2006 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA   INFORMATION

February 10, 2006

Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi reported that Vanessa Jackson, 50, formerly of Collingswood, N.J., was sentenced today to seven years in New Jersey State Prison. The defendant pleaded guilty in November 2005 to Endangering the Welfare of Children, admitting she failed to provide adequate medical care and nutrition to her four adopted sons.

In pleading guilty, Jackson admitted that her conduct caused harm to the boys, referred to in court papers as B.J., K.J., T.J. and M.J. The oldest child, B.J., first came to the Jackson home in Collingswood as a foster child on Dec. 3, 1991. He was later adopted, along with the three other boys. Authorities removed all four boys from the home on Oct. 10, 2003, and placed them in State custody after B.J. was found scavenging his neighbor’s trash in search of something to eat. All four boys were severely undersized and malnourished. In addition, none had been examined by medical professionals in years.

After being removed from the Jackson home and receiving medical attention, all four boys rapidly gained weight and grew in height. Two of the boys have since been adopted and another is in the process of being adopted by foster families. All four are thriving in their new environments.

Sarubbi thanked the Collingswood Police, under the direction of Chief Thomas J. Garrity Jr., for its excellent work in protecting the boys’ welfare and investigating the case. The Prosecutor also expressed gratitude to the many law enforcement officers, social service workers and other professionals who have worked for justice and for the boys’ welfare since their plight was discovered. In particular, Sarubbi commended the lead detectives – Investigator Eric Wren of the Prosecutor’s Office and Collingswood Police Detective Richard Lunt – along with Assistant Prosecutor Donna Spinosi, who represented the State in court proceedings.

Sarubbi noted that the plea agreement was reached after close consultation with the boys’ new families and guardians, as well as the boys’ psychologists, who indicated they believed it would be harmful for the children to re-live the abuse and neglect they suffered in the Jackson household and be subjected to cross examination by the defense.

“Ms. Jackson is going to State Prison and the boys are doing great,” Sarubbi stated. “I believe we have achieved the appropriate balance between punishment, deterrence and, significantly, the boys’ welfare.”

In imposing the seven-year sentence, Superior Court Judge Robert G. Millenky stated that he found the resolution to be “fair, reasonable and in the interests of justice.”