| Location | South Side Chicago |
| Age | 5 years |
| Cause of Death | Murder |
| Date of Birth | 12/1982 |
| Visitors | 29,706 since 11/12/2007 |
| Creator | |
| Helpers |
On August 14, 1987, in a hot South Side Chicago apartment, police and paramedics found the tortured
body of four-year-old Lattie McGee. Over the summer, when many inner-city children were outside
enjoying splashing in the flow of spraying water hydrants, little Lattie was being systematically
tortured by his mother and her boyfriend.
The then 28-year-old Alicia Abraham and her 40-year old boyfriend, Johnny Campbell, spent the summer
beating the small boy with their fists, burning him with cigarettes and an iron, dunking his small
legs into boiling water, depriving him of food and water, sticking him repeatedly with sewing
needles and then wrapping a clothing line around his tiny raw ankles and hanging him upside down in
the closet for the night.
To muffle the innocent boy's cries, the couple would sometimes stuff a rag in his mouth.
Campbell did not like the 4-year-olds "effeminate" voice so to toughen the young boy he would starve
him then beat him if he complained. On the hot August night, Campbell and Alicia stuffed a rag into
Lettie's mouth, potato peels were placed on his eyes, his hands were bound, and he was hung by his
feet in the closet. His complaints of having problems swallowing and that he was in pain from the
broken collarbone and broken pelvis, were ignored.
Flesh Ripped Away
The next morning Alicia Abraham seemed more concerned with watching TV then getting Lattie down from
the closet. It would not have mattered because he died sometime during the night. There was no more
pleasure for her and her boyfriend to get from abusing this innocent child.
Pathologist said Lattie died of a severe blow to the head that slowly killed him, but they added,
"His emaciated body, scarred from head to foot, was so infected from untreated wounds that he
probably would have died a short time later." When the paramedics and police lifted the boy's shirt,
they uncovered a chest of raw skin, his flesh ripped away from repeated abuse.
Not the Only Victim
There was another child in the home, six-year-old Cornelius Abraham, Lattie's brother. With courage,
the young boy testified against the Alicia and Campbell. He recounted all the episodes of abuse that
he and Lattie suffered.
For their crimes, Johnny Campbell and Alicia Abraham were both sentenced to life in prison.
Remarkably, two years earlier in 1985, Alicia Abraham was being counseled for neglecting her
children by state investigators, who incredibly concluded the situation had improved.
Out of Despair, Hope
Cornelius, who showed much courage, was eventually sent to live with his biological father. Sadly,
his father also neglected him, and at age 12, he was homeless and on his own for three months. After
five more tumultuous years, Cornelius was placed with a pair of loving foster parents. In time,
Cornelius grew close to them and today calls them "Mom and Dad."
After graduating from high school, he went on to college. In 1999, the YMCA Network for Counseling
and Youth Development of Greater Chicagoland presented Cornelius with the first ever, Cornelius S.
Abraham Award, designed to give hope to children who have suffered from abuse.
As summer ends, I cannot help to think of Lettie, who would be 20 years old now. Since I first read
the Abraham brothers' story of the monstrous cruelty at the hands of their caregivers, I think of
Lettie at summer's end. I will never understand what makes people, such as Alicia and Campbell, do
the horrific cruel acts to small children, and in a way, I hope I never do understand it. Then I
refocus and think of Cornelius -- so brave, so determined to beat the odds -- and I send a silent
wish to him: that his life is now one of peace and happiness.
Everyday i think of poor Lattie and his older brother, that also had a rough time of it in his
childhood. My thoughts will forever be with Lattie and his brother ! When i read this story it still
brings tears to my eyes !
Thank you to everyone that has left tributes on Lattie's page ! Least we all love him in away that
his mother didn't. And a big thank you to people that are lighting candle's daily for Lattie ! And a
huge thank you to people that are also adding photos into Lattie's photo gallery !
May god bless all you loving people ! xx
Lattie died young and will be in heaven for ever and ever. but the cowards responsible for his death will suffer agonies that would drive you mad were you to witness it. they are surely going to hell for this, as hopefully will all people who harm defenceless children.
R.I.P Lattie xxx
There's a Friend for little children
Above the bright blue sky,
A Friend who never changes
Whose love will never die;
Our earthly friends may fail us,
And change with changing years,
This Friend is always worthy
Of that dear name he bears.
