Margery Tannenbaum accused of targeting girl,9,w/Craiglist(Worse than Lori Drew)

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

This despicable woman posted an ad on Craigslist "casual encounters" directing them to a 9 year old girl ( phone number and her address) who she believed was fighting with her daughter at school. She did such to get back at a 9 year old.

Margery Tannenbaum is a social worker ta boot!

Woman accused of targeting girl, 9, with Craigslist ad

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/03/craigslist.girl/

(CNN) -- A Long Island, New York, social worker is facing two misdemeanor charges after allegedly posting a sexually suggestive ad on Craigslist that gave interested parties the home phone number of a 9-year-old girl.


She should be charged with a heck of a lot more than misdemeanor's!!!:cursing:

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

Have I reposted a story that has already been discussed? Sorry if I have I just read of it today.

I just can't believe the gallof these GROWN women taking things out on children to hurt them. :cursing:

Anyway good to be here have a great evening all.

[Anakerie]

I just heard this story this morning on HLN and am appalled at what this woman did! Unbelievable.. What makes people do things like this? I don't understand!

[bchand]

Have I reposted a story that has already been discussed? Sorry if I have I just read of it today.

I just can't believe the gallof these GROWN women taking things out on children to hurt them. :cursing:

Anyway good to be here have a great evening all.

This is the first I'd heard of this story. So she's just being charged with misdemeanors? Unbelievable.

From her attorney:

He described Tannenbaum as "a well-loved woman by both family and friends," and said she was a classroom mom at her daughter's school.

"She's never been in any trouble for anything before," Scharfenberg said. "She's just really upset by the whole thing. Her biggest concern has always been that this not materially affect the victim or her child. She wants to make sure the way it's being handled doesn't make that worse."

Sure, sure.

[Amy]

This despicable woman posted an ad on Craigslist "casual encounters" directing them to a 9 year old girl ( phone number and her address) who she believed was fighting with her daughter at school. She did such to get back at a 9 year old.

Margery Tannenbaum is a social worker ta boot!

Woman accused of targeting girl, 9, with Craigslist ad

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/03/craigslist.girl/




She should be charged with a heck of a lot more than misdemeanor's!!!:cursing:
Oh, FGS!!!! Poor perp, her attorney thinks this is all blown out of porportion!!! Let's not ruin the life of this wonderful woman and mother who is loved by all, and is a classroom mom to boot!!! WHERE IS THAT PUKE ICON? "Let's" not ruin her life? Who is the one to do such a dispicable thing to a little girl? Oh, THAT one. SHE is the one who "ruined her life."

"She's never been in any trouble for anything before," Scharfenberg said. "She's just really upset by the whole thing. Her biggest concern has always been that this not materially affect the victim or her child. She wants to make sure the way it's being handled doesn't make that worse."

I doubt she is a worried about how it affects the victim to the extent she is worried about how it affects HER child, and especially HER. I sure as heck hope she is on UNPAID leave until this is sorted out. Or even FIRED would be a good thing. And, if she was the classroom mom for one of MY kids' classes, either she'd be gone, or my child would be finding another classroom, if not another school. If she could do this once, what would be stopping her from doing it to some other kid in the class who po'd her?

[joolz]

This turned out to be a really silly, and totally harmless prank, and stupid to boot - does she not understand when you post on Craig's list they know who you are? I guess she knows that now.

The real problem is this isn't the first underhanded and dirty thing she's ever done, and it won't be the last either.

I agree it's not the first nasty thing she has ever done, just the first she's been caught for.

But I don't agree that posting, "I need a little affection... I'm blond, I'm cute and I'll be waiting" with the nine year old's real name and phone number is silly or harmless. I think it's sick, and intentionally harmful. jmo

[incidentally]

This turned out to be a really silly, and totally harmless prank, and stupid to boot - does she not understand when you post on Craig's list they know who you are? I guess she knows that now.

The real problem is this isn't the first underhanded and dirty thing she's ever done, and it won't be the last either.

I don't see this as being a "harmless prank" as you stated. She put this girl and her family in potential danger.

What other underhanded and dirty thing has she done? Do you have a link or is it personal knowledge.

