UPDATE: Babysitter charged with murder in toddler's death

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By Steve Kuzj skuzj@nbcaugusta.com

Story Published: Nov 17, 2009 at 2:58 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 17, 2009 at 11:47 PM EST

MARTINEZ, Ga. - A babysitter is in jail charged with murder.

Lawanda Tripp is accused of killing 22-month-old Teaira Hall.

Witnesses said Tripp ran out into the street Sunday with Hall in her arms, screaming for help. Neighbors across the street called 911 and began performing CPR on the child who wasn't breathing.

The child died later at the hospital.

An autopsy completed Monday found the baby died from being hit in the head.

Tripp was watching the child at her home on Avery Landing in Martinez.

Because a young child is involved, making the story such a sensitive issue, neighbors did not want to reveal themselves on camera, but they say they are standing by their neighbor, Lawanda Tripp.

 


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Sunday, Nov 29 at 2:11 PM valerie thomas wrote ...

I've known Toni for a few years now, we were stationed together in Colorado and I remember her being pregnant and was excited about. My heart goes out to you lady. I cant say I know what its like to be in your shoes to lose a child but I feel your pain because I would lose my mind if I was to lose one of my boys. In the bible it says "if ye judge, then you be judged". I read over all the statements that everyone has left and some made sense and others are just ridiculous. Its in Gods hands.

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Wednesday, Nov 25 at 9:18 AM I'm so sad right now!! wrote ...

I've put myself in Ms. Hall situation so many times trying to feel her pain or act out what would I do, or what would I have done to Mrs. Tripp. Words cannot describe how sad I am for Ms. Hall. However being human, I have to tell myself we don't know who hurt that baby. I just know that she's not hurting anymore, she's in Gods hands and pain free!! I do know that the person who hit poor little Te-Te is thinking about what they did every minute. They are suffering right now, just tell the truth!!

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Tuesday, Nov 24 at 1:27 PM odd wrote ...

think it's pretty funny that this woman was charged with murder but the female who ran over the man who was gardening a couple weeks ago got to walk away because "no one was responsible for his death"

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 10:52 PM SaddenNeighbor wrote ...

1st My love and support goes to Toni and her family ... goodness I miss you all and wish I could be there. I know TeTe and having a 2yr myself know that she wasnt a hard child to deal with .. something are not adding

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 5:23 PM Law & Order wrote ...

The babysitter has more sympathy than the baby because she can say anything and the baby is beyond telling what happened. If the baby was hit in the head, how does the baby sitter explain how this happened???

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 4:14 PM Concerned wrote ...

This goes to a saddened friend, if both are good women, why is there a dead child?

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 2:41 PM TJ wrote ...

I have known Lawanda most of our lives and she would never hurt anyone, let alone a child. I pray for the mother who lost her child. I believe God has even death timed out, and this was her time to go., accidently, but nevertheless, her chosen time to go.

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 2:32 AM a saddened friend wrote ...

toni my prayers to u and titi she took the baby back to jersey if yall dont know the whole stop judging i work with both ms hall and ms tripp, and both are good women.

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Friday, Nov 20 at 11:58 PM Anonymous wrote ...

How do we know whether not the child was hurt before she was even dropped off at the house? There is a reason Lawanda has the support of so many people. The story just doesn't add up. You'll see.

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Friday, Nov 20 at 11:32 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Reading these posts is definitely disheartening. Blaming the baby for its own death by stating she had a temper tantrum. Listen to yourselves, you people are sick. How many babies do you know kill themselves having a temper tantrum? I'm so sick of hearing "I know Lawanda and she would never hurt a child" You can know a person your whole life and never really know them, so if that's your reasoning for why she couldn't have done this your'e an idiot! And you're in serious denial. This woman is a k

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Friday, Nov 20 at 6:51 PM Betty wrote ...

if this baby had seizures, then isn`t there the possiblity that she was in a chair, fell and hit her head on the floor.. This could have been an accident.. The babies mom chose military over her child that had seizures.. MY KIDS come before military or a man.. I was home with my (6) 2 year olds and they had their accidents..Do NOT judge the babysitter till you know the whole story..She did run outside screaning for help with the baby in her arms..I blame the mother just as much, maybe more.

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Friday, Nov 20 at 6:13 PM LCC wrote ...

