SACRAMENTO, California-

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again……..I do not condone physical abuse of any sort within a family setting, and I really try to shy away from stories that include it. But, I found one such story that I had to make an exception for. That being said, here’s a strange story I just came across today that I needed to write about. It is of a sensitive nature, so I will not get gory and will try to keep it brief.

Little Sandra Smith was only a six-month-old baby when her pathetic father, Andrew Dean Smith, beat her until she was unconscious because she was crying. Luckily, Sandra survived the beating, but it cost her dearly. Sandra lived disabled due to the attack and was under permanent care. Sadly, in January, due to her father’s unforgivable actions, Sandra finally succumbed to her injuries and passed away.

I must throw in a strange twist, or I could not and would not be writing about this sad story. When Sandra passed away in January, it was deemed a homicide because the coroner’s office advised the Sacramento Police Department that blunt force injuries to her head during the beating had left her disabled and later caused her death. The attack took place in 1954 and Sandra lived to be 57-years-old. Very sad but strange that she was able to survive an injury that took her life 57 years later. The monster father, Andrew Dean Smith, only served six months in prison for assault and later died in 1980. I have mixed emotions about his passing…….part of me is glad that the despicable human is no longer alive, but part of me would have loved him to have to face murder charges over a half century after his crime.

(Court records for this case were unavailable, so Sacramento Police Detectives had to check old newspaper archives for details.)

The moral of the story: No moral tonight, just please see the websites listed below. And if you have a few bucks to spare, please consider donating to one or two of these worthy organization and help to end child abuse (anything helps)…….child abuse is never acceptable!

Child Help

American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children

Prevent Child Abuse America

Child Advocates

American Humane Association

NAPCAN Preventing Child Abuse

Children’s Institute, Inc.

International Child Abuse Network

Child Abuse Prevention Network

National Council on Child Abuse & Family Violence

Child & Women Abuse Studies Unit

Tennyson Center For Children

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