KATHY BOCKUS/COURIER Jennifer and Wayne Fraser founded a Facebook group inthe wake of the alleged murder of an infant near St. Stephen.
By KATHY BOCKUS
kathy@stcroixcourier.ca
ST. STEPHEN – Jennifer and Wayne Fraser want to make something perfectly clear.
They did not create their Facebook page, “A Child is a Child” as a forum for people to hurl insults or threats against anyone.
“We want people to know that this group was not set up intentionally to hurt anyone in any way,” said Jennifer Fraser.
“People just started bashing,” she said.
They say the website was, and still is, intended as a memorial for the innocent victims of violence and death, not only in Charlotte County, but in other communities. The Frasers want their site to be a place where people can pressure the government to expand sex education classes currently offered in schools to include discussions on options available to parents deciding the future of their unborn children.
On the Facebook site, the Frasers’ group is described as:
“For anyone who wants to help stop these killings to newborn babies. Please sign the petition so we can let the judge know that we would like to see a stiffer sentencing than just a slap on the wrist!! Also please send any ideas that you have to help us put an end to this.”
As of late Monday, the group had 723 members and almost 200 people had signed the petition.
Wayne created the group on the day the RCMP arrested Rodney Miller and Sarah Russell and charged them with concealing the birth of their child.
The body of a newborn infant was found in a wooded area near the couple’s Moore Mills home on Jan. 29. Miller has since been charged with first degree murder, Russell with manslaughter and as an accessory after the fact.
The couple has been sent away for psychiatric examinations to determine if they are fit to stand trial and are scheduled to return to court on March 17.
Jennifer said people took their Facebook page the wrong way.
The couple wanted it to be used as an online support group for people who were feeling sad and upset about the baby’s death. Instead, people let loose with comments Jennifer calls “horrible” against the two accused, and bringing up the name of another local woman who was found guilty two years ago of concealing the birth of her child.
“We’re not here to condemn,” said Wayne, 34.
“Or to judge,” said Jennifer, 32.
Both said they were concerned about the families of Miller and Russell. Having to go through this ordeal is bad enough, they said, without having to hear about or read the vicious comments being left on the Internet.
The Frasers think that if the accused are found guilty or plead guilty, it would be up to the judicial system as to what their sentences will be and not the court of public opinion.
Yet they have started an online, as yet unworded petition, that already had 199 names as of Tuesday morning, that they plan to send with a letter to the judge in this case asking him to hand down the stiffest sentence possible in the event the accused are guilty.
They also plan to send a copy of the petition to Charlotte-Campobello MLA Tony Huntjens and New Brunswick Southwest MP Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, asking them to use their influence to create outreach programs to benefit pregnant teens.
The Frasers have been married for 14 years. They chose adoption for the two children born to them when Jennifer was a teenager.
They say they’d like to see drop off points, maybe at the local fire hall or hospital, made available for people who have babies, but don’t want to keep them, as an alternative to dead babies.
“No questions asked,” said Jennifer.
They both would like to see a greater effort by Social Services to look into individual cases more closely, especially where children have been involved previously.
Even though the couple feels education of teens is the key to preventing any future situations like the one police are investigating in Moores Mills, they don’t believe it will put an end to these sad and horrific circumstances.
But the Frasers believe that doesn’t mean people like them have to stop trying to make the public more aware of what programs are needed in the community.
“You can’t end drinking and driving, but they have MADD groups,” said Wayne, referring to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Plans are underway to hold a public meeting some time in March in St. Stephen.
“We want to get everyone’s ideas and points of view on what should take place,” said Jennifer.
“These children are so innocent; they never asked to be conceived.”
Jennifer stresses that people should consider options other than death for their children.
“There are options. Adoption for one,” she said. “And there’s condoms, contraceptives. If you don’t want the child, get on the friggin’ pill or use a condom. That’s what they’re there for.”
kathy@stcroixcourier.ca
ST. STEPHEN – Jennifer and Wayne Fraser want to make something perfectly clear.
They did not create their Facebook page, “A Child is a Child” as a forum for people to hurl insults or threats against anyone.
“We want people to know that this group was not set up intentionally to hurt anyone in any way,” said Jennifer Fraser.
“People just started bashing,” she said.
They say the website was, and still is, intended as a memorial for the innocent victims of violence and death, not only in Charlotte County, but in other communities. The Frasers want their site to be a place where people can pressure the government to expand sex education classes currently offered in schools to include discussions on options available to parents deciding the future of their unborn children.
On the Facebook site, the Frasers’ group is described as:
“For anyone who wants to help stop these killings to newborn babies. Please sign the petition so we can let the judge know that we would like to see a stiffer sentencing than just a slap on the wrist!! Also please send any ideas that you have to help us put an end to this.”
As of late Monday, the group had 723 members and almost 200 people had signed the petition.
Wayne created the group on the day the RCMP arrested Rodney Miller and Sarah Russell and charged them with concealing the birth of their child.
The body of a newborn infant was found in a wooded area near the couple’s Moore Mills home on Jan. 29. Miller has since been charged with first degree murder, Russell with manslaughter and as an accessory after the fact.
The couple has been sent away for psychiatric examinations to determine if they are fit to stand trial and are scheduled to return to court on March 17.
Jennifer said people took their Facebook page the wrong way.
The couple wanted it to be used as an online support group for people who were feeling sad and upset about the baby’s death. Instead, people let loose with comments Jennifer calls “horrible” against the two accused, and bringing up the name of another local woman who was found guilty two years ago of concealing the birth of her child.
“We’re not here to condemn,” said Wayne, 34.
“Or to judge,” said Jennifer, 32.
Both said they were concerned about the families of Miller and Russell. Having to go through this ordeal is bad enough, they said, without having to hear about or read the vicious comments being left on the Internet.
The Frasers think that if the accused are found guilty or plead guilty, it would be up to the judicial system as to what their sentences will be and not the court of public opinion.
Yet they have started an online, as yet unworded petition, that already had 199 names as of Tuesday morning, that they plan to send with a letter to the judge in this case asking him to hand down the stiffest sentence possible in the event the accused are guilty.
They also plan to send a copy of the petition to Charlotte-Campobello MLA Tony Huntjens and New Brunswick Southwest MP Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, asking them to use their influence to create outreach programs to benefit pregnant teens.
The Frasers have been married for 14 years. They chose adoption for the two children born to them when Jennifer was a teenager.
They say they’d like to see drop off points, maybe at the local fire hall or hospital, made available for people who have babies, but don’t want to keep them, as an alternative to dead babies.
“No questions asked,” said Jennifer.
They both would like to see a greater effort by Social Services to look into individual cases more closely, especially where children have been involved previously.
Even though the couple feels education of teens is the key to preventing any future situations like the one police are investigating in Moores Mills, they don’t believe it will put an end to these sad and horrific circumstances.
But the Frasers believe that doesn’t mean people like them have to stop trying to make the public more aware of what programs are needed in the community.
“You can’t end drinking and driving, but they have MADD groups,” said Wayne, referring to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Plans are underway to hold a public meeting some time in March in St. Stephen.
“We want to get everyone’s ideas and points of view on what should take place,” said Jennifer.
“These children are so innocent; they never asked to be conceived.”
Jennifer stresses that people should consider options other than death for their children.
“There are options. Adoption for one,” she said. “And there’s condoms, contraceptives. If you don’t want the child, get on the friggin’ pill or use a condom. That’s what they’re there for.”
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