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Don't let me go, Daddy

If only we'd clung on to our beautiful boy...


Published by: Dawn Murden and Sharon Ward
Published on: 9 August 2012

The ball shot between the posts. ‘Goal!' I cheered, as my grandson Dominick, four, raced into his daddy's arms. My son Eric, 28, lifted him and Dominick's brother Tyler, seven, in the air to celebrate.
‘My superstars!' he beamed.
It warmed my heart to see them all together, especially after the rough times we'd been through.
Only three years ago, Eric's life had been a mess. He'd been hooked on drugs. Me and his dad Rick, 51, would visit him and his girlfriend Corrine, 23, and my heart would break hearing them slur every word.
‘Let me help you,' I'd begged Eric, time and again. But he'd not been ready to face his demons. ‘We're fine,' he'd snap.
I didn't want to push him too hard. Instead, I just kept an eye on him, made sure the kids were okay. I needn't have worried. Eric and Corrine were good parents.
Then, two years later, Eric had come clean. ‘I need help,' he'd sobbed. ‘I'm addicted to painkillers. I don't want to be like this. I want to be a good dad.'
‘We'll do everything we can,' Rick had promised. Eric came to live with us and went to rehab. He got his life back on track, got a job, and his own place. The only sad thing was that he and Corrine had split. Despite everything, I missed her.
They'd met three years before. When Eric had brought her to the house, I'd taken a shine to her instantly. She'd already had Tyler from a previous relationship, but Eric treated him like a son.
Now, though, the drug addiction had put too much strain on the relationship. Eric was off drugs, and she was trying.
I felt sad that their little family had broken up, but I knew if they were still together, they might be tempted to fall back into bad ways.
And things were going well for both of them. Corrine had a new boyfriend. I hadn't met him, but I hoped she was happy. Like Eric was. He'd been living in his new apartment with the kids for three months now.
But the next day, Eric came over to ours in tears. ‘She's taken the boys again,' he sobbed. ‘How could she do this?' ‘You'll see them again soon,' I soothed. ‘She can't keep them from you forever.'
‘Dominick was clinging on to my leg,' he went on. ‘He didn't want to go.' I was raging. It was my one bugbear with Corrine. She'd take the kids for a few weeks, maybe months. Then she'd drop them without warning.
Eric had no choice except to obey her. He'd gone for full custody of Tyler and Dominick, but the courts had favoured Corrine. I wanted them to see both their parents. But it was unfair of her just to pick them up and drop them when she felt like it.
‘She can't keep doing this,' I pleaded with Corrine's sister Christine, 18, over the phone. ‘They were happy with Eric.'
‘I'll help if I can,' she said.
I went round to see my son almost every day. A week passed and he was still devastated. ‘I just miss them so much,' he croaked.
A few days later, I was vacuuming, while Rick was washing his car. Suddenly, he burst in. ‘Something's happened to Corrine,' he cried. ‘Christine called me, she thinks she might be hurt. I'm going over there.'
‘My god, just go. Phone me as soon as you can,' I panicked.
Nearly an hour later, the phone rang. ‘I'm at the police station,' Rick said. ‘They're holding me.
I punched Corrine's boyfriend.'
‘What?' I gasped. ‘Why?'
‘Just call Eric and get to the hospital. Dominick's badly hurt,' he said. My heart stopped. I had a thousand questions, but there wasn't time for them now. I rang Eric and we raced to the hospital.
A doctor was waiting for us. ‘What's happened to my son?' Eric cried.
‘He's been badly beaten,' the doctor said. ‘His brain is swollen - we need to operate immediately.'
‘What? Is he going to be okay?' Eric cried.
‘We're doing all we can,' he replied. ‘The police will come to see you.' Me and Eric sat in silence, holding hands. But there were so many unanswered questions... Who'd hurt Dominick? Where was Tyler? Why wasn't Rick here? Was Corrine okay?
‘This is killing me, Mum,' Eric wept. ‘What the hell's happened to my son?'‘I don't know,' I whispered. My head was spinning.
Just then, Rick came running up the corridor. ‘How's Dominick?' he asked.
‘Not good,' I sobbed. ‘What happened?' He slumped into a chair and put his head in his hands.
‘When I got to the house, Tyler was outside on his own. Corrine had two black eyes. Her boyfriend Brandon wouldn't let me in,' he croaked. ‘He was clearly on drugs, so I punched him. I found Dominick on the bedroom floor, covered with a blanket...' He gasped between sobs. ‘He'd been beaten to a pulp.'
‘Who did it?' Eric screamed.
‘Brandon said it was a kid next door,' Rick replied. ‘I don't believe him for a second.'
‘What about Corrine?' I asked. ‘Is she okay?' Rick shrugged. Police had said she'd been taken to hospital. But she wasn't here. I needed to tell her about Dominick. Nothing made sense!
The day turned into night. Finally, the doctor came to see us. ‘I'm so sorry,' he said sadly. ‘The damage to Dominick's brain is too much. Life-support is the only thing keeping him alive'
