Las Vegas Mother and stepfather murder 7 year old son

Roderick “RJ” Arrington (Photo: facebook)

Las Vegas Mother and stepfather murder 7 year old son

A Las Vegas Mother and stepfather murder 7 year old son by inflicting horrendous abuse on the boy.

It’s another sad case of a woman who hooks up with a guy that it isn’t the child’s father and either allows the abuse or eagerly participates; all for the sake of having “a man”.

In this case, it appears that the mother was a very active participant in the systematic beating of her son that resulted in his death,

Roderick “RJ” Arrington Jr. lived in Bloomington, IL with his father and paternal grandmother until his mother, Dina Palmer, somehow got back custody of Roderick within the past 3 months.

Dina Palmer (l) and Markiece Palmer (r), the mother and stepfather of Roderick Arrington, who have been charged in his death.

Dina and her husband Markiece Palmer, the boys stepfather beat Roderick for not reading the Bible and failing to do his homework.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, Roderick suffered severely. He  had bruising over much of his body, including arms, abdomen, back, legs, thighs and buttocks. He had open wounds on his buttocks. He also had massive brain swelling.

The second grader also suffered a number of strokes due to his injuries

His stepfather admitted to beating him but then went on to tell a self-serving story, as most abusers do.  He claimed that after hitting Roderick, that the child “balled up his fist” so he shook him.  He then said that Roderick ran downstairs and fell.

Dina Palmer admitted to beating her own son too saying that  she struck her son with a paddle, her hand and a belt on his lower back.

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Although the goal of child services is to reunite parents and their children, you have to wonder why they would allow the Palmer’s to be anywhere near a child.

What is really unsettling about the case is that a call was received to Clark County Child Protective hotline and it does not appear that any action was taken. If action was taken, Roderick might still be alive.

Here is what the the Clark County’s Department of Family Services had to say,

As indicated in our public disclosure, the Department of Family Services received a Child Protective Services hotline call on the same day that Roderick Arrington may have sustained injuries that ultimately led to his death. We are cooperating fully with Metro’s investigation and are conducting a complete review and investigation into this matter. That investigation will include a review of all policies and procedures related to the hotline and CPS and will consider whether those policies and procedures were appropriately followed in Roderick’s case. No child should ever have to suffer the way Roderick did and the loss of any child’s life is tragic. Our deepest sympathies are extended to Roderick’s family and friends.

Even after discovering Roderick not responsive on Thursday, the parents did not contact authorities right way.  They reportedly called a pastor first and finally called the authorities after an hour.

RJ passed away sometime on Friday.

Dina and Markiece Palmer, have each been charged with 3 counts relating to the murder of Roderick and Dina Palmer has been charged with allowing the abuse to occur.

They will be back in court on January 18, 2013 for a preliminary hearing.

Related articles

• Mother, stepfather face Jan. 18 preliminary hearing in beating death of 7-year-old
• Child Abuse Report Made Before 7-Year-Old’s Death