegations of medical and physical abuse from two of Gentry's teachers and other school personnel in 1995, the Department of Family and Social Services assigned a caseworker to investigate the Gentry home. "I was prepared to remove Lindsay [and take her] into custody," said Susan Brown, the caseworker assigned to the case. "But [I] did not find any signs of abuse." The Gentry home was neat, contained numerous pictures of Lindsay at various ages lining the walls, and there was plenty of food in the house, said Brown. Brown commented that Gentry's mother, Katrina was frustrated that the school kept reporting abuse, prompting social workers to investigate and not finding sufficient danger. 

"There were no signs of medical neglect," said Brown. "Lindsay had a back brace and glasses. Furthermore, her physical appearance did not indicate abuse." "They told me not to go to the Gentry's home, that I would encounter hostility," said Brown. But when Brown followed up with the teachers after her visit to the Gentry home, the teacher's were the ones that Brown said responded with hostility. "I told them that none of their allegations were substantiated," said Brown. "They didn't want to accept my findings. They weren't making any logical sense." Before having her memory jogged by Kathleen Cady, deputy with the Dist. Atty's office, Brown stated that one teacher told her, "Lindsay was too ugly to work with." 

"Lindsay looks disgusting and it's hard to work with her," was the exact quote that the teacher, Diane Hogaboan, had told Brown. Reeking of urine, dirty clothing, and a bad temper are some of the characteristics Hogaboan termed as "disgusting," said Cady. Teacher's aid Paula Elrod, who assisted Gentry in Hogaboan's class, testified on April 19th that Gentry told her that her father hit her in the mouth and she saw red marks and bruises across her back, buttocks, and thighs. But another teacher's aid weakened that testimony Wednesday when she testified that Lindsay often fell down in the playground during the time she was assigned to work with her from 1989 to 1992.

 "Falling was normal for Lindsay," said Maria Sperrazza. "She was falling more because she was beginning to go blind." "Lindsay was an independent child, she didn't want help. When she fell, she often asked who pushed her or why she was pushed," said Sperrazza. "Almost all the time, nobody was there." The defense brought in Gentry's orthodontic back specialist to address bruising and redmarks. 

"It's not unusual for redness and irritation marks to appear on the skin." testified Dr. Art Mielcarek , who fitted Gentry for two back braces. "That's what I look for," said Mielcarek. Lindsay saw him monthly for adjustments since 1994. "During that time, I never saw any signs of abuse due to hitting," said Mielcarek. "Lindsay did have irritation from wearing the back brace, but like I said, that's normal." The defense painted the Gentry's as a loving family that attended church and had an interest in their child's welfare.

 "A very loving, caring family," testified family friend, Thomas C. Dewey, a 21-year veteran commander with the Los Angeles Police Department and youth pastor at the Community Church in Lake Los Angeles. "I did not ever have suspicion or witness any abuse," said Dewey, a stern man with over 15 years of training and experience in child abuse cases who knew the Gentry's from 1987 to 1994. "I saw the Gentry's once a week at church, and at several church gatherings" said Dewey. "Lindsay often sat on her father's lap during the service and at church events. There was always a plate of food given to Lindsay." 

"Folks with this problem in their family need a lot of support and its not there in most communities. It's really hard for people without the disease to understand what life is like with it," said Richard Weston who has done research for the Gentry's attorneys and maintains a website, www.myotonicdystrophy.com, designed to educate people about the disease and act as a support system to other parents whose children suffer from myotonic dystrophy. Weston's website also contains a link to the Gentry's homepage. The page is simple and to the point: "Myotonic Dystrophy is the congenital disease which Lindsay suffered from birth. To those unfamiliar with the disease, and ignorant of its devistating (sic) effects, it could likely appear as malnutrition through neglect. If you are outraged or wish to respond, send mail to: Gentry Defense Fund mr_mrs_gentry@hotmail.com."

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