[Amy]

I agree it's not the first nasty thing she has ever done, just the first she's been caught for.

But I don't agree that posting, "I need a little affection... I'm blond, I'm cute and I'll be waiting" with the nine year old's real name and phone number is silly or harmless. I think it's sick, and intentionally harmful. jmo

If she thinks this is just a silly, harmless prank, she needs some serious counseling. Now, if she had done that to her mom, or sister, or a friend (you don't do "pranks" on strangers) that would be bad enough.

I guess, when you vent your anger about two children having a tiff, and your "vent" gets you in trouble, you can just change your story to say it was a prank, and it's gonna turn out good for you? I don't think so.

I don't have a social work degree--but I figured out on my own as a mom that you just stay the heck out of little girls' fights. It will only be a couple of hours or days and they will be BFF again. That is, if the adults keep their mouths shut and don't keep the fight @ the top of the kids' minds.

[Citygirl]

OK..what if this had happened..

Some guy actually went to the little girl's house and assaulted, raped, or kidnapped and murdered her..(worst case scenario)
What would she have been charged with then?
Conspiracy to _____________ (whatever happened)
so..the worst case scenario did not happen..by the grace..
shouldn't she still be charged with attempted conspiracy to _________ (whatever)?

There is a special place in hades for this woman but I don't want it to be such a long wait for her to get her "just dues"..:cursing:

[FrankieBones1]

This turned out to be a really silly, and totally harmless prank, and stupid to boot - does she not understand when you post on Craig's list they know who you are? I guess she knows that now.

The real problem is this isn't the first underhanded and dirty thing she's ever done, and it won't be the last either.
A harmless prank? Are you kidding me? A harmless prank?

[Brat2002]

This despicable woman posted an ad on Craigslist "casual encounters" directing them to a 9 year old girl ( phone number and her address) who she believed was fighting with her daughter at school. She did such to get back at a 9 year old.

Margery Tannenbaum is a social worker ta boot!

Woman accused of targeting girl, 9, with Craigslist ad

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/03/craigslist.girl/




She should be charged with a heck of a lot more than misdemeanor's!!!:cursing:

I doubt this "well-loved, classroom mom, social worker and caring person" would be called any of those things if people knew what she was really like. Looks like she fooled a lot of people, but anyone who would seek revenge on a 9 year old child is nothing but a degenerate. As a parent and social worker, I would think she'd have a more mature way of dealing with a little fight among classmates. If she doesn't possess the ability to talk through little problems like this and deal with things as an adult, then she shouldn't be given any responsibility for the welfare of children, either in the classroom, in her job and maybe not even at home.

[Deb7]

Anyone who thinks this was a harmless prank, feel free to type your home phone number into a reverse lookup. Notice how it not only gives out your street address, but offers up directions as well. Any potential child molesters that read that, now know where this little girl lives. AND that vindictive mother gave them the impression that this 9 y/o is interested.

Unbelievable! :angry:

[Deb7]

Rachel, I am not necessarily referring to you or your choice of words, but , you keep saying that it caused NO harm. It did. Many many people know where that little girl lives. This craigslisting was posted in erotic services which is a less than upscaled posting area of craigslist.

Should her family now have to move out of fear that someone that read that malicious posting may be waiting to "hook up" with her 9 year old? I would be furious if this happened to me and I would sue for enough money so that I could move to a different home.

I'm just glad that this woman was found out before this turned into the "cheerleader mom" story.

JMO

I'm moving on from it... sorry but I think the focus should be on the potential harm that this could cause or come to in the future. This social worker should not be allowed around any children or their personal information.

[DebinNv]

OK..what if this had happened..

Some guy actually went to the little girl's house and assaulted, raped, or kidnapped and murdered her..(worst case scenario)
What would she have been charged with then?
Conspiracy to _____________ (whatever happened)
so..the worst case scenario did not happen..by the grace..
shouldn't she still be charged with attempted conspiracy to _________ (whatever)?

There is a special place in hades for this woman but I don't want it to be such a long wait for her to get her "just dues"..:cursing:

Great Post!!!

That is exactly what I was thinking also. Someday this snenario could very well happen -I'm sure it will -, and that is a scary thought. There are to many crazy and scary people in this world.

