Cops: Dad Killed Son Over Child Support

Man Accused Of Murdering Toddler To Avoid Paying; Earlier Claimed He Had Been Kidnapped

(AP)  A man who initially told police gunmen kidnapped his 2½-year-old son was arrested Saturday, accused of committing an "extremely hideous" murder because he was ordered to pay child support, Police Superintendent Warren Riley said.

Danny Platt confessed, told police where to find the child's body and has been booked on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Ja' Shawn Powell, police said.

"He had said he would kill either his wife or his child before he paid child support," which he recently had been ordered to do, Riley said.

Riley said he did not know the amount of child support and would not describe how the boy was killed, saying the coroner would do that after the autopsy was complete. The coroner's spokesman did not immediately return a call.

"The mother is in a safe place," Riley said.

Although he had visiting rights, Platt, 22, of New Orleans, had never visited the boy until he picked him up Friday, Riley said.

Police put out a notice Saturday asking people to look for the boy and saying his father had told them three men with dreadlocks and AK-47 rifles had piled out of an SUV and kidnapped Ja' Shawn shortly before midnight Friday.

"His story never really added up," Riley said. "He was a suspect from the very beginning."

Riley said Platt eventually confessed and told officers where to find the body.

Police spokesman officer Janssen Valencia said he did not know if Platt has an attorney.

Platt had only a couple of "very minor" previous arrests, Riley said.

"How does an individual - because he's ordered to pay child support to take care of a kid ... believe that this is so much pressure that he would face - he would do this hideous act to his own child, or to any child, and think that is a remedy to paying child support?" Riley said. "I mean there are some sick individuals in this society, and this gentleman is clearly one."

[docadams3]

Fry him.

[dabsgram]

An eye for an eye is not even enough. This story makes me long for the days when prisoners did not have all the "rights".

[beybe-2009]

b4ucmyI your comments are tasteless and completely out of line. How do you know there aren''t other offspring of this man? Your remark is ignorant and crude.

The loss of this childs life is nothing but a callous and inhumane act by a social degenerate who deserves the death penalty.

[anitay417]

beybe , good point. As a black man, he''s likely to have at least 5 to 10 more kids out there some where.

[beybe-2009]

I know of a 21 year old white man who has 3 children on the way, one with a white woman, one with a black woman and one is with a Puerto Rican so include yourself with b4ucmyI, okay?

Morals, like racism and bigotry, know no bounds.

[whoopdeedoo6]

Riley said. "I mean there are some sick individuals in this society, and this gentleman is clearly one."

***??? gentleman?? How about "SAVAGE"!!!!

[jsutaguy]

That guy in California who shot the 9 people and burned up the house after HIS divorce had been ordered to pay 3700$ a month in spousal support...to a woman he had married 10 months prior and her 3 kids, none of whom were his.

The guy had lost his job, got dumped after 10 months of marriage, and was ordered to pay 3700$ a month...and he proved that his wife was essentially partying with the money.

Killing is wrong, but so is our judicial system.

Women have achieved equality. Let them pay 50% of everthing.

[nyckate]

justaguy11

omg - you cannot be serious. You are trying to justify this animal''s killing of his own son so he didn''t have to pay child support for his own son?? You have serious issues and need help.

[ndg1979]

Men such as this have no place on this earth. To extinguish such young lives all over money is a sign that he has reached the absolute rock-bottom of not just society''s ladder, but the ladder of humanity as well. To allow this man to continue to live leaves an indelible scar on humanity. It does matter what skin color he is - murder is murder.

I say that since he could not keep his pants closed - chop his willy off then take him out. Make an example of the low life scum who perpetuate our society that actions like this will no longer be tolerated and your penalty is not a plea agreement but death without exception. He has forgotten his purpose on earth - we are here to build and not to destroy. The rule should be that you are not allowed to live if you do not contribute to humanity, and especially if your contribution to humanity is destruction.

Hope you never rest in peace murderer.

[woodjd42]

I have never believed in the death penalty, however if there ever a case that it should be given, this is the case.

[comeon11]

yes, the world has gone mad. you know why, we killed God. you can deny it however much you want to but this is the consequences of no fear and standard of morality in a society. it will only get worst. we are so eager to be free from every thing- bills, loans, child supports etc.... we need to get that "i want to be free" nonsense out of our heads. we all have responsibilities as human beings- work, bills, and raring your children among other thing. nobody is truly free- nobody. this is the first generation in history where people actually feel like they are so entitled to everything and where they feel that they should be free from all responsibilities. people today are selfish, self consumed, and narcissistic. someone might call me arrogant for saying these things- that''s how messed up this world is.

[simonette2]

Florida has Casey Anthony. They should all be locked up together in preparation for their "eternity."

[runningralph]

denswin08 says fathers are damned if they do and damed it they don''t. Only the fathers who are stupid enough to think they can make babies without paying. In fact, in the US thousands don''t pay. Many are in prison and others are sneaking around selling dope, working for cash, unable top hold up their head in society. The way to damnation is wide. The way to salvation is narrow. The mothers involved in indiscriminate breeding are just as damned.

