BRONX NEWS: Health Aide Starves Uncle to Death-DA

BRONX NEWS: Health Aide Starves Uncle to Death-DA: Health Aide Starves Uncle to Death-DA Autistic Man Weighed just 70 Pounds BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)-  In 2010, James Tho...

Health Aide Starves Uncle to Death-DA

Health Aide Starves Uncle to Death-DA

Autistic Man Weighed just 70 Pounds

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)-  In 2010, James Thompson, a severely autistic and cognitively disabled man in the care of his mother, was 5 foot 8, 145 pounds and otherwise healthy. A little over two years later, when EMTs found him unresponsive on the floor of his Bronx Park South apartment the 42-year-old man was less than half that weight with fractures to his arm and leg.

Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson announces that Naisia Norman, the autistic man’s niece, has been indicted on charges of: manslaughter in the second degree - P.L. §125.15 (Class C Felony); criminally negligent homicide - P.L. §125.10 (Class E Felony)

The 22-year-old Norman pled not guilty before Justice Oliver. Bail was set at $75,000 and her case will next be held on September 15th in Part 60 Supreme Court.

Norman was the caretaker for her severely autistic and cognitively disabled uncle, taking over his care when her grandmother could no longer live at home and entered a nursing home. Norman had moved in to her grandmother and uncle’s apartment across the street from the Bronx Zoo when she was 16 years old. After her grandmother took sick and was hospitalized Norman applied for and was granted Representative Payee status, which meant she received her uncle’s Social Security benefits totaling over $690 a month.  The money was to be used to care for Mr. Thompson.  

Of the $8,628 provided to Norman to care for James Thompson between February 1, 2011 and January 31, 2012, Norman reported that she spent only $722 to manage his money for his food, medical and other personal needs.

Prior to her arrest, Norman was employed as a home health care worker.

It is alleged that medical records from early 2010 showed that the 5-foot-8 James Thompson weighed 145 pounds. When he died on June 12, 2012, his autopsy showed his body was only 70 pounds. He also had fractures in his arms -- one acute, one healing. His cause of death was ruled a homicide due to nutritional and medical neglect, with signs of blunt force trauma.

At the arraignment, Assistant D.A. Adam Oustatcher told the Court that on that day her uncle died, Norman called 911, and arriving police noted the filthy condition of the apartment and the lack of food – only bread crumbs and cake frosting found in the house. A lengthy investigation ensued.

If convicted of the charges, Norman faces up to 15 years in prison. 

#NaisiaNorman #Neglect

BRONX NEWS: Bird is another reason Yankees are flying in the B...

BRONX NEWS: Bird is another reason Yankees are flying in the B...: Bird is another reason Yankees are flying in the Bronx By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Greg Bird got hold of a 0-1 pitc...

BRONX NEWS: Bird is another reason Yankees are flying in the B...

BRONX NEWS: Bird is another reason Yankees are flying in the B...: Bird is another reason Yankees are flying in the Bronx By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Greg Bird got hold of a 0-1 pitc...

Bird is another reason Yankees are flying in the Bronx

Bird is another reason Yankees are flying in the Bronx

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Greg Bird got hold of a 0-1 pitch off Minnesota Twins righthander Ervin Santana in the fourth inning Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. That ball went to the second deck in right field and scored Carlos Beltran who had singled. That was the beginning of more to come for the Yankee rookie who is in the lineup because Mark Teixeira is day-to-day with a bruised right shin. 

And after a second two-run homer in the sixth inning off a Santana changeup that sailed into the Yankees bullpen, that also drove in Beltran, the word was all about Bird in the Bronx. He is next in line to succeed Teixeira at first base and the prospect is providing a preview of what may be ahead.

The two home run balls were all the Yankees needed in a 4-3 win over the Twins, their eighth series sweep of the season. Nathan Eovaldi won his eighth straight game on the mound with seven innings of four-hit ball and Dellin Betances converted his eighth save retiring all three in the ninth.

So the Yankees, who brought up Bird form Triple-A Scranton six days ago, have unveiled one of four prospects that are supposed to be so much like a previous “core four” in the Bronx of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitet and Mariano Rivera.

Eovaldi retired the first 16 Twins and continues to be an elite starter for manager Joe Girardi. But it was Bird who took the spotlight and for now, or at least until Teixeira is ready to return, Yankee Stadium fits him well. 