[Brat2002]

Anyone who thinks this was a harmless prank, feel free to type your home phone number into a reverse lookup. Notice how it not only gives out your street address, but offers up directions as well. Any potential child molesters that read that, now know where this little girl lives. AND that vindictive mother gave them the impression that this 9 y/o is interested.

Unbelievable! :angry:

Considering how many guys called, I think it was 40, you just know that others probably took note of the information the woman provided and now everyone knows she is a child and, like you said, her address is out there. This little girl is very vulernable right now to being stalked by child molesters.

Even if the child is safe, what was this woman's intent? Her plan worked as far as getting strange men to start calling and maybe even some have been by her house to check her out. You just don't know what some guys will do with the generous information provided through that website. Now the woman is pretending to be concerned, but is likely wanting to mitigate damages. If there is an incident in the future, the woman would rather blame the media attention rather than take blame for setting this whole thing in motion. I wonder how she would feel if she had answered those phone calls for her own daughter.

The fact that she's a parent, social worker and helps at the school just makes this worse. She has likely dealt with troubled families and maybe even has been involved in making decisions for the welfare of children. She should know more than most how difficult it is for families to work through things like this. Child safety should be at the top of her list and yet she so willingly put this little girl in harm's way. To say it's immature or bad judgement just doesn't cover it. Even if it were a teen or young woman who was the victim of her twisted revenge, it would be appalling, but a 9 year old!!!!! It's more than blatant disregard for a child's welfare, it was a deliberate act by someone who should know firsthand the dangers of exposing a child to potential harm. Throw the book at this woman.

All IMO

[annalyzer]

I hope this woman is fired and she should lose custody of her child also.

[Shells2]

What a sicko this woman is!!

I remember when I was a kid and complained to my mom that someone at school was fighting with me, I would get the "Well then don't play with her if you can't work it out" story.. What happened to those days? Now, we have mothers attempting to murder cheerleader competitors, Myspace stalking, and now this....

Freaks need to grow up and be mothers not punks IMO.

[magnolia]

I agree it's not the first nasty thing she has ever done, just the first she's been caught for.

But I don't agree that posting, "I need a little affection... I'm blond, I'm cute and I'll be waiting" with the nine year old's real name and phone number is silly or harmless. I think it's sick, and intentionally harmful. jmo

Yep...and the e-mail address that the men were directed to was lacethong23@..........

Ugh!

[Brat2002]

To say I disagree with most of your posts would be an understatement.

However I agree with this one 150%. Great post Brat. Very well stated!:thumbup:

Hey Storm, first time for everything, eh? Thanks much for the nice words.

To answer another poster who asked why the child would be any less vulnerable if the child's pic had been in the local paper for winning an award, I'd like to point out that the paper does not give out the child's number or address. I know our local swim team does not allow clear pictures of children or their names to be published. The local schools do list teams, along with names, which will always be a subject of debate. It's usually on a local scale, unlike Craig's List, which is national and the woman put enough information there that any potential perp won't have any trouble finding the child. Unless the family moves, they are now in the scopes of any pervert who holds on to the available information for future reference. While they may have the emails that Tannenbaum gave the info to, who knows who shared it with others or where else it may have been posted after some of these guys got a hold of it. You know how quickly info can travel once online. Some may realize it is the child and may cause some to become even more interested. I don't expect them to be logical and assume that the parent is too protective and not make an attempt. Some may see it as a challenge. Can't begin to get in the mind of these folks, but would expect anything.

Sure, all our children are in potential danger, but thanks to Tannenbaum, this little girl now has increased exposure and therefore, increased risk of being singled out. I think it would be a nightmare to have strange men calling for your little girl. There is no way for any of us to accurately estimate how the actions of that woman increased the risk for this child, but again, look at the intent and the sheer disregard for the well-being of the little girl and her family. That alone, coming from someone who was supposed to be an advocate for the welfare of children, is alarming. I think the social services and the classroom teacher can do much better and should find a replacement for Tannenbaum. And what a horrible example she is providing to her own children.

[True2Blues]

What a sicko this woman is!!

