REMEMBERING SKYLA

Skyla Dawn Brooks was only twenty one months old when she died. She was still a baby, at an age when almost everything in her world depended upon the adults around her. She depended on them for food, comfort and safety. She depended on them to recognize when she was hurt. And she depended on them to protect her from anyone who might harm her. Instead, by the final weeks of Skyla’s life, her small body carried evidence of repeated injuries. People outside the home noticed. Questions were asked about her bruises. Yet Skyla remained in the environment where she was being hurt.

SKYLA’S STORY

Skyla lived with her mother, Tammy Renee Brooks, and Tammy’s boyfriend, Kurt A. Vomberg, in rural Creek County, Oklahoma. By March 2000, Skyla had suffered injuries that could not be explained by the choking accident Kurt would later describe. Medical professionals ultimately documented bruising over much of her body, including areas between her toes. Some of the marks were identified as adult bite marks. There was also evidence that Skyla had been sexually abused. During a preliminary hearing, a physician from the Justice Center in Tulsa testified about abrasions in Skyla’s genital area. Although medical treatment was considered as a possible explanation for some injuries, the physician testified that he believed sexual abuse had occurred. The abuse was not entirely hidden. Approximately ten days before Skyla’s death, her grandfather questioned Tammy about bruises he had seen on Skyla. Tammy and Kurt had traveled to California and left Skyla with her grandfather. According to testimony later presented in court, Skyla was taken to an Oklahoma Department of Human Services office because of the concerns about her bruising. The grandfather was reportedly assured that there was no reason for concern. Days later, Skyla was back with Tammy and Kurt. In March 2000, emergency personnel were called to their rural home because Skyla was not breathing. Kurt claimed that Skyla had choked on a piece of meat and that he had shaken her while trying to dislodge it. Skyla was transported by helicopter to a Tulsa hospital. Doctors immediately became concerned about the large number of bruises and bite marks covering her body. Medical testimony established that Skyla had suffered violent shaking that caused catastrophic swelling of her brain. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner ultimately determined that her death resulted from blunt force trauma. Medical testimony also established that vigorous shaking could have caused the fatal injury. Skyla was placed on life support. She died the following day after life support was removed. She was twenty one months old.

SYSTEM FAILURES & WARNING SIGNS

There was a particularly troubling warning shortly before Skyla died. Approximately ten days before her death, Skyla’s grandfather saw bruises on her and questioned Tammy about them. While Tammy and Kurt were away in California, Skyla was taken to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services because of those concerns. According to testimony reported during the criminal proceedings, DHS workers told Skyla’s grandfather that there was no reason for concern. Within days, Skyla suffered the injuries that ended her life. When doctors finally examined her after the emergency call, the evidence was no longer limited to a few unexplained bruises.

Medical professionals described bruising across her body. There were marks between her toes. There were adult bite marks. There was evidence consistent with sexual abuse. And the brain injury that ultimately killed her had been caused by violent trauma. Skyla was too young to tell investigators what was happening inside her home.

But her body was already showing signs that something was wrong. An adult noticed those signs. He asked questions. He took her to the agency responsible for investigating whether children were safe. Skyla was returned to the same environment. Approximately ten days later, she was dying.

JUSTICE FOR SKYLA

Tammy Brooks and Kurt Vomberg were both arrested following Skyla’s death and initially faced first degree murder charges. Tammy’s case ultimately went to trial. A jury convicted her of child neglect in Creek County District Court. On November 19, 2002, the court sentenced Tammy to twenty years in prison in accordance with the jury’s recommendation. Her conviction was affirmed on direct appeal in January 2004. Years later, a federal court dismissed her attempt to challenge the conviction through habeas corpus proceedings. Kurt’s case continued separately. In May 2004, Kurt entered a no contest plea to second degree murder in Skyla’s death. Under Oklahoma law, the court treated that plea as an admission of guilt for purposes of sentencing. He received thirty five years in prison for Skyla’s death. His plea agreement also addressed a child abuse count and unrelated drug charges.

 

Kurt A. Vomberg

Relationship to Skyla: Mother’s Boyfriend

Conviction(s): Second degree murder

Sentence: 35 years in prison

 

Tammy Renee Brooks

Relationship to Skyla: Mother

Conviction(s): Child neglect

Sentence: 20 years in prison

FOREVER REMEMBERED

Skyla lived for less than two years. She was too young to understand why she was being hurt. She was too young to recognize that the injuries covering her body were evidence adults could use to protect her. She could only depend upon those adults to notice. Someone did notice. Her grandfather saw the bruises and became concerned enough that Skyla was taken to child protection authorities shortly before her death. That should have been an opportunity for twenty one month old Skyla to be seen, protected and kept somewhere safe. Instead, days later, she was fighting for her life. Skyla’s story eventually became criminal charges, medical testimony, trials, appeals and prison sentences. But she existed before any of those things. She was a little girl who had barely begun discovering the world. She should have had years to grow into her own personality. She should have had birthdays her family could count in years instead of months. She should have been protected when the warning signs appeared. Skyla Dawn Brooks deserved far more than twenty one months. Abuse Angels remembers Skyla Brooks.Remembered. Honored. Never Forgotten.