Even Dante Alighieri would have struggled to describe the vision of hell that unfolded in recent weeks in Denver District Courtroom 17, where the murderers of 7-year- old Chandler Grafner were brought to justice.
A case of such cruelty visited upon such a helpless victim takes an enormous toll on the prosecutors, lawyers, judge, court employees, jurors and journalists who have to confront the awful details every day. To these honorable men and women — whose dedication sent Jon Phillips to prison for life without parole for starving the helpless child in his charge to death — the community can only give our thanks and admiration.
Sarah Berry, 23, Phillips’ partner in barbarism, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder in exchange for a 48-year sentence. With good behavior, she can expect to serve 32 years.
It is both trite and true to say “the system” failed Chandler Grafner. The real question is how we can reduce the chance of such evil acts recurring.
On the opposite page, Post columnist Gail Schoettler describes some of the symptoms of child abuse that can alert responsible adults to such hidden horror.
Beyond such heightened individual and community consciousness, Gov. Bill Ritter and the Colorado legislature need to review the state’s child welfare system, which has suffered along with other social programs from budget cuts over the past decade.
Sadly, Chandler’s death was not unique. Thirteen children in Colorado who were supposed to be under the protection of social services died in 2007. Earlier this year, a comprehensive state review of their deaths pointed out disturbing flaws in the safety net that is supposed to protect Colorado’s most vulnerable children.
Ritter responded by expressing “outrage” — and naming yet another blue ribbon committee to recommend solutions for the 2010 legislature. Such a long-term response may be necessary, but in the interim, we urge the governor to enact as many of the four pages of recommendations for change from this spring’s report as swiftly as possible.
Police who investigate crimes against children can be better trained in what to look for and how to interview possible victims and their friends. School officials who heard Chandler explain a bruised ear by saying “My dad clobbered me” can better report such incidents. And in the longer run, the whole process of assigning guardians to children must be upgraded and reformed.
We owe it to the memory of Chandler Grafner to assure that he did not die in vain.