‘No!' Eric screamed. ‘My little boy.' My legs almost buckled beneath me. Tears streamed down my face. It felt like a nightmare.
‘You should go in and say your goodbyes,' the doctor said gently. As we walked in the room, I felt sick. We hardly recognised Dominick, his little body was black and blue. Huge purple bruises covered his face.
Eric knelt down beside the bed. ‘I'm so sorry,' he sobbed, stroking Dominick's head. ‘I should have been there.'
‘A child didn't do this,' I hissed. I could see at least three huge handprints on his tummy. ‘This is down to Brandon.'
I thought my heart would break. ‘Come on, son,' I said eventually, gently taking Eric's hand. ‘Let's get some fresh air and then come back.' When we walked outside, the police were waiting.
‘Brandon confessed. He blamed drugs,' an officer said. ‘We've arrested Corrine, too. We think she allowed this to happen.'
I was speechless with shock. Corrine had faults, but I'd always thought her to be a good mum.
‘Where's Tyler?' Eric asked suddenly. ‘He's in foster care,' the police explained. ‘Can he come home with me?' continued Eric. The officer shook his head. ‘I'm sorry, as he's not related to you by blood, you can't see him'
My heart shattered. For now, though, we had to concentrate on Dominick, our last few precious hours with him. We sat by his bedside all night. ‘Remember how we'd go to the park and play hide and seek?' Eric whispered. ‘Well, Heaven is a big park where you can play forever.'
The pain was unbearable.
‘I'll always love you,' I whispered, kissing his cheek. ‘It's time,' the doctor nodded. As they turned off the machine, I felt a little piece of me die.
We donated his organs. His life was over, but knowing he'd give others theirs was some comfort.
Now Dominick was gone, police were investigating Brandon and Corrine for murder. Days later, they came to see us. ‘We've offered Corrine a deal, so she helps our investigation,' the officer explained. ‘It means she'll be entitled to a lesser sentence.'
‘No!' I yelled. ‘She brought this man into Dominick's life - it was just as much her fault. She needs to pay for what she's done.'
‘At least she's doing the right thing now,' Eric sighed. ‘If she testifies, hopefully that monster will go down for life.'
I nodded. He just wanted justice for the beast who'd stolen the sunshine from our lives.
A few weeks later, we held Dominick's funeral. More than 1,000 people came to say goodbye. Tyler was allowed to attend, and clung to Eric. ‘Why can't I stay with you?' he sobbed. ‘I wish I could have you,' Eric wept. It broke my heart. Brandon had in effect taken both of Eric's sons away.
Finally, eight months after Dominick's death, Brandon Hayes, 24, went on trial, charged with first-degree murder, child abuse and torture, and assault and drug charges.
‘You kicked Dominick in the head, and threw him against the wall?' the prosecution asked him.
‘He weed on my mum's sofa - it was new,' he replied. ‘I got angry. I'm a drug addict. I need help.'
‘You're sick!' I hissed.
Dominick was tortured for four of the 10 days he was living with them. Brandon had poured hot water all over his hands. They had blistered and swollen, but Corrine had been too scared to take him to hospital in case the hospital accused her.
‘She let him kill him,' I sobbed. ‘She could've stopped it,' Eric wept. Instead, she'd watched Brandon throw Dominick around like a rag doll. He had hundreds of bruises on his body, and his teeth had been kicked out. When Brandon had stamped on his little head, our gorgeous little boy hadn't been able to take any more.
The jury deliberated for just two hours, and found Brandon guilty. ‘Justice!' Rick shouted when the sentence was passed.
He was jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 100 years in prison. Corrine got 20 years for second-degree murder.
Afterwards, we agreed that Dominick's death couldn't be in vain. ‘He was always helping me tidy the kitchen,' I smiled, recalling how he'd follow me around with a dustpan and brush. ‘He can carry on helping others now.'
You see, in court we'd learnt that neighbours had heard Dominick's screams, yet had done nothing. If they'd reported it, they could have saved Dominick.
So we joined forces with a campaigner called Wendy Matthews, who drafted a law for tougher sentencing and mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse. Last month, the Bill, named after Dominick, was passed. ‘Our boy will save lives,' Eric smiled sadly.
Two years after Dominick's death, we're slowly getting back on track. Eric's got a new girlfriend and, maybe one day, he'll have another family. We've not seen Tyler since the funeral - not a day goes by when we don't think about him or his brother.
I still can't believe Corrine let that monster into her life, and allowed him to kill her own son. Brandon Hayes murdered our boy, but she has his blood on her hands, too. But Dominick's Law means his death won't be in vain - he'll be protecting other innocent children.
Judy Calhoun, 45, Linden, Michigan, USA