Last week in Las Vegas, Nevada, a 7-year-old boy was beaten to death for not reading the Bible. The dead boy’s mother and stepfather appeared in court on Tuesday, Dec. 4. Both have been charged in the death of their son. Dina Palmer, 27, and Markiece Palmer, 34, were charged with murder, child abuse and neglect following the death of 7-year-old Roderick Arrington Jr., also known as R.J. Reports indicate the child’s death was the result of severe beatings delivered as punishment for failing to read the Bible.
Police say Markiece Palmer, the boy’s stepfather, admitted that he beat Roderick with numerous household items, including a belt, a spatula and a wooden paddle, as well as with his hands. Dina Palmer, the boy’s mother, initially denied involvement in the beatings, but has subsequently confessed to participating in the abuse.
According to reports, Dina Palmer’s Facebook page portrays a very different image of the parents, one of loving, devout Christians; for example, one post reads: “Lord please guide my steps… I’m trying 2 do better,” and another reads “I wanna do better 4 my son, my family, myself, 4 you LORD!”