[onlythereal-]

denswin08 says fathers are damned if they do and damed it they don''''t. Only the fathers who are stupid enough to think they can make babies without paying. In fact, in the US thousands don''''t pay. Many are in prison and others are sneaking around selling dope, working for cash, unable top hold up their head in society. The way to damnation is wide. The way to salvation is narrow. The mothers involved in indiscriminate breeding are just as damned.

Well said...I am sure you will get lots of flack over it on here from the bleeding hearts that dont think anyone is capable of taking responsibility for their own actions for some lame reason or another. Personally, I think we are in the Last Days and it wont be much longer. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

[twistedsister1959]

Baghdad on the Bayou makes the national news again. Crime is so bad in the Big Easy not even the locals go out at night. It is shameful. The mayor and the police chief are both incapable of catching a cold. Maybe the new DA will push this one through the legal system instead of allowing the "perp" to walk as the previous DA was notorious for doing until the criminals started showing up at his doorstep seeking refuge and he was ordered out of office. New Orleans is a cesspool of crimanals and violence. The FBI needs to step in (as they are already doing) and finish clearing this place out from the top down.

[onlythereal-]

New Orleans is notorious for being the occult capital of the US. In full swing before hurricane Katrina, you could find an occult shop on every corner. None of the heinous crime down there surprises me and neither does the judgement it received.

[onlythereal-]

Anyone who could kill a baby because they didn''t want saddled with child support after creating that child, would have to be ruled by demons.

[katbo64]

Let''s hear for that "Chocolate ''Na-lains" the mayor wanted.
A few more hurricanes and maybe it will wipe New Orleans off the map.
I, as a paying traveler, would never set foot back in the city after the Mayor announced the chocolate thing. Of cousre crime is up...it went up in Houston the day they bused their @sses in.
It''s the Caucasians that paid for that city to be a tourist "trap". How many blacks you see in photos at Martigraw? Zip, unless they are in the parade.

[cezrh]

God Bless that in innocent child. But this is what our system make people do. People cant afford anything in this days. Greed!!

[cezrh]

If your not paying child support you shouldnt talk.

[gonesouthern]

As hyenas as this crime was you need only to look at the picture and read where it happened to understand how it could have happened.

[albo58]

2 bullets into the back of this guy''s head should be the immediate sentence!

[inhaled_not]

""What a wonderful World""

[onlythereal-]

God Bless that in innocent child. But this is what our system make people do. People cant afford anything in this days. Greed!

Posted by cezrh

Our system didnt make him have unprotected *** though, did it. He is responsible for his own actions, it has nothing to do with the system. This has been a problem for a long time, men fliting from one women to the next getting them pregnant and not taking care of the kids. If you want to talk about the system, talk about how the state "system" has to fork over money to take care of these millions of kids with our tax dollars that could be spent elsewhere.

[excoachken]

If you really want this guy to suffer miserably, for his cowardly action, I suggest a lifetime sentence of living with the child''s mother.

[scottyusa]

What a heartless creten! It amazes me that some argue against the death penalty.

[differnet]

Men, if you aren''t ready to be a father, use a condom. Do NOT depend upon a woman''s birth control. It''s your responsibility too. If you are sure you don''t ever want to be a father, get a vasectomy. Or heck, get your sperm frozen and get a vasectomy. The excuse that it''s the woman''s fault is ridiculous. Take some responsibility. Once upon a time, men in this country actually understood what responsibility was about. Now, they just whine about it''s all women''s fault.

[lfp190]

Please don''t give this man an easy out saying where he lived might be why he was a cold-hearted psychopath, sheesh. Many of us grew up in horrendous conditions and we climbed up and out.

[barbaraf4]

I suggest that this animal be tied to a chair and locked in a room with the child''s mother. She should be provided weapons of choice and however much time required to vent her anger.

[ladyephesus1]

Trust me, men are going nuts these days over paying child support. I get threatened and harrassed every month by my sons father over support. It is sick and sad to think that some men think a woman can make a baby by herself. I say if you cant feed em, then dont breed em!! Nuff said

[runningralph]

Many people curse this villian, as well they should , as do I. Let''s please take this chance to plead for women to be more careful who they breed with. Get to know a man. Meet his family and friends. Look at his background. Making babies should not be casual. Neither should it be a way to earn income at home.

[debinok1]

This is the mindset of too many men in this day and age. My own ex-husband after eight years of marriage and one child actually threatened my life during our divorce if I went after child support for our son. Responsiblity for prevent pregnancy is a two way street, so is supporting a child.

[brannigon]

Should this be such a big surprise America? Look around you; we''ve become like animals in this society! No regard for human life; no standards of morality. America, this country that we love is quickly becoming a cess pool of garbage and something has to happen to bring us out or we''re not going to survive!

[debinok1]

America, this country that we love is quickly becoming a cess pool of garbage and something has to happen to bring us out or we''''re not going to survive!

Posted by brannigon
*******************
Too many men and women have the "ME" mindset. It is all about what "I" want, the cell phones, the video games, always bigger, better something that gets in the way of being a selfless parent. Society does not encourage putting children first or making them a priority.

