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 Foster mother Alea Rhea Rippy stands next to her attorney, Joe Ford, in court Thursday. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo] |
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The detective in both cases blasted the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, claiming the state kept the victim in the foster home despite her warnings.
On Thursday, Alea Rhea Rippy, 25, pleaded guilty to three counts of statutory rape and agreed to serve 6 months in jail, followed by three years of community corrections. Rippy will also pay $50 in court costs per month.
 Jennifer McWhirter |
Rippy could have faced from three to 15 years in prison on each of the eight counts, which is a class C felony. It is Rippy's first offense.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Renee McWhirter, 33, of Mountain View Road, Bell Buckle, was arrested Tuesday and charged with three counts of statutory rape by an authority figure and one count of criminal responsibility for facilitation of a felony. McWhirter is currently free on $11,000 bond.
McWhirter, who is the foster care coordinator at the Center for Family Development and the foster mother of the teenager in question in the case, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, according to Denise Hobbs, executive director of the center.
"We are very shocked and saddened by these circumstances," Hobbs said Thursday. "This matter is being handled by the proper authorities -- law enforcement and the Department of Children Services. We are not privy to any of the details."
Hobbs also stated that the Center for Family Development has served hundreds of children and families for more than 13 years without incident.
"Our staff, volunteers and board members are committed to the safety and well-being of all children," Hobbs said.
Detective Lt. Becky Hord of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department said law enforcement asked DCS to remove the 17-year-old alleged victim from McWhirter's care some months ago and nothing was done.
Hord said she had received information that McWhirter, the boy's foster parent, had sexual relations with him.
The boy, McWhirter and Rippy "were all three good friends instead of foster care, foster parents," Hord said. Other evidence was provided to Hord that indicated that "there was more than a foster mother/child relationship," she said.
Interviews of the juvenile indicated that McWhirter allegedly had sex with the boy three times last October and that the boy, Rippy and McWhirter drank alcoholic beverages together, Hord said.
Hord also said that preparations had allegedly been made to hide the boy in Florida because DCS had decided to send him back to Mexico, but there was an issue with the Mexican consulate so the boy never went back, Hord said.
The indictments filed in March against Rippy alleged that she "did engage in unlawful sexual penetration with" a boy that was identified in court Thursday as a 17-year-old. Rippy was at least four years older than the boy, which resulted in the charges of statutory rape.
The indictments stated that Rippy "was at the time of the offense, in a position of trust or had supervisory or disciplinary power," over the boy, "by virtue of (Rippy's) legal professional or occupational status and used the position of trust or power to accomplish the sexual penetration..."
Last month, informed sources told the T-G that the child in question was not directly in Rippy's care nor did he live with her, but Rippy did have access to the boy, who was the foster child of another foster parent that was a friend of Rippy's. That foster parent has now been identified as McWhirter.
According to the true bills of indictment in the Rippy case, the eight incidents involving Rippy took place between January and March of this year. Rippy was arrested on March 16.
During the investigation of Rippy, Hord told the T-G that she had advised DCS that "'You need to remove (the 17-year-old) from (McWhirter's) home.' They left him there."
The boy was still in McWhirter's home when she was arrested on Tuesday, Hord explained.
"We told them: 'You need to remove this child because of the friendship between Mrs. Rippy and Mrs. McWhirter.' They were best friends."
The charge of criminal responsibility for facilitation of a felony against McWhirter stems from the allegation that she was aware of the relationship between Rippy and the juvenile, Hord explained.
Hord also said she asked DCS officials why they left the child in the McWhirter home.
"The answer I got was 'Well, the attorney said we didn't have any actual facts, any proof to remove him.'"
Calls to officials from DCS for comment were not returned by press time Friday.
"It's like a brick wall with DCS," Hord said. "I don't understand the decisions they make, when you have a situation so close yet you don't act. That child should have been removed."
Other foster children who were in McWhirter's care have been removed and placed with another family, Hord said.
Hord added she was passionate about "the changes that need to be made with DCS because they are not looking out for the best interests of the children."
"Somebody's got to fight for these children, and these people (DCS) are not doing their job."
6 months is not enough . If a man did this to a young lady he would serve a longer sentence . Just because they are woman don't give them the right to do it they should be sentenced the same as a man .This story made me sick to my stomach . ontheoutside has a good point . Where is justice for this young boy ?
Very sad situation here; My prayers for the child.
