Christina went missing

http://articles.philly.com/2014-04-11/news/49035184_1_death-services-christina-philadelphia-medical-examiner

http://articles.philly.com/2014-05-08/news/49693091_1_christina-daughter-liza#UO4M8e68XIBzI2HC.01

This poor woman died after her caretaker lost her in Macy's downtown. Apparently the caretaker was shopping while she was employed caring for Christina, 37, who had autism. Christina was a year old than me. She had a mother and a sister who are grieving for their lost family member. Meanwhile this city forgets her and pushes her aside like yesterday's newspaper.

We don't know how she died, how she came to be 5 miles away from the store, how her caretaker lost her exactly or why the caretaker was shopping while on the job. What we do know-- her mother is sad and wants answers. The news did an article on Christina and now the D.A. is paying more attention to her death.

It infuriates me that someone who had little say in whether she wanted to go to Macy's that day is being neglected and forgotten even in death.

We've all seen the groups of disabled folks walking the malls in groups with their caretakers. Every time I see them I think, I wish I had their family's phone number so I could say, "Hey did you know your son, daughter, etc is at the Mall with their caretaker the caretaker is shopping? Is shopping an approved community outing or a part of their life skills plan? Do you KNOW?" 

Because if that was my son, daughter, father, loved one who was vulnerable and dependent on another's care and supervision-- I'd want to know. And I'd also be furious. Christina's medical assistance, her social security disability income, Christina's benefits were paying for that caretaker's care and supervision. They were NOT however paying for that caretaker to shop to such an extent as to lose Christina! Christina had time to ride the escalator (as can be seen in store security cameras) and somehow walk out the door of a busy center city store and end up 5 miles away, half naked, covered with trash can lids, between 2 cars.

Surely the caretaker had time to 1) notice she was missing 2) alert the store so that doors could be closed or supervised. Surely the police had time to issue a missing person alert on the news --- oh wait we don't have a Missing Autism Alert like an Amber Alert in PA. But we should, for this exact situation! (BTW- the caretaker was fired you can read about it in the links above).

As a parent of 3 children I am outraged on Christina's behalf. I wonder if she had been a toddler or a prominent member of this city's society would the investigation be getting more attention? And if she didn't have autism?

Yes, as a parent I am outraged. But as a person, you and I should both be outraged. A resident of this city was missing and found dead while in the care of someone who should have protected her. What are we going to do about it?