I remember when I was a kid and complained to my mom that someone at school was fighting with me, I would get the "Well then don't play with her if you can't work it out" story.. What happened to those days? Now, we have mothers attempting to murder cheerleader competitors, Myspace stalking, and now this....

Freaks need to grow up and be mothers not punks IMO.

It's amazing, isn't it? What kind of 'loving mother' purposely does something so malicious and potentially dangerous to a child? What is wrong with these people who do this stuff?

You want to be a parent, teach your children how to deal with these problems, but unless they are in danger, like an adult stalker say, keep out of it!

[kitty1182]

Margery and Lori belong in the same cell for many years...MO

I have no feelings but barf for both of them..

[Tracian]

I don't even have the words...

Great posts by so many of you...I can't believe the psychotic behavior of people that would do something like this.

[ttcRider]

What a sicko this woman is!!

I remember when I was a kid and complained to my mom that someone at school was fighting with me, I would get the "Well then don't play with her if you can't work it out" story.. What happened to those days? Now, we have mothers attempting to murder cheerleader competitors, Myspace stalking, and now this....

Freaks need to grow up and be mothers not punks IMO.

Thats exactly what my mom use to say... 'then just stay away from her'. :mellow: It worked too. Thanks Mom! :thumbsup:

[NatalieB]

We have no way to measure the potential harm this may have put this child in. For anyone to simply blow it off as if there is no harm, that's just ludicrous, IMO. Hell, even the mother of the child (victim's mom) has been harmed to some extent from all this. Can you just imagine the fear she's living in right now? I can only imagine how I might feel in a similar situation.

Harm may or may not come to this little girl; and I pray that it does not, but this woman needs to be charged with more than misdemeanors. It's ridiculous and I hope she was let go from her job ASAP after being charged. She has NO place around children. I agree with the poster that if my children were in any class where she was "class mom," my children would no longer be in that particular class either.

[Tracian]

We have no way to measure the potential harm this may have put this child in. For anyone to simply blow it off as if there is no harm, that's just ludicrous, IMO. Hell, even the mother of the victim has been harmed to some extent from all this. Can you just imagine the fear she's living in right now? I can only imagine how I might feel in a similar situation.

Harm may or may not come to this little girl; and I pray that it does not, but this woman needs to be charged with more than misdemeanors. It's ridiculous and I hope she was let go from her job ASAP after being charged. She has NO place around children. I agree with the poster that if my children were in any class where she was "class mom," my children would no longer be in that particular class either.


Great Post...ITA.

What about child exploitation? IMO it should include for sexual purposes.

[SwFlorida]

And we wonder why children turn out the way they do. Duh..It starts at home.

[theKestrel]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07032009/news/regionalnews/you_dont_do_this_to_a_kid__177431.htm

Some more information about charges and a photograph of the defendant.

[NatalieB]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07032009/news/regionalnews/you_dont_do_this_to_a_kid__177431.htm

Some more information about charges and a photograph of the defendant.

This is just outrageous. Someone should post her name, addy, phone number, and ALL information that can be obtained about where and how to contact her at work if she's not been dismissed, somewhere on the net for all to see. Craig's list seems like an appropriate forum to use. I wonder if she'd chalk that up to nothing when thousands of calls and visits started pouring in. My guess is, she wouldn't find that too amusing.

[cuddlyrunner]

This is dreadful. I work in a Primary school, when we have events on the only children allowed to be photographed by the press are those who have written permission from the parents. First names are given but not surnames. It's a nightmare sometimes trying to get enough children to be in the photo!

This woman needs some serious therapy and I have to wonder what she might do to her own daughter when the teenage years come and she ticks good old Mom off??

[Meridian]

This is just outrageous. Someone should post her name, addy, phone number, and ALL information that can be obtained about where and how to contact her at work if she's not been dismissed, somewhere on the net for all to see. Craig's list seems like an appropriate forum to use. I wonder if she'd chalk that up to nothing when thousands of calls and visits started pouring in. My guess is, she wouldn't find that too amusing.
I agree. :thumbsup:

[R~O~S]

Why is she more vulnerable to being stalked by child molesters than she would be if she, say, had a darling little picture and name published in the Lifestyle section of the paper for winning 4H or lighting sparkler fireworks?

