REMEMBERING JULIETTE

Juliette Serenity Geurts was just three days away from her second birthday when she died.

She was the youngest of three little girls.

Her sisters, Mya and Samantha, knew her as their baby sister. Photographs of Juliette show a tiny child with bright eyes and a wide smile, still at the beginning of discovering the world around her.

She had not yet reached the age where she could explain clearly when something was wrong or protect herself from an adult.

She depended on the people around her to notice.

To listen.

To keep her safe.

Juliette should have celebrated her second birthday.

Instead, her family buried her.

JULIETTE’S STORY

Juliette lived with her mother, Charyse Geurts, and her two older sisters in Chadron, Nebraska.

During the final months of Juliette’s life, there were repeated concerns about injuries to the children.

People around the family noticed bruising.

Child protection authorities became involved.

Juliette and her sisters were seen by medical professionals, and explanations were offered for the injuries.

But the children remained with their mother.

On July 11, 2008, emergency responders were called to the family's home.

Juliette was unresponsive.

She was taken to Chadron Community Hospital.

Doctors were unable to save her.

Juliette was pronounced dead shortly before what should have been her second birthday.

An autopsy revealed injuries far beyond what would be expected from an ordinary childhood accident.

Juliette had suffered severe trauma to her abdomen.

She also had numerous bruises and other injuries in different stages of healing.

Her fatal injury had damaged internal organs and caused internal bleeding.

Medical experts determined that the abdominal trauma could not reasonably be explained by an accidental fall.

Juliette’s death was ruled a homicide.

Investigators focused on Charyse.

She initially denied deliberately injuring her daughter and offered different explanations for Juliette’s injuries.

The investigation eventually established that Juliette had suffered repeated physical abuse.

Prosecutors alleged that Charyse inflicted the abdominal injury that killed her daughter.

Juliette died three days before her second birthday.

SYSTEM FAILURES & WARNING SIGNS

Juliette's death was not the first indication that something might be wrong inside the Geurts home.

Concerns had been raised about bruising and injuries involving Juliette and her sisters before July 2008.

Nebraska child protection authorities had contact with the family.

Medical professionals also had opportunities to examine the children.

The explanations offered for their injuries were accepted or did not produce enough evidence for authorities to remove them permanently from Charyse's care.

Juliette remained in the home.

After she died, the history of those contacts became a central part of the examination of her case.

Questions were raised about whether the pattern of bruising and injuries should have triggered a stronger response and whether information held by different professionals had been adequately connected.

Juliette was too young to make a detailed disclosure.

That made the physical evidence especially important.

Bruises on a child who could barely speak for herself were information.

Repeated injuries were information.

The condition of her siblings was information.

Each concern could appear less alarming when viewed separately.

Together, they described children who needed closer protection.

By the time the full pattern was undeniable, Juliette was dead.

JUSTICE FOR JULIETTE

Charyse Geurts was arrested and charged in connection with Juliette’s death.

Prosecutors initially pursued a charge of intentional child abuse resulting in death.

Charyse maintained that she had not intentionally killed her daughter.

The case eventually ended with a plea agreement.

She pleaded no contest to intentional child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury.

In February 2010, Charyse was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison.

Charyse Geurts

Relationship to Juliette: Mother

Conviction(s): Intentional child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury

Sentence: 20 to 40 years in prison

FOREVER REMEMBERED

Three days.

That was all that separated Juliette from her second birthday.

She should have had a cake.

Someone should have helped her blow out two candles.

There should have been photographs of a toddler who did not fully understand why everyone was singing to her but knew the day somehow belonged to her.

Instead, the photographs that survive became photographs attached to a child abuse case.

Juliette's injuries were examined by doctors.

Her family's history was examined by investigators.

Her mother's actions were argued in court.

Adults debated which warning signs should have been recognized sooner.

Those things are part of Juliette's story.

They are not Juliette.

Juliette Serenity Geurts was someone's baby sister.

She was Mya and Samantha's little sister.

She was a toddler who had barely begun her life.

She deserved adults who recognized that unexplained injuries on a child too young to defend herself required answers.

She deserved safety before the pattern became unmistakable.

Most of all, Juliette deserved time.

Time to turn two.

Time to go to school.

Time to discover what she loved.

Time for her sisters to know the person their baby sister would become.

Her life lasted 23 months.

Her name deserves to last much longer.

Abuse Angels remembers Juliette Serenity Geurts.

Remembered. Honored. Never Forgotten.