Although the form of Christianity that is currently held in such high esteem by many African Americans was not practiced in Africa until Europeans used it to make blacks submit to slavery, it is very hard not to find its influence among average everyday African Americans. However, sometimes religious zealotry can be taken too far, as was the case recently with two caregivers in Las Vegas.
Dina Palmer, 27, and stepfather, Markiece Palmer, 34, were charged with murder last week along with other counts of child abuse and neglect for allegedly beating their 7-year-old son to death for not reading his Bible, authorities said.
The child, Roderick Arrington Jr., 7, was a second grader who had relocated with his mother to Las Vegas from Bloomington, Ill., where he had been living with his father and grandmother. On Nov. 29, he was taken to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, unconscious and with brain swelling, where he died the following day.
According to the Bloomington Pantagraph, Dina Palmer informed police that the bruises and scars were from whoopins” from both her and her husband. Upon executing a search warrant, police found a broken broomstick, cords, spatulas and bloodied clothes. The mother also indicated that they had spanked the child for lying about reading a Bible verse and failing to finish his homework.
Based on police documents, the arrest report details extensive injuries, including bruising over the 7-year-old’s body and open wounds on his buttocks.
The couple is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center and is due in court this week. Funeral services are pending at Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington.
