Roger Stephens / CBS Atlanta
A man slapped a child in Wal-Mart after warning her mother to shut her up before he did. The 2-year old had been crying, and 61-year old Roger Stephens was annoyed.
Stephens approached the mother, Sonya Mathews, and her child, Paige Mathews, and told the mom "If you can't shut that kid up, I'll do it for you." When the child continued to cry, he smacked the little girl across her face four times, then turned to the mom again and said "See I told you I would shut her up."
CBS Atlanta is reporting that Sonya Mathews has already forgiven the man, who is charged with felony cruelty to a child, because "he must have mental issues."
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Comments
My mother told me about this during our morning phone call. I was shocked. I am sure that justice will be served.
I agree that it takes a village to raise a child, but my idea of a village is different than others. My 'village' consists of my self and my daughters, our friends and family, our doctor...etc. People that we know and trust. Not our entire community.
I can't believe this mom did smack this guy back. I can't imagine watching my child being smacked by some stranger. WOW! And she's forgiven him? Her poor child was smacked four times by this psycho. I hope he goes to prison.
I would never forgive some stranger who took it upon himself to assume that I was a terrible mother and my child must be a brat (or whatever words were going through his muttering mind). How did he know what was really going on? Maybe the child was sick or had just had her shots or whatever. Maybe daddy was home dying of cancer and mommy had to run to the store for whatever and had to take a needs-a-nap child with her cuz dady is home puking from the chemo. People assume too much. I always feel badly for the parent who must be feeling ten times the frustration the nearby strangers feel. After all, they can leave aisle 7 and come back later. Mom can't leave her child behind and cross to the other side of the store. This man does not look like a very pleasant person... but I'm not going to assume anything. Maybe he had run out of Geritol or had just found out his wife was dying of cancer. We ALL need to be more patient with those around us.
After watching the video of Mr Stephens I think he's suffering from some neurological condition. Did anybody else notice that he was ticcing at least 2 ways, one a scrunching of the face (probably has contributed to his chronically crabby expression) and less often with his arms and neck together. Kindof like a modified butterfly stroke. My brother has Tourette's, if he has that then the irritability and anger go hand in hand with having Tourette's syndrome. However, he could have a brain tumor and various other conditions that might induce ticking, lack of control, heightened irritability, and anger.
That said, I think I would've assaulted him had he tried it with my screaming toddler. I have a 29 month old, they all occassionally have meltdowns. I'm grateful my daughter has fewer than most, but she did indeed throw herself on the floor screaming just last Weds in a restaurant. Lasted less than a minute, but these things happen.
This guy is a creep! He looks like he has some mental issues, but should be charged and convicted to the fullest extent of the law.
where does like senior citizen live? I want to slap him across the face with his cane and see how he feels! granted we have all been to walmart and have seen the types of people that shop there... and often we see things like this way this child was acting and we want to slap them too.... but holy cow old man... normal people dont act on it!!!!!!!
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