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Burn victim's mom: "I want to crawl in the corner and cry."


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Updated: 12/08/2011 5:24 pm Published: 12/08/2011 4:38 pm
MEMPHIS, AR - Rhonda Roach waits outside the Burn Unit at the Regional Medical Center in Memphis. She's been there almost 24/7 for close to a month ... waiting.

"It's probably the hardest part, waiting between visits, wondering what's gonna happen next," she said. "It's very hard not to fall apart emotionally. I mean I just want to crawl in the corner and cry and make it go away."

Just one month ago, Roach's son, Edmund Morris, was healthy. Then, he tagged along with his friend, Phillip Pollet, to confront another man, Aaron Stapleton, in a McDonald's parking lot in Hot Springs. Police say Pollet and Stapleton were arguing over a girl, and Morris had nothing to do with it. Then police say Stapleton threw a cup of flammable liquid in Morris' face and lit him on fire.

"We've turned it over to God," said Roach. "We have to let him guide us."

Roach spends so much time waiting in the hospital because severe burns now cover half of her son's body. He's had four surgeries, including one where doctors amputated his left hand.

"We generally spend our days together," his mom reflected, "you know everything we do is together, and right now we can't do that."

But doing that again -- is Roach's only wish.

"Him healing up and going home," she said, "living a normal life which may never happen. This has changed his life and our life forever."

Prosecutors filed charges against Pollet and Stapleton for their roles in the incident, they're both waiting for their court hearings.

Meanwhile, Roach and her son wait for something entirely different -- that may never come.

"He can't give me advice and he can't be my rock right now," Roach cried. "I'm trying real hard to be his, and I just hope I'm doing a good job."

Roach had been sleeping in a motel near the hospital in Memphis. Then she ran out of money. She is now living in the hospital, and as a result, her family set up a fund for both her and her son at the Arkansas Health Center Federal Credit Union in Benton.

If you'd like to help the family out, you can mail a check or money order to the credit union. The address is 6701 Hwy 67, Benton, AR, 72015.
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Happy J - 12/9/2011 7:06 PM
1 Vote
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you Ms. Roach and your family. I saw the story on Fox16 and this sort of things is heartbreaking.

Mr Tom - 12/9/2011 10:51 AM
2 Votes
I mean really, if you arn't prepared to fight like a man then don't show up for a fight! Obviously the man came prepared to fight dirty(flamable liguid and a lighter) so he knew what he planned before the fight even started. Even if Mr. Morris did show up as back up for his friend he did NOT deserve getting burned! Nobody deserves that! and like I said, if the dude couldnt fight fair he should never have agreed to meet at McDonalds to fight. He knew what he was planning and unless he repents, I know he will stand before God for this behavior! Just saying.

toaster oven - 12/9/2011 9:56 AM
1 Vote
Then, he tagged along with his friend, Phillip Pollet, to confront another man, Aaron Stapleton, in a McDonald's parking lot in Hot Springs. Police say Pollet and Stapleton were arguing over a girl, and Morris had nothing to do with it. So which one is it? Did he tag along to confront another man or did he have nothing to do with it? If he really had nothing to do with it then why was he there in the first place? Somehow I doubt he tagged along to counsel his friend about how inadvisable it is to fight over some girl in a parking lot. Maybe I was harsh for calling him a crispy critter but hey, at least I didn't set the guy on fire. As far as his mother, yes it's always difficult to watch when your children suffer the consequences of their actions. No one should have injured the guy like that. But to act as if he was merely an innocent "bystandard" is absolutely ludicrous. After all, if you're going to be stupid then you had better be tough.

happy to be me - 12/9/2011 9:18 AM
2 Votes
Prayers for this young man and his family. I so hope he recovers and has a good life.

savanna - 12/9/2011 9:15 AM
2 Votes
It doesnt matter what was going on with the girl. If you read the story you will see that it says my little cousin was a bystandard!! He wasnt there to fight, he was STANDING THERE!!!! God has a plan for everyone tho...and chances are the kid that did it will live to be 100 with cancer and brain tumors!! Now stick that in your juice box and suck it...LOVE U RAY RAY. Stay strong...u can pull thru!!

happy to be me - 12/9/2011 9:12 AM
1 Vote
One more thing, HOW are you people ? Some of your comments sound as if you are no older and no more of a mature thinking person than these kids that are these unthinkable things.

happy to be me - 12/9/2011 9:07 AM
1 Vote
Everyone,even if he did have something to do with the dispute over the girl. What is going on in these kids mind, when they think that the way to solve an issue of any kind is to set a person on fire. We're talking about burning alive. JESUS CHRIST what is wrong with people !

50something - 12/9/2011 8:45 AM
0 Votes
I think the 'crispy critter' comment was a little uncalled for...but I do agree we need more info about just what went on. over a girl....really? was she worth it???

Tired - 12/9/2011 7:57 AM
2 Votes
sad...this young man's life is ruined...prayer's for the mom

spyingonyou - 12/8/2011 11:22 PM
3 Votes
A very sad story my heart go out to the mom, because she really had nothing to do with it and she's suffering because of her child. As for toaster oven you have issues that karma will take care of. What goes around comes around. Toaster will be your real name.
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