This a terrible tradegy, I know Toni and this has got to be the worst possible thing that could happen to a Single Mother. Someone mentioned the babysitter was a government employee and that means she isn"t capable to do something like this, Why cause she works for the government. Did we all just forget about the lives lost@ Fort Hood. Was there anyone else in the house? Someone mentioned the babysitter run screaming for help why wouldnt she do that she had a infant dead in her arms at her hands

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Friday, Nov 20 at 3:26 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Im glad that our lord in savior dosent judge and sentence us as quick as you people are. Pray for both families and have patients and wait for the facts to come out.

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Friday, Nov 20 at 3:22 PM Anonymous wrote ...

This story sounds like a rush to judgement by the Police. No intense investigation on the mothers behalf. As a former Law enforcement officer you take nothing for granted. This could come back to haunt them and embarrase there agenccy.

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Friday, Nov 20 at 2:31 PM Friend of Both wrote ...

First and foremost my condolences to Ms.Hall. My prayers go out to both families. Ms Tripp served this country just as Ms Hall, She a gov employee did not need a babysitting job.She did it out of the kindness of her heart so that Ms Hall could have her alone time. As a parent myself I feel terrible about what happened to Te Te. No one knows the full story, just what the news puts out, words get twisted for interest purposes. This is not for us to accuse or convict.

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Friday, Nov 20 at 8:33 AM T.B. wrote ...

Those of us that are supporting Ms. Tripp are only doing so because we know her personally. We mean no harm to the family of the child. My prayers are also with them. Most of you are assuming that Lawanda was a hired babysitter. She was a friend. Ask yourself why a friend would all of the sudden kill your child and then run across the street screaming for help. Doesn't make sense does it? Then you have all of these people that are supporting her. Think!

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Friday, Nov 20 at 6:41 AM Dora Alfre wrote ...

I am so sorry for Toni's lost TeTe was like my lil girl This babysitter needs to get the max...smh

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Friday, Nov 20 at 1:32 AM Sonia Scott wrote ...

Toni is like a sister to me and Te Te was my husband's and my god daughter this woman took one of the most important people in our life. All I know is that Toni and many of us can not forgive her and all we have now is memories thanks to her. Toni we have to be strong we love you Te Te!

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Thursday, Nov 19 at 11:12 PM No Name wrote ...

Such devasting news! Please keep the family of this baby in your prayers. Also remember to pray for Ms. Tripp and her famly. God Bless!

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Thursday, Nov 19 at 9:08 PM Shane Fenley wrote ...

Uh, you all need to forget about what is being said about this woman and that she isn't guilty. i served in the military with Toni and was also her neighbor for a while. TeTe was basically my neice and i watched her several times. not ONCE did she have seizures or anything of the such. She was a very pleasant and wonderful child. so all of you people taking this woman's side really need to think this thru. a child can not throw themselves back hard enough to kill themselves. this is B.S.

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Thursday, Nov 19 at 1:54 PM redhairedmedusa wrote ...

why is there more sympathy for the accused killer than for the child that died? what kind of people are you that say something about the child as an afterthought? when it comes to the death of a child it should be guilty until proven innocent cos hurting a child is the most disgusting thing a person could do. my heart goes out to that child and that child alone in this and i hope whoever killed her suffers a long slow painful death.

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Thursday, Nov 19 at 1:50 PM maybe or maybe not wrote ...

God bless all of those involved.Yes,I did know of Lawanda Green-Tripp and People change over the years and She needs help not people convicting her. God knows EVERYONES DEMONS....

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Thursday, Nov 19 at 1:31 PM elaine wrote ...

the truth will come out and i hope it was just an accident for all who are involved in this tragady,god bless everyone.

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Thursday, Nov 19 at 9:17 AM Kim wrote ...

I donnot believe Lawanda is guilty of this. My prayers go out to the childs family and the Wanda and family. God will be the judge he will have the final say!!

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Thursday, Nov 19 at 9:12 AM mother of twins wrote ...

when you hire a sitter you hire someone to care for your child. Terrible 2`s are being blamed..omg..you are blaming a 2 year old for a "fit" she was having??? you have got to be joking. how do you not handle a situation like the grown up. i pray for the family who lost this little one.

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Thursday, Nov 19 at 12:40 AM Anonymous wrote ...

If she's such a good baby siter, then why were her children taken, and raised by their Dad?

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Wednesday, Nov 18 at 11:52 PM Unknown wrote ...

