Posted by Tribal Member on May 22 2007 11:59PM - This story is gut wrenching for so many reasons. The pain this young woman has brought upon so many people, how could she even at the very least be an accomplice, she would be just as gulity and all of the questions shes left in everyones mind, and even the disbelief so many are experiencing. How can this happen? What kind of a mind allows this? There are so many things one does under stressful situations, even crazy things, but the possibility of murder? She sat quietly by while other young women were suspected, questioned and tramatized. Are the family members and friends who are standing by her in denial? are they tramatized? Of course when you love someone, no matter what they do, you support them the best you can, and this young lady is in need of support and most clearly is in need of mental and emotional help. She needs to be in a mental health unit, not employment where many parents have to be questioning the decision of her employer.

What is the state of mental and emotional health on the Fort Berthold Reservation? what is the state of mental and emotional health of an employer who willing keeps this sick young lady in her job, which has daily contact with young mothers and their children? I too have compassion, however I could not with a clear mind allow a person accused of killing her child in my enviornment of children and mothers who must be afraid, not to mention disgusted.

How can this young lady simply go on with her life? She admitted to starving and not caring for her child for two weeks. Indeed some people stated, "she made a mistake" is killing your child a mistake? Can we just put our babies in plastic bags and throw them away when it gets too hard? and call it a mistake when we finally get caught?

The people of Fort Berthold need to STOP and THINK! and why is it such a mystery and a secret that this young ladies husband Shannon Hale and the "Rancher" who found "Baby Moses" are brothers. That is the blessing here if there is one.....Shannon's brother was meant to find his nephew (son). So that there would be proper burial. Thank God!

There are Tribal members who have suffered dearly for misdeeds not nearly this horrific. One has to wonder truely what people are thinking. Abortion is a terrible thing, but this is .......... there are no words! I pray for those who are suffering for the ugly truth of this young lady.

My parents and grandparents said if we do something horrible, especially to an innocent child, others in our family would suffer and I think this has happened. It is my opinion she has no means to feel guilt or remorse, she has been able to continue with her life. Those of us with children with compassion for our babies would have gone crazy and commitied suicide.

---

Posted by Young Mother on May 23 2007 3:18AM - Judge Miller has to be the most compassionate person in ND. We the people didn't get a say on whether we wanted a self-admitted murderer among us. Not only among us but working with my own and my relatives children, um, I don't want her near my children!

How he saw this as a fit "conditional" release is depressing. Does he have kids?? Can he imagine a small, beautiful, DEFENSELESS child crying for a diaper change, human contact, comfort, but most of all food?? Can hear the heart-breaking sound of that cry, and the quiver in his poor voice as he cried and cried.

Dana Deegan deserved to be where she was! I apologize for the bluntness of this because I know that her children might read this, but when they become parents they will understand, hopefully.

I am considering starting a petition that would place her back in jail. Be it Bismarck, county, or even New Town because I refuse to walk among a baby killer. She may have no priors but look at the one crime that she chose to commit. Out of respect for Moses lets do what we can to make sure that justice is met.

Thank You.

---

Posted by Ft. Berthold Indian on May 23 2007 10:56AM - It makes you wonder - would these people who are supporting Dana - would they give the same support to an accused drug dealer, thief, embezzler, child molester? Yet they will give such support to a mother who murdered her own newborn son. It really does make it look like the people on our reservation are mentally unfit! Please look around you - what kind of message are you sending to future mothers?

---

Posted by tribal member on May 25 2007 9:10AM - After reading the comments about baby Moses I have a saddened heart for him because who is speaking on his behalf???? That poor baby cried for hours on end and as a mother and a grandmother I do know what kind of care a baby needs which is constant and baby moses was never given a chance to know what love is and he deserves to be remembered and justice is not being done so far on his behalf. Someone needs to speak on his behalf because he was never given a chance to prosper in life and never felt the love his own mother whom just left him to die ALONE... Yes pity is something else but to overlook what she did is just unspeakable I hope that someone does petition her to be in jail and why would you let her back with her other chiildren because what will happen to them if Dana feels she cannot care for them????? Then What....I pray for her family because they need all the strength and power from up above to endure this time in their life which will probably be for a long time and my heart goes out to Shannon Hale and his family will be in our prayers each passing day.

---