I just can't see how this story makes her vulnerable. The cops have all the email addresses of everyone who contacted Margery Tannenbaum to get the info - it wasn't published on Craigs list. They had to email Margery for it, so they are now known to LE.

Additionally, what this story makes crystal clear is this child has a very alert and vigilant mother whose not afraid to react strongly to dangerous situations.

i can't imagine a pedophile choosing this child, at this point, thinking she is an easy target. Word is out, she isn't.


Rachel, I'm really surprised by your reaction believing there's been no harm done here. The fact this family had to change their phone number is harm that isn't frivolous. I'd be beyond upset if I had to change my phone number, the number I've had for over 25 years. It's the stability of that number that allows friends of years gone by to find me easily, yet the fact it's been unlisted for all of those 25 years allows me my privacy. No one has the right to give it to anyone without my permission, let alone men "looking for a good time".

That 50 men called this number in two days and now know there is a woman & female child living in this home, because the mother actually answered the phone, is more information than anyone has the right to advertise in an erotic services section of an internet site unless it's about themselves.

Yes, they have the e-mail addresses of all the men who contacted Tannenbaum, they're likely all web based addresses which aren't nearly as easy to trace as ISP based addreses. Heavens only knows how many people they may have forwarded the information along to.

Why should I have to pay LE to run down those people? How can you be certain how much information beyond the full name and telephone number of the child this sociopath gave out?

That's right, I just labeled her a sociopath. Clearly any adult who would do this to a 9 year old child lacks empathy, a realistic life plan, has a grandiose sense of self entitlement, poor behavioral controls, shallow emotions, lack of remorse, she's conning and manipulative, glib in her lawyers response, unconcerned for the impact her actions have on others and is guilty of abuse of a child skirting the fringe of sexual abuse (it certainly was her intention given the section of craigslist she chose). That's 10 of 15 characteristics, I could make the case for the other 5, but the 10 are obvious.

http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

It wasn't silly, it wasn't harmless & it wasn't costless. What it is, is a huge red flag of what this woman is capable of in the future with little to no reason or cause.

Why do we as a society try to find any excuse to overlook inexcusable behavior, but then we wring our hands and fuss and fret when the horrible happens. We wail away that something should have been done to prevent it, when all the while the huge red flags were there, and everyone excused them away as no big deal. This is a big deal, it would be a big deal had her victim been an adult woman, that her victim was a nine year old child is chilling.

[Amy]

R~O~S
Great post!!! "Harmless" because the child was not physically harmed by any of the respondees to this ad? I think not. As you point out, the "harm" was done on several counts.

I noticed there were several posts stating this was not the first time this woman (and I use the term loosely) had done something "dirty and underhanded." One was by RachelRose, stating it wasn't the first time. the other was from joolz. Would be curious to know what other stunts she had pulled, and how demonic they might have been, whether she (the perp) considered them as just pranks, or if she meant harm to the person.

IMO, even if it is just this one time, I don't think she belongs in the world of social service, they need people who have better control over themselves than this. If she reacts this way to a tiff between 9 y/o's then I'd hate to see what she could do over something more major in her life. To someone that dissed HER, for example. What happens if one of her clients po's her?

[R~O~S]

R~O~S
Great post!!! "Harmless" because the child was not physically harmed by any of the respondees to this ad? I think not. As you point out, the "harm" was done on several counts.

I noticed there were several posts stating this was not the first time this woman (and I use the term loosely) had done something "dirty and underhanded." One was by RachelRose, stating it wasn't the first time. the other was from joolz. Would be curious to know what other stunts she had pulled, and how demonic they might have been, whether she (the perp) considered them as just pranks, or if she meant harm to the person.

IMO, even if it is just this one time, I don't think she belongs in the world of social service, they need people who have better control over themselves than this. If she reacts this way to a tiff between 9 y/o's then I'd hate to see what she could do over something more major in her life. To someone that dissed HER, for example. What happens if one of her clients po's her?


Can you imagine the power her opinion holds over her clients? Removing children, with holding resources, not removing children when warranted, not filing that application for health care, food stamps, job training............

No harm my big toe.

[Brat2002]

R~O~S,
Excellent post and I'd like to see it repeated verbatim in court when this woman faces charges. Best argument ever for why she should face the music for her actions.