May God be with all parties involved. He knows the truth and will be the judge.

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Wednesday, Nov 18 at 8:37 PM anonymous wrote ...

i am a family member and i know that wanda would never ever hurt a baby or anyone else .i do not know why they are putting all of this out with out the full story . she is not a murderer my heart goes out to the baby and her family . mrs.hall you know that wanda would not intensionly hurt your child . i am hearing that the baby has seizures and was having a temper tantrum . the baby could of fell back and hit her head or anything so everybody please dont pass judgement.the full story is not out.

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Wednesday, Nov 18 at 7:57 PM lola wrote ...

Wat do u mean? She did it just because they are not releasing all the info to the public does not mean that they dont have more evidence it is just not the publics business right now. It will come out and the ones who thought they knew her will feel stupid .Just because you knew someone does not mean that it didnt happen people do this stuff all the time and most of the time they are people u thought u could trust. My prayers go out to the childs family.

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Wednesday, Nov 18 at 7:51 PM soldier girl wrote ...

my prayers go out to the family for their loss...God speed and to those judging...you are innocent until proven guilty...let's pray for both families!!

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Wednesday, Nov 18 at 7:44 PM Amy Green wrote ...

I do NOT believe this at all!!! Lawanda would never put her hands on a child like that! This is media trying to make a story out of this! Lawanda keep your head up! You're in our prayers!

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Wednesday, Nov 18 at 2:08 PM A friend of Ms.Tripp wrote ...

I am very saddened about this and my prayers go out the family of the baby. I grew up with Lawanda Tripp. She would never hurt a child in any manner. The truth will set her free. I pray for both families.

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Wednesday, Nov 18 at 12:17 PM Lisa Johnson wrote ...

My prayers go out to the mother of this little baby, but I have known Lawanda Tripp and her family my entire life. She would never hurt a child. This is so sad, but, the truth will be known. My prayers go out to all involved.

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Wednesday, Nov 18 at 8:41 AM Jose wrote ...

It's sad that we are all juding the babysitter without all the facts, sure this is a terrible tragedy and a little Angel was lost. My heart goes out to the family, But I know Ms. Tripp and a baby killer she is not. The media has put their own spin on this as usual and everyone loves a bad babysitter Story she has taken care of my own children and Yes I trusted her then and I still do. Ms. Tripp you may never read this but we are behind you 100%. I am sorry this had to happen.

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Wednesday, Nov 18 at 3:48 AM anonymous friend of the family wrote ...

This baby and the mother are close to me. They are from south jersey and are in GA because the mother is in the military. The neighbors can "support" the babysitter all they want but if Antoinette (the mom) was up here and friends/family were helping take care of the baby this would have never happened. The babysitter better suffer for this. I am devastated.

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Tuesday, Nov 17 at 9:19 PM nbc disgusta wrote ...

i love the media.

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Tuesday, Nov 17 at 9:06 PM Tee wrote ...

It said the baby died from blunt trauma to the head. Authorities did not say that SHE did it. Now I see how the media really works. The news media can spin things to keep your attention. I hope that those of you that are assuming guilt will at least continue to watch how this turns out. Unfortunately the bad babysitter makes a better news story.

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Tuesday, Nov 17 at 7:29 PM Jack wrote ...

Don`t need to. Terrible 2`s and a bad temper are a rough combination. People hire babysitters, etc., so their children do NOT get hurt...

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Tuesday, Nov 17 at 5:10 PM soullyreal wrote ...

How can U condemn without even a trial? This is America u are innocent until proven guilty. There could be underlying circumstances. Did U know Ms. Tripp?

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Tuesday, Nov 17 at 5:07 PM prov wrote ...

This is so sad. This child was beautiful inside and out and she will be missed.

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Tuesday, Nov 17 at 4:44 PM sue wrote ...

Why two hospitals? Was she refused treatment?

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Tuesday, Nov 17 at 4:40 PM agp wrote ...

what a shame

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Tuesday, Nov 17 at 4:08 PM Terry wrote ...

I agree with you totally, Melissa. My prayers go out to the mother of the baby.

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Tuesday, Nov 17 at 3:36 PM Melissa wrote ...

Reading this gives me goose bumps. No matter HOW much that baby got on her nerves...HOW...HOW...HOW can you hurt a baby. I mean it'sa BABY!!!!

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