I would like to give a refresher course on the law. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. I can relate to the statutory rape charge from the home front. My child who is now an adult was 17 yrs. old when a much older individual (female) took advantage of him. If you notice I didn't say woman because that's what a true woman does she's with the later part of woman mind you a man. Not a child. Because of my son's immaturity justice wasn't served. His childish statement to me was you can't rape the willing. The individual didn't get charged because of my son's refusal to testify against her. But I'll have you know behind every action is a reaction in one form or another. Justice did prevail she ended up behind her life of crime doing time. State Penititary. Even for that I'm grateful. Where you feel there's no justice just remember of all things the truth shall set you free.
Please forgive typos in last post. I was a little ticked off and my fingers were typing faster than my brain could spell.
I just read one of the comments that stated that this boy was on innocent, hello, wake up and smell a different brand of coffee. I hardly think that if this was your 17 year old that those words would be coming out of your mouth. I actually met and spoke with both the forster mother and foster child when she was in court trying to help him stay in the states and this boy truely did not comprehend the full extent of what in the world was going on. This woman was literally having to explain everything to him like he was a child. These foster kids have a whole lifetimes worth of crap to deal with without having to deal with people like you blaming them for the wrong doings of the parent. So to you jtjustice30 I say you need a very serious reality check.
This is a very sad story to me and it angers me greatly. I have and am having the misfortune to be dealing with The Center for Family Developement who feel that I should no longer be raising my children whom I have raised on my own for many years without the help of their father all because I finally found a man whom treats me good and treats my kids like they are his own happens to have a brother who was convicted of statutory rape and who is in jail. And the Center feels that my kids are in danger. I as a mother would never do anything to put my kids in harms way but the Center for Family Developement thinks that a man convicted of aggravated assault is a better parent. So do they really have the kids best interest at heart I hardly think so. And as for Becky Hord well all I can say is one day people will wake up and realize she means buisness and she really does care for the children.
I am made as hell after reading this story.
I feel the same if she had been male she would have went to prison no questions asked.
My cousins son went to prison for 5 yeas for the same charge,the problem with this is that he was married to the girl he was accused of raping.He was 20 and she was 17. What does this say about the good ole boy net work in Shelbyville?
Did you get a good look at their photos???
-- Posted by Dolittle on Fri, Jun 6, 2008, at 11:56 AM
You gotta point!
After spending 6 long years in foster care I can see how easy it would be for people to say that the young man was at fault here-obviously those of you who have those kinds of comments to make have never been in his situation. In most cases foster children of all ages have problems that stem from many uncontrollable situations in their lives and typically they do not know how to deal with intense emotional situations. These foster parents took advantage of this young man no matter what he did or had done they were the adults and should have been more careful and attentive to the situation. I would like to say a thank you to Lt.Hord for her persistence and compassion, it is rare and commendable, especially in the instance of foster children. As far as DCS they place those children in homes and forget about them- it is sad really. The turn over rate for case workers is horrible and it leaves the children in a vulnerable situation because they have no one who knows them and can truly advocate for them. However I do know that most of them try their best. They are under payed and overworked-does it excuse these kinds of mistakes-absolutely not but "walk a mile in their shoes" before you are so quick to judge. I know there are other cases out there like this one, but to say DCS is a failure is hasty they do help lots of children and give many a second chance to live, learn, and achieve success.
Many bloggers are upset by the plea deal struck with Ms. Rippy. I'm sure if she were a man she would have been thrown to the wolves. It does seem rather strange that she only got 6 months in jail with the remainder of her sentence on community corrections. It will be interesting to see what sentence the actual foster mother receives if convicted. But, there is one thing that bothers me about this whole situation. Yes, both women were wrong for having sex with a foster child (if the real foster mother actually did what she is accused of), but that 17 year old boy was no victim. I heard he gave a very matter-of-fact account of his exploits with these women as if it were no big deal. Also, this boy was not exactly "innocent" if you get my meaning. Yes, it was wrong for these women to do what they did, but maybe a closer look at the "victim" is justified as well just to keep things in perspective. There have been documented cases where older foster children (specifically boys) have sexual relationships with caregivers to set up the appearance of abuse so they can either be moved to another foster home or sent back to their parents. Is it possible this might be the case here? Maybe not, but it's worth thinking about.
I do not understand this 1st offense thing....I believe when a person harms a child in any way it should not matter if they had done it before or not...All that matters is that they have done it and should not be given a chance to do something bad to a child again....Just like drunk drivers...If they get caught the 1st time they get a slap on the hands and a small fine and they end up going back out there driving drunk again...and may end up killing some one...Why are they given a 2nd chance ??????