[NatalieB]

Do you really think ROS, that this anonymous girl has truly been "harmed' by this? The intent was to do huge damage, possibly even get her killed, but the bullet missed. The pipe bomb didn't detonate, the poison drink wasn't consumed, so to speak. The grand plot failed spectacularly.

The plot twisted, and the girl who has suffered irreparable and horrible harm is Margery's own daughter herself. She will never, ever recover from the rejection and misery she must be feeling. What an ironic twist, this mother was trying to avenge her daughter's bullying, and has now made her the target of social isolation as never before.

The girl who was the intended target of Margery's crazed plot is now a bit of a local legend, and in school yard politics her social standing has gone up a few points. She will always be thought of by the other mothers in the school as that dear girl who was targeted by that crazy woman.

What was intended to harm her hasn't. And what was intended to help Margery's daughter has probably about rung the deathnell for a normal child hood for her.

And out there, somewhere, are 40 men who are praying to God they don't get called as witnesses to this, for trying to hire a sex escort. Collateral damage.

This is all, of course, my own personal opinion. Not everything that is intended to harm you actually does.

How in the world do you feel you're in a position to access the damages this child faces or may face in the future? It's idiotic IMO to try and toss it off as if she comes out the victor. She's a 9 year old child. There is no victory here for that little girl.

There are already damages done that you simply refuse to see.

[NatalieB]

I don't think anyone is a "victor" here. But to imagine that she's terribly "damaged" - in my opinion - doesn't take reality into account.

I'm sorry if you think that's idiotic. It would be interesting to see if she has, in fact, suffered a lot from this - my guess is no. Kids tend to respond well to community support and although none of us know who she is, her community does, and are strongly supporting her.

It sells her short to think she can't get past this attempt to harm her and succeed and carry on and live a happy, well-adjusted childhood.

I don't see anyone attempting to suggest that the child will not carry on.

As for getting community support, how many parents do you think sat down and explained the situation to a 9 year old? My guess is, not many, so kudos on the playground are more than likely not forthcoming, IMO.

The psychological abuse on the parents who now have to worry about harm coming to their child is enough to show that there is harm done here.

Will this child be harmed by some deranged pedophile? I have no crystal ball and neither do you, so there is no way to measure if that type of harm is at issue here. I'm sure the child's parents are thinking about the possibility however.

[R~O~S]

I don't think anyone is a "victor" here. But to imagine that she's terribly "damaged" - in my opinion - doesn't take reality into account.

I'm sorry if you think that's idiotic. It would be interesting to see if she has, in fact, suffered a lot from this - my guess is no. Kids tend to respond well to community support and although none of us know who she is, her community does, and are strongly supporting her.

It sells her short to think she can't get past this attempt to harm her and succeed and carry on and live a happy, well-adjusted childhood.

You obviously didn't bother reading my post, therefore your reply is disjointed and non responsive.

Or did you indeed read it, and find yourself lacking a response that spoke to it?

Either way, my point is made and you're welcome to your opinion. I just don't share it and provided rational reasons for mine. :seeya:

[Deb7]

Do you really think ROS, that this anonymous girl has truly been "harmed' by this? The intent was to do huge damage, possibly even get her killed, but the bullet missed. The pipe bomb didn't detonate, the poison drink wasn't consumed, so to speak. The grand plot failed spectacularly.

The plot twisted, and the girl who has suffered irreparable and horrible harm is Margery's own daughter herself. She will never, ever recover from the rejection and misery she must be feeling. What an ironic twist, this mother was trying to avenge her daughter's bullying, and has now made her the target of social isolation as never before.

The girl who was the intended target of Margery's crazed plot is now a bit of a local legend, and in school yard politics her social standing has gone up a few points. She will always be thought of by the other mothers in the school as that dear girl who was targeted by that crazy woman.

What was intended to harm her hasn't. And what was intended to help Margery's daughter has probably about rung the deathnell for a normal child hood for her.

And out there, somewhere, are 40 men who are praying to God they don't get called as witnesses to this, for trying to hire a sex escort. Collateral damage.

This is all, of course, my own personal opinion. Not everything that is intended to harm you actually does.