There's a home for little children
Above the bright blue sky,
Where Jesus reigns in glory,
A home of peace and joy;
No home on earth is like it,
Nor can with it compare;
And everyone is happy,
Nor could be happier there
What kind of place would heaven be with all its streets of gold, if all the souls, that dwell up there like yours and mine, were old? How strange would heaven’s music sound when harps begin to ring, if children were not gathered ‘round to help the angels sing. The children that God sends to us are only just a loan, He knows we need their sunshine to make the house a home. We need the inspiration of a baby’s blessed smile. He doesn’t say they’ve come to stay, just lends them for a while. Sometimes it takes them years to do the work for which they come. Sometimes in just a month or two our Father calls them home. I like to think some souls up there bear not one sinful scar. I love to think of heaven as a place where children are.
God's Angel
No more pain, nor tears for Lattie is in God loving embrace. You are finally home where you are protected and loved unconditionally for eternally.
RIP angel dearest
God continue to bless Cornelius.
Love Laura (Brooklyn NY)
so young a hero
Dearest Lattie - you are loved!! It may not have been shown to you in your 4 desperate tortured years on this earth, but in yur death and legacy, you ARE loved.
I am a South African mother of 4 children - one of them is 4 at the moment, and I cannot imagine the hurt and despair you felt at her age. I saw your story on the Steve Wilkos show last night, and have not stopped crying or thinking of you. I feel so responsible! I feel so guilty that I am not doing so much more to discover and help children (like you) who live with this horror every hour.
I am no longer going to procrastinate, My life's work is to create a place of safety for children just like you - and your story has spurred me on to make it happen faster, quicker and bigger than I at first imagined. I promise you that when it is done, that I will plant a tree in your name, and allow it to grow in harmony and peace - as you unfortunatly did not get that chance.
There are no words to say to you to make this right - it wasn't and it never will be.
you are loved
Glynis
Dear Lettie
I'm soo sad that you had to go through the hell those devils put you through. God loves you soo much that he took you quickly away and know you safe and loved always.
SWEET DREAMS IN HEAVEN
.♥
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It's night time again...
Beautiful Angel above
So tonight I will send you lots of love
Cuddle up warm..
On this November night
We all love and miss you..
With all of our might
You sleep on the clouds..
All fluffy and white
I bet you look..
Such a beautiful sight
Just snuggle up..
All cosy with God above
And watch me light..
Your candle with love
copyright� Jackie Thomas 09/11/09.
Lay down my child
Close your eyes one more time
Let the night take you softly into sleep
Sure as the moon shining on your sweet face
Be rest assured you will be safe
In this place
The sweetest gift
God has given me
Graced with the tiniest beauty
These eyes have seen
Soft as the song of a winter wind
Sheltered by love
A love that will never end
Life so often a mystery
And each of us seeking a clue
To an answer I never thought I’d find
When I lost you
But in your time with me
Somehow you taught me to see
Just as in life
Even in death
You always will be here with me
So lay down my child
Close your eyes one more time
Let the night take you softly into sleep
And on to your maker you will fly
Low as the angels sing you a lullaby
to a beautiful angel
Lattie,
I watched the Steve Wilkos show today and I was horrified by what I saw. I will never be the same for knowing what happened to this little boy. I hope that these animals burn in hell for what they have done. There is no greater horror than someone hurting their own child!
I am sending a prayer to this beautiful angel, I know that he is safe and in Gods hands. I will always have a spot in my heart for what this little boy went through. His brother has already made a difference, he survived!! My love to him and the wonderful family that showed him love!
A Child Loaned
A Child Loaned
"I'll lend you for a little time
A child of Mine." He said.
"For you to love the while he lives
And mourn for when he's dead.
It may be six or seven year
Or twenty-two or three
But will you, till I call him back
Take care of him for Me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you
And should his stay be brief,
You'll have his lovely memories
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay
Since all from Earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there
I want the child to learn.
I've looked this wide world over
In my search for teacher's true,
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes,
I have selected you;
Now will you give him all your love,
Nor think the labour vain
Nor hate Me when I come to call
And take him back again?
I fancied that I heard them say,
"Dear Lord, They will be done,
For all the joy Thy child shall bring,
For the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness,
We'll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we've known,
Forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him
Much sooner than we planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand."
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