6 months?! WTF!!! I guess since there was no proof mentioned of drugs involved, then it is OK to go easy on this woman. What a load of crap!
I have to agree with ontheoutside's comment on what would have happened if this had been a man accused of doing this to a female or male child.
Only in Bedford County!
Wow. Moonshine gets ya everytime.
My heartaches in situations as these. Just as girls shouldn't advertise themselves and have hidden agendas neither should boys. Adults to are lead by sin and temptation.Everyone makes mistakes.Bad decisions were made by all involved. BE extra cautious who you choose for friends. We all can be fooled! Pray for the families of all involved. Mistakes of some weigh extremely hard on all.
I wanted to add that the irony is that when we initially filled out the form to "Adopt Only" we changed it because we realized so many kids need a temporary place to stay. We didn't want to use the system for our own personal gain and not give something back. Even while we were foster parents, there were several times I forgot to call our board periods in to get re-imbursed. We just enjoyed having children... but I am a bad foster parent... now I sit here reading this and it makes me sick. DCS workers need to be more humane and pay attention to what's going on around them.
We used to be foster parents. Our home was closed because I COMMUNICATED VIA EMAIL WITH ANOTHER FOSTER PARENT. I gave her a venue by simply doing so, that allowed her to say things she should not have said. Even though I turned her in, our home was closed. We have tried to get our home opened back up. We finally have our home paid for after years of hard work. We are at the best place in our lives we have ever been to be able to offer a child a loving and stable home. Yet, DCS will not forgive the wrongs its thinks I have done to it. They have no room for error, but they can make all the mistakes they want to. We are childless, and began training to be foster parents with the intent just to "adopt only" Now, with Tennessee DCS, you can no longer just "Adopt Only" you have to either "foster" or "foster to adopt" and they won't let us even do the later... where you have to foster 6 months (it took us over 2 months to train to be foster parents and almost 4 months for them to get our home study in and they can't give us 6 months to foster so we can raise a child as our own). It was suggested that if we want to adopt a child from another state's child welfare, we'd better move to another state...
It's that kind of narrow minded, cold, and heartless thinking that has created the urgent need for foster parents in Tennessee. It's also why a lot of people do adopt from child welfare departments of other states. And yet people like this can foster! The children of Tennessee that find themselves wards of the state deserve better than this!
SHAME ON YOU T-G! Do you actually try to investigate the information you put in your articles? You have achieved your goal of putting sensationalistic information to instigate gossip. This is all hearsay. And before you commenters shake your heads and call names maybe you should think about the fact that Ms. McWhirter is still innocent. Do any of you find it odd that Mrs. Rippy copped a plea and then all of the sudden there were charges against McWhirter? Get your facts straight T-G. Detective Hord/Ford whoever is on a witch hunt to bring attention to the problems within DCS and unfortunately, Ms. McWhirter has become a convenient scapegoat. There is a bigger picture here that is not being reported. Fortunately Ms. McWhirter will get her day in court and I hope the T-G will be there to report the TRUTH. Until then, the only thing the T-G is good for is to line my dog's kennel.
This is so sad. I have teenage boys and couldn't imagine an adult taking advantage of them. What makes this any different than a man molesting a young girl? They would want to put a man under the jail, but this woman gets off with nothing. Where is justice for this young boy?
The 17 yr old must not have have good taste!
Dolittle,
HAHAHA You are so right about that.
Big ups to Becky Hord for doing her jo0b and sticking up for what she thinks is rite!!
Thats DCS for you! I was in the system as a teen and I know from personal experience what it is have them in control of your life.
6 months is a joke. These ladies are just sick!
Can these women not find a grown man? That's just sick...
-- Posted by Disgusted on Fri, Jun 6, 2008, at 11:36 A
Did you get a good look at their photos???
Rippy could have faced from three to 15 years in prison on each of the eight counts, which is a class C felony. It is Rippy's first offense.
Who cares if it's her first offense, she's a pervert and should have got all the time she deserves and the same goes for the other woman. Why would our court system give this woman such a break? Some people get more time than that for a whole lot less. Can these women not find a grown man? That's just sick...
Since when is DCS more powerful than the police? If Lt.Hord had reason to believe there was a problem and said the boy needed to be removed DCS should have removed him then.
Amen Becky. Thanks for all you do for the children.