Could you please provide a link where the little girl was being bullied? I have only read reports of the of them having an "argument".

JMO

[NatalieB]

Do you think there is a single nine year old at that school, or a single parent at the school, or a single teacher in the district that doesn't know both girl's names and have them inked indelibly on their memories?

I am not in a position to know what the children in that area may or may not be aware of.

EDIT: And I realize this plot went into effect in February, but that doesn't mean anyone at the school has been made aware of this case till she was actually charged. Since the arraignment was just this week, I'm not sure when the arrest may have been. In Pennsylvania (right under NY), the kids are not in school right now. Perhaps they have year round school on Long Island, but my guess is, these kids are discussing nothing at school right now.

[Kip]

I don't see that 9-year-old receiving kudos from her peers. I think she probably feels embarrassed that it happened to her (though, of course, through no fault of her own). I think she'll have to endure peers' and adults' stares and whispers about her -- from informational whispers like "hey, that's the girl who that crazy mom put the ad on craigslist about" to snickers from some older boys. (And, sadly, a bit of her innocence has been taken away.)

Edited to add: I feel sorry for the daughter of the social worker mom too.

[Gael Force 1]

Were this my child that were targeted, I would expend all of my resources taking this matter to court, seeking nothing less than full relocation.

Child molesters are a strange breed that suffer from numerous mental deficiencies and delusions, not the least of which is that in many instances, from their own admissions, they believed the child 'wanted' their advances.

By posting what she did, Margery Tannenbaum, reinforced this belief and her words are still to this day resonating within the minds of numerous pedophiles, perhaps too many to count. Her venue for the announcement was in "Erotic Services" a platform for advertisement and solicitation of largely deviant sexual encounters. While only 50 people inquired, perhaps thousands viewed the add; and it is not the ones that were brazen, or stupid enough to make contact that they should be concerned about, it is the ones that didn't make contact... the ones that are silently planning, and plotting, and becoming immersed in the delusion of those words that the family should be worried about.

Many rapists and child molesters fantasize for months, imagining their prey inviting them, wanting them, while they watch from the shadows and stalk their target both from the shadows of their very neighborhoods, and electronically on the internet.

Just because there has been no immediate threat to date, doesn't mean there will never be one as a result; and I would not feel safe until I had relocated my family entirely.

[Amy]

Do you really think ROS, that this anonymous girl has truly been "harmed' by this? The intent was to do huge damage, possibly even get her killed, but the bullet missed. The pipe bomb didn't detonate, the poison drink wasn't consumed, so to speak. The grand plot failed spectacularly.

The plot twisted, and the girl who has suffered irreparable and horrible harm is Margery's own daughter herself. She will never, ever recover from the rejection and misery she must be feeling. What an ironic twist, this mother was trying to avenge her daughter's bullying, and has now made her the target of social isolation as never before.

The girl who was the intended target of Margery's crazed plot is now a bit of a local legend, and in school yard politics her social standing has gone up a few points. She will always be thought of by the other mothers in the school as that dear girl who was targeted by that crazy woman.

What was intended to harm her hasn't. And what was intended to help Margery's daughter has probably about rung the deathnell for a normal child hood for her.

And out there, somewhere, are 40 men who are praying to God they don't get called as witnesses to this, for trying to hire a sex escort. Collateral damage.

This is all, of course, my own personal opinion. Not everything that is intended to harm you actually does.

There you go. The perp's child HAS been harmed, so this is NOT a harmless prank.

[Jayne]

So many good posts here, including R O S and Gael...bravo.

I can't imagine that girl's family feeling "safe" until they are relocated - and what a nightmare..uprooting their home, changing telephone numbers, etc. ITA about pedofiles - they don't "usually" telephone - or so I'd think...they walk the neighborhood, case the school yards, toy stores, etc. Years ago, I believe, parents didn't think about their child's photograph (and name) being published in a local paper was a bad thing. And, more likely than not, it wasn't. Not today, IMO. Unpublished telephone numbers is one thing, but addresses are readily available through the internet. I find it unsettling. I hope this family gets relocated...just can't imagine the parents letting their daughter take the school bus or walk down the street alone after "this". Maybe that's too protective, but after an event like this, can one be too careful?

