Letter: Chance Jones was loved

This is the story of events and how I and others feel about what needs to be told. I thought you might like to know a few more details about what happened. The fact that Gayle Edes will only serve 90 days in a county jail instead of a prison and 10 years probation in the county of her choice, for a plea of guilty to a first degree felony is just wrong. Isn’t that like saying to someone that I am a little bit sorry but what I did isn’t that bad? Gayle can still see her friends, drive around free, sleep in her bed and most of all live her life.

I am not sure why the DA decided to offer her a plea but I do not feel like it was best for what she did. I admit I do not know all the ins and outs of the law but it seems like she just got a slap on the hand compared to what she deserved. At the time she was the only person who could have helped her grandson. She knew what her son, Robert, was doing and did absolutely nothing to prevent any more of it or to stop it.

Before Chance Mark went to live with Robert, he was a happy, healthy smart four-year old boy. He lived with a couple in Post, Texas, who loved and adored him. He had other “family” that cherished him. The couple in Post were more his parents than anyone had ever been. They took Chance, his sister, and their mother in when they had nowhere else to go. Chance’s mom had made bad decisions and burned a lot of bridges with the people that could have helped her. Chance had a stable home with this couple and he loved them as much as they loved him. Most of the time, Chance’s mom did her own thing, and this couple cared for Chance and his sister.

As things went on it became obvious to this couple that Chance’s mom was still making bad choices and about to leave and take these two kids to who knows where. So it was decided it was time to call CPS. CPS came to the house and ask Chance’s mom to submit to a drug test. She refused. She told them she had used drugs, and they were in her system. Instead of taking custody of the children or sending the mom somewhere, CPS allowed this woman, who just admitted she had drugs in her system, to decide what would happen with her kids till there was a hearing.

CPS told her that the kids could stay where they were. They could live with a relative or that she could stay there with the kids as long as she was not alone with them because there had been some abuse on her part. Since she was mad that this couple had turned her in, she decided the children could go stay with their fathers – men neither one of them were close to at the time.

Chance’s sister had a dad that had known Chance’s mom for at least a year before Chance was born. This man thought he was Chance’s dad and gave Chance his name. Chance’s mom started asking for cash from him and when she was angry would tell him that Chance is not your son. So the man asked for a paternity test and said he would set up child support. Well when Chance had just turned four it was proven that Chance was not his son, but the daughter was his. That is when two other men were tested and it discovered that Robert Babcock was his dad. When CPS and Chance’s mom notified Robert about what had happened with Chance and that he could live with him. Robert had met Chance one other time, at the paternity test.

Robert, who knew nothing about kids and did not know Chance, came to town that day. Outraged that Chance’s mom would have abused a 4 year old. (She was accused of slapping him and his sister and spanking with a belt), he wanted Chance to go with him then. It was finally decided that he and Chance needed time to have visits and get to know each other over the next few months. Robert did a few visits with Chance and in less than a month decided he was taking Chance to live with him. Robert was told we would do anything to help them or if he needed anything just to call.

Once with Robert, Chance was not allowed to talk to anyone who had loved him or cared about him. No one was allowed to see him and sometimes there was just no answer to calls or text messages. When Robert did answer all he would say is that Chance was fine. Also once Chance was with Robert, CPS was not involved as before. Robert was the biological dad.

It took less than one month for this man that was known to others for his temper to beat Chance to death. Robert beat Chance time and time again over an eleven day period. Robert was very careful to hide it from everyone. Everyone, except Gayle. She had been to Robert’s house. She had seen Chance and how he had to be suffering, saw the bruises and what was happening. She was the only other person around Chance besides Robert. She knew what was going on and did nothing. She was his last hope and she had let him down.

When 911 was finally called by Robert, it was too little too late. When Chance was at the hospital, Gayle was there. Again the people that loved Chance and truly cared for him were not allowed to see him there, to speak to him to let him know they had not forgotten him and that they loved him. Gayle, yet again sat in the room with Chance, knew what had happened and saw that little body and how he had been battered from the top of his head to the tops of his feet and still said nothing. She heard the doctors, the nurses, the officers and others talk about how that little boy must have suffered and how badly beaten and bruised he was. She sat there and looked at him and showed no guilt, no shame and little emotion. She had been Chance’s last chance and she had failed him. Did she understand that she was just as guilty as Robert?

I believe in my heart that God looked down from Heaven and saw Chance and what was going on and told him that if he was not going to be allowed to be with the people that loved and cared for him that he belonged in Heaven with him. Gayle was a grandmother to this little boy and yet she watched him die because she did not step up. How does a person do that? She could have saved him and her son. Now she has lost her son to the prison system and a precious little boy to death.

She should know that Chance would have loved her if only he had been given the chance. His heart and his love was big enough for all to share. My question is, does she even care? I am part of the family that loved Chance and knew he was one of us from the day he was born.

When child abuse touches a family as it has us with Chance, it leaves a hurt, a hole in your heart and a burning desire to try to stop this from happening to anyone else. That is why this family has decided to speak up. We will do anything we can. We try and tell others that if you think someone is being abused, DO something, tell someone, take some kind of action. If it is physical or emotional it is abuse. If it is a woman, man or child, it is abuse. Do NOT stay silent. You may be someone’s last chance. If you are not sure, find a way to have someone check it out.

Everyone in our family wears a bracelet to remind us of our love for Chance and how we can help others. That bracelet simply says, “Don’t take a CHANCE” We realize that if you do nothing there can be a high price for that person to pay and for the people that love that person.

Chance Mark Jones, we love you!

Vicki Harrison