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Family Mourning Death of Toddler

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By Diana Lucio Reporter

M50o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Family Mourning Death of Toddler

Published: Sun, April 20, 2008 - 10:17 pm
Last Updated: Sunday, April 20, 2008 - 10:40 pm

Diana Lucio

Brandon Gurley's ex-wife Jessica says there is no excuse for what happened to 3-year-old Christian Foster, after authorities say a fire at the Orleans Place Apartments, claimed the child's life. "There's not reason for it at all...I'm very disgusted with her, "Said Jessica Gurley. That's how Gurley feels about the child's mother Elizabeth Foster. Investigators say Foster left her 3-year-old son Christian at the apartment alone, while locked in a bedroom. "It's not fair that a 3-year-old lost their life because his mother's a bad parent,"Said Amanda Stapleton, a close friend of Brandon. Police say while Brandon Gurley wasn't home, his actions also resulted in the child's death. Jessica says she loved Christian like her own son Connor. "I still look at him as my step son and that's Connor's brother and he's not gonna know what to think of this and I don't know what I'm gonna tell him, "Said Jessica Gurley.
Brandon and Elizabeth were both arrested Friday on manslaughter charges. Brandon Gurley remains behind bars at Metro Jail. Both Foster and Gurley are scheduled to be in court tomorrow morning. We tried but were not able to get in contact with Foster's family to talk about this story tonight.

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Honey trust me ... if i knew that child was left alone I would have went and got him myself. You can tell that this is not the first time if you use a little common sense. I just wonder why DHR was not called when the child fell from the window.

Posted by SumOneILove on 04/22/08 - 2:30 pm • Report Abuse

to sumone i love, when he fell out of the window at 8:30 elizabeth was at work and she works mon-fri until 9:30. and if you knew he fell and was left at home why did you not call the police and report it.

Posted by shay on 04/22/08 - 2:18 pm • Report Abuse

Dude they leave this kid alone all the time… the kid fell from the window give me a flippin break… if they cared they would have done something about it… trust me… this is not the first time this has happened!!!!!

Posted by SumOneILove on 04/22/08 - 2:07 pm • Report Abuse

to april how could you even say gods name and be so evil.to wish death upon someone who did not want her child to die you are a evil person and may god help your soul

Posted by shay on 04/22/08 - 2:04 pm • Report Abuse

And if resources don’t work out, then QUIT the job or find another. NO job is worth the life of your child. My heartfelt opinion.

Posted by rmseek1234 on 04/22/08 - 1:53 pm • Report Abuse

southfan,

I don’t know why you are so hostile that I provided a list of possible resources for people who may NOT know. Fortunately, I am sensible enough to get child care for my 4 children BEFORE I return to work-ie..family, or church daycare. Not everyone has those options, and I was trying to be helpful to point out there are other alternatives than leaving a child at home. God forbid another child dies from neglect.

I know DHR is busy, and if I thought I could handle another child I would foster in a heartbeat. But I feel it would be unfair to the four children I have and try to give everything to, and also the other child. But believe me, I have talked about it with my husband, and we were even going to adopt a relative from another state a few years back. Perhaps, when my children are out of the house, I will be a foster parent. Don’t judge and condemn, when one is only trying to help prevent future tragedies. continued....

Posted by rmseek1234 on 04/22/08 - 1:52 pm • Report Abuse

We cannot believe Jessica would heap more anguish on Brandon, Beth, and the Grandparents at this time.
To state the “Obvious” with her hateful- hurtful words only shows that she has no compassion for the suffering that Brandon, Beth, and the Grandparents are going through.
The Grandparents are in a total state of shock, having to deal with everything that has been laid at their feet and Jessica ignoring their suffering proves she simply wants her bit of drama. This is not a time for drama but compassion. Trying to make herself look better in the light of what’s happened is 100% self serving.
Brandon and Beth are in a state of anguish and both are suffering tremendously at the loss of little Christian.
This should be a time of prayer and unity not division. Jessica I will pray for you.

Posted by JonNConi on 04/22/08 - 1:31 pm • Report Abuse

The ex-wife surely wouldn’t have anything kind to say about the mother who lost her child. I think someone should do a background check on the ex-wife Jessica, I bet we would find a very tainted past.(her past may very well make news) It seems this tragedy was her opportunity to be able to say something nasty about Elizabeth in public view.
No matter what, from this day on all eyes will be on the ex-wife Jessica. The public will want to make sure she’s the wonderful mother she portrays herself as being.
As for Elizabeth she made a horrible mistake and has paid the ultimate price, her child.
We should consider her feelings of loss and guilt before we lash out at her.
I’m sure the ex-wife is jealous of Elizabeth, and I’m sure she’s loving all of this heartache she’s going through. We should select who we interview more carefully. Check the ex-wife’s background and history. You won’t care about her opinion.

Posted by ChristineM1967 on 04/22/08 - 2:07 am • Report Abuse

I AM VERY DISGUSTED WITH JESSICA. BAD I CAN NOT BELIEVE SHE IS ON TV SPEAKING ABOUT CHRITIAN AS IF SHE CARED FOR HIM SHE HAS NVER LIKED ELIZABETH. AND FOR BOTH OF THESE WOMEN TO KNOW SAY SHE IS A BAD MOTHER IS SAD. THEY JUST WANT TO BE ON TV NEITHER CARED ABOUT CHRISTIAN. AND TO SAY HOW HER SON ASK ABOUT HIS DAD IS AS JOKE SHE DID NOT EVEN LET HIM SEE CONNER OFTEN. SHE SHOULD BE GREATFUL THAT WHEN HE DID HAVE CHRISTIAN HE HAD FOOD BECAUSE IT WAS ELIZABETHS MONEY THAT FED HIM. BRANDON HAS NEVER WORKED OR DID ANYTHING TO HELP SUPPORT THAT HOUSEHOLD. IT IS SAD THAT CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE THE FOCUS BUT EVIL IS TO BUSY. MAY GOD BLESS ELIZABETH AND HER FAMILY.

Posted by concerned parent on 04/21/08 - 11:56 pm • Report Abuse

See current Mobile Press stories covering the backlog on DHR assisted daycare. Nurse, I dare you to find a resource, fill out the paperwork and come back in a week to let us know that resources are available in time for you to go to work, let’s say next Monday. It’s not going to happen. I guarantee it. And when you say plenty of parents out there want to adopt, I’d challenge you and your buddies to sign up as foster care parents, take in one child and provide for a year. Again, it’s not going to happen. When I worked for DHR, the same parents were there for us month after month, year after year. Call DHR and ask how many foster family spots there are available TODAY. If you really want to do something, get licensed to provide care and put out your shingle to provide loving supervision to these children and moms who can’t really pay you.

Posted by southfan1981 on 04/21/08 - 8:43 pm • Report Abuse