[JD1974]

Oh, FGS!!!! Poor perp, her attorney thinks this is all blown out of porportion!!! Let's not ruin the life of this wonderful woman and mother who is loved by all, and is a classroom mom to boot!!! WHERE IS THAT PUKE ICON? "Let's" not ruin her life? Who is the one to do such a dispicable thing to a little girl? Oh, THAT one. SHE is the one who "ruined her life."

"She's never been in any trouble for anything before," Scharfenberg said. "She's just really upset by the whole thing. Her biggest concern has always been that this not materially affect the victim or her child. She wants to make sure the way it's being handled doesn't make that worse."

I doubt she is a worried about how it affects the victim to the extent she is worried about how it affects HER child, and especially HER. I sure as heck hope she is on UNPAID leave until this is sorted out. Or even FIRED would be a good thing. And, if she was the classroom mom for one of MY kids' classes, either she'd be gone, or my child would be finding another classroom, if not another school. If she could do this once, what would be stopping her from doing it to some other kid in the class who po'd her?


How did she think this would not affect the victim? Did she think only her parents would answer the phone and think their 9 year old put that AD on craigslist? I don't understand how some people do what they do, all I can say is I am just glad the 9 year old is still alive and that she didn't do worse than that to her. With a person like that you never know what they could be capable of.

[jaxback]

I would suggest that Mrs. Margery Tannenbaum better relocate! And if she hasn't been fired from her job she should quit and promise never to hold a position with any contract with children - or with people in general perhaps. Her decision making skills are apparently on the level of a 7 yr old. She is really a nutty puppy. Whether or not this child has been damaged - this like tried to do so. I would like to see some info on what she "pranks" she has pulled in the past. I believe it was mentioned this is not her 1st.

In any case - lets remember the name and be forwarned: MARGERY TANNENBAUN, LI NY.

I've known 7 year olds with much better decision making skills - or at least, much kinder human instincts. What an evil act, imo.

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

Rachel, I'm really surprised by your reaction believing there's been no harm done here. The fact this family had to change their phone number is harm that isn't frivolous. I'd be beyond upset if I had to change my phone number, the number I've had for over 25 years. It's the stability of that number that allows friends of years gone by to find me easily, yet the fact it's been unlisted for all of those 25 years allows me my privacy. No one has the right to give it to anyone without my permission, let alone men "looking for a good time".

That 50 men called this number in two days and now know there is a woman & female child living in this home, because the mother actually answered the phone, is more information than anyone has the right to advertise in an erotic services section of an internet site unless it's about themselves.

Yes, they have the e-mail addresses of all the men who contacted Tannenbaum, they're likely all web based addresses which aren't nearly as easy to trace as ISP based addreses. Heavens only knows how many people they may have forwarded the information along to.

Why should I have to pay LE to run down those people? How can you be certain how much information beyond the full name and telephone number of the child this sociopath gave out?

That's right, I just labeled her a sociopath. Clearly any adult who would do this to a 9 year old child lacks empathy, a realistic life plan, has a grandiose sense of self entitlement, poor behavioral controls, shallow emotions, lack of remorse, she's conning and manipulative, glib in her lawyers response, unconcerned for the impact her actions have on others and is guilty of abuse of a child skirting the fringe of sexual abuse (it certainly was her intention given the section of craigslist she chose). That's 10 of 15 characteristics, I could make the case for the other 5, but the 10 are obvious.

http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

It wasn't silly, it wasn't harmless & it wasn't costless. What it is, is a huge red flag of what this woman is capable of in the future with little to no reason or cause.

Why do we as a society try to find any excuse to overlook inexcusable behavior, but then we wring our hands and fuss and fret when the horrible happens. We wail away that something should have been done to prevent it, when all the while the huge red flags were there, and everyone excused them away as no big deal. This is a big deal, it would be a big deal had her victim been an adult woman, that her victim was a nine year old child is chilling.

ITA


The entire affair is utterly disgusting and she IMO should be fired from her job especially if it is in any capacity working with children. How can she be an advocate for children when it is clear that she has not a care about some children who upset her. How can she be trusted in a position of authority and trust?