[msay3]

I suggest that this animal be tied to a chair and locked in a room with the child''''s mother. She should be provided weapons of choice and however much time required to vent her anger.
Posted by barbaraf4 at 09:49 AM : Jan 04, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I agree....Except I would tie him naked and spread-eagle on the floor and dump a bucket of fire ants on him...Then I would sit back and enjoy the show......

[lordsuntzu]

this is the kind of mentality the liberal media feeds these people..its HIP..

"just keeping it real"

[ericv2644]

The state should put this sicko to death but first cut off his ***. Black men fatherhood does not end at conception. I am glad that my father raised 9 Nine children on a coal miners salary and we are black follow his lead.

[caddillackid]

As a blackman I was there from the start, im there for my child now...i agree *** should not be casual...even a 12, 13 or 14 year old can make a child...it takes a man to take care of one. It''s called being responsible. Again...I''m a blackman...i take care of BOTH my children...so its not all of us ladies...we live in the same home so i dont have to pay child support to a mother...we pay it together to the kids daily! They deserve whatever they have coming ladies...i''m on your side...bleed the dumb *** dry! STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES...TO SUFFER FINANCIALLY IS FITTING!

[nebul09]

A one time fee for a lifetime of peace: desperate desire for a vasectomy was necessary in his case.

[petro49l]

Danny deserves the death penalty. The State must never tolerate the murder of a small child. The homicides of defenseless infants should receive a swift punishment.

[pransmom]

I know where-of I speak, my husband faithfully pays child support every week and has not received visitation in 3 years.


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Posted by pransmom at 12:00 PM : Jan 04, 2009

You are a disgusting person for holding his children from him.(YES they ARE his too)Unless he is a REAL and not made up threat to them you are disgusting.

Hello!! I am his present wife (married 4 years), NOT the mother of his 16 yo child (his ex). I know how important a father is to his children, I was widowed 9 years ago. My kids or I would give anything to have 5 minutes with their dad. Obviously not possible. I would never withhold visitation from the father of my children if I were in that situation (divorced rather than widowed).

[mediai11ness]

This is a prime example of why NOT to have UNPROTECTED S*E*X with Uneducated sorry A$$ worthless thugs...YOu couldn''t pay me to have a baby by some D1ckFUk who would rather kill me or my baby then help me...Castration should really be a part of our criminal justice system. Those that don''t contribute anything positive to society should not be allowed to procreate because when they do they dont care and the kids end up growing up being the same exact way...

[mediai11ness]

This is a prime example of why NOT to have UNPROTECTED S*E*X with Uneducated sorry A$$ worthless thugs...YOu couldn''t pay me to have a baby by some D1ckFUk who would rather kill me or my baby then help me...Castration should really be a part of our criminal justice system. Those that don''t contribute anything positive to society should not be allowed to procreate because when they do they dont care and the kids end up growing up being the same exact way...

[timothyone-2009]

Any man who would flat refuse to pay to support his child is no man at all. Either a straight up genetic psychopath, or a spoiled worthless brat of a boy who never was made to grow up. Perhaps another example of mommy overkill. America needs a two year service requirement for all young people aged 18 to 21, with a choice of military or some charitable service to the community that would involve removal from the cradle. Too may of our young are getting trapped in mommy''s loving arms and never learning to fly. Our Democracy depends on our people being strong and mature, not spoiled and self-centered.

[boyd12002]

For those saying a woman is a monster for with holding a child from their father need to think about what the reasons could be. Did you stop to think that possbily the court took away the visitation rights or that the father was physically or sexually abusing the child? It''s not always a woman denying the father visitation. Instead of judging and trying to sound all big why don''t you pull your head out of you a** so you can think clearly.

[cmackcoop]

Another Casey Anthony....there should be a special place in hell set aside for these monsters!!!!

[debinok1]

For those saying a woman is a monster for with holding a child from their father need to think about what the reasons could be. Did you stop to think that possbily the court took away the visitation rights or that the father was physically or sexually abusing the child? It''''s not always a woman denying the father visitation. Instead of judging and trying to sound all big why don''''t you pull your head out of you a** so you can think clearly.

Posted by radiochat
*********************
Very correct. My ex makes the choice not to see our son. He has the opportunity every weekend. He would rather get drunk or high with his new wife. Not every mother denies visitation. Some fathers have "better" things to do than see their kids.

[brannigon]

PUT THE ANIMAL TO SLEEP!!!

[wl7bzh]

So do we really moral standards? I guess it depends on whether one''s particular lifestyle or behavior is being impinged upon. Moral values we held as absolute 40 years ago are now considered outdated.

I guess one''s moral view of right and wrong depends on one personal lifestyle value.

Do we have the right to smoke in public? Do we have the right to abort an unwanted child?

Or how bout a child that has become too expensive and interferes with one''s lifestyle?

There little perversion don''t you cry, you''ll be considered normal by and by.

[czmdm]

wl7bzh congratulations you are the Moron of the Day. How do you compare smoking pot and abortion to the murder of a child? Get your head out of your RNP arse. This is why nobody can take you guys seriously any longer.

You should read the article about Bush''s blunders while speaking in public. You should read it because the way you write English you make Bush look like a poet.