Slumber Party/Sleep Over/Lock In: They're Still Just Kids

Bailey's Bailiwick on Sleep Overs

17 Year-Old Autumn Marie Wood

Anyone who has watched or read the news since Saturday morning knows about the stabbing death that took place in North Florence this weekend. The TimesDaily is calling the scene of the death a "house party." My guess is it was what's usually called a "slumber party" for a small group of teenage girls. These are sometimes called "Lock Ins" since no one is allowed to come or go during certain hours. From reports, these girls were not only not locked in, they were not supervised.

Most 17 year-old girls don't socialize that much with 14 year-olds. Were they part of a church group? Was the victim a party-goer's younger sister? It probably makes no difference. The younger girl is just as dead.

Why didn't this party have adult supervision? Sure, adults in the house could have been asleep. Maybe they were called away unexpectedly. Again it's all hindsight. It just seems that parents need to exercise a little foresight.

If the federal government says 17 is too young to vote or enlist in the military, it just might be too young to have an unsupervised party. 

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News reports in today's TimesDaily state the party that took place on Winona Street in Florence was apparently an all night party orchestrated by the teenage daughter of the home's owners. The girl's parents were not present, nor were any other adults. There were approximately 17 in attendance at the party, including some males. Autumn Marie Wood, 17, will be charged as an adult in the death. She faces Felony Murder charges.

We agree with Bailey. Do you know where your children are? Especially at 3:00 a.m.?



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