“Anything I can do to help...nothing more, nothing less,” Bird said when asked about his day in the Bronx. “End of the day, just trying to do my job here. It’s a team effort.”

The left handed bat is one aspect of his game. Bird also brings a good game to the field and can also handle the outfield if needed, however first base is where the Yankees see him as they go forward when the Teixeira era ends in the Bronx.

With the first two home runs of his career, Bird the 22-year old fifth round draft pick from Aurora Colorado, became the first Yankee hitter with two go ahead home runs in the same game since Robinson Cano did that on August 27, 2012 against Toronto. And he is the first Yankee to hit his first career home runs in the same game since Jesus Montero back in September of 2011.

Girardi was raving about the outing Eovaldi (13-2) had on the mound, but Bird was the word and so were the comparisons. 

“This is a big comparison and I’m not saying that is what my expectation is, but Miguel Cabrera had a slow clock and really had an understanding of what he wanted to do,” said Girardi who is beginning to witness first hand what Bird brings to the table. And there is also that understanding now, and a reason GM Brian Cashman said that Bird was one of the untouchable prospects as the Yankees move forward.

Girardi added, “And I think Greg Bird has an understanding of who he is and what he wants to do.” Girardi managed Cabrera with the then Florida Marlins in 2006, a two-time American League MVP with the Detroit Tigers and a ten-time all-star. 

Girardi also mentioned that Bird does not go after pitches out of the zone. “He knows what he has to do and did very well today,” he said. As for Bird, he expects to be a part of this Yankees winning formula for a long time. There is that feeling the Yankees will keep him around the next few weeks before rosters expand on September 1st.

“Get ready for tomorrow,”Bird commented. “My parents are still in town, so that’ll be fun. But we’ve got another game tomorrow and I think that’s what everyone’s focused on now.”

Spoken like a veteran in the dog days of August and determined that Bird is the Word in the Bronx. 

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  Twitetr@Ring786

#Yankees #GregBird

BRONX NEWS: Two Homers by Rookie Give Yanks a Sweep of Twins

BRONX NEWS: Two Homers by Rookie Give Yanks a Sweep of Twins: Two Homers by Rookie Give Yanks a Sweep of Twins  By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS) - The Yanks swept a three-game series ...

Two Homers by Rookie Give Yanks a Sweep of Twins

Two Homers by Rookie Give Yanks a Sweep of Twins 

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS) - The Yanks swept a three-game series over the Twins that began the current 10-game home stand with a 4‐3 victory on Wednesday’s matinee. The win was their 6th in the last seven contests and allowed them to retain the top spot in the standings of the American League East.

The game had several similarities to the Yanks win the evening before Wednesday’s win. Starting pitching Nathan Eovaldi retired the first 16 batters he faced. His bid for a no hitter was ended by a single of Chris Hermann with one out in the sixth inning.

Eovaldi departed after yielding three runs in the seventh, but he threw 120 pitches, his season high. Eovaldi did not allow a batter to reach base in any inning except the sixth, when he yielded three runs and four hits.

In the previous game, CC Sabathia retired the first 13 Twins and left the game in the seventh after giving up three runs.

The Yankees, as on Tuesday with A‐Rod’s grand slam homer, took the lead with a two run homer by rookie Greg Bird, his first week with the club. Bird followed a walk to veteran Carlos Beltran in the sixth with the home run to center that scored both.

Two innings earlier, Bird followed Beltran, who singled, with a two run homer, his first in the majors. After the game, Bird credited Beltran, “Hats off to him for a great at bat in front of me.” Bird was the first Yankee to have a two home run game as a rookie since Jesus Montero on September 5, 2012.

The 22-year-old rookie, who came up to the Yankees seven days earlier, has been enjoying the week with his parents who are in New York to see his first games in the majors. He remarked that his parents have always supported him and told him, “Just have fun and play baseball.”

His expressed his feelings about the week to a large group of reporters after Wednesday’s game, “It’s an honor to put on this uniform every day and play in front of these fans.” He said the curtain call he received “was my first ever.”

Girardi spoke with respect of the young man, “He was a huge part of our offense. He had a tremendous afternoon. He’s able to slow the game down.” Bird said his goal as a Yankee is, “I’m just trying to help this team win, nothing more and nothing less.”

#Yankees #GregBird #Twins