Three-year-old Cameron Cleeton had to be in a partial body cast after his mother’s boyfriend badly beat him on Father’s Day in June 2007. I was invited to Cameron’s grandmother’s home, where the boy was staying, to talk about how he was doing and how the family was coping. They mentioned how the Cameron had been looking forward to going to an upcoming monster truck rally in town but now they weren’t sure they would be able to go because of his injuries and mobility issues.

SJ-R readers came through again with offers of help, and the organizers of the monster truck rally arranged for Cameron to meet the driver of his favorite truck, “Grave Digger.”

Stepfather allegedly beats 3-year-old boy / Child undergoes surgery, has broken leg, cuts
June 19, 2007

A 3-year-old boy was hospitalized Sunday night with a broken leg, bruises and cuts after his stepfather allegedly beat him on Father’s Day.

The boy required surgery Monday, and his condition was unknown late in the day.

Jessie S. Fishburn, 20, of the 3200 block of East Enos Avenue was in Sangamon County Jail, charged with aggravated battery to a child. Bond was set Monday at $75,000.

The incident happened between 9:30 and 10 p.m. Sunday at the family’s mobile home on East Enos Avenue. Authorities were sent to St. John’s Hospital about 10 p.m. after emergency room workers notified them a boy there had injuries consistent with child abuse.

The boy suffered a broken left thighbone, bruising and red marks over most of his body and a cut above one ear.

The boy’s mother was not involved and was not at home at the time, authorities said. One other child lives in the home but apparently was not injured.

Sangamon County sheriff’s Capt. Jack Campbell said investigators were not releasing details about the alleged abuse, including with what the boy was beaten, how many times he was hit and who took him to the hospital.

Campbell said Fishburn was “cooperative” with the investigation.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services also is investigating. An agency spokesman said Monday caseworkers had no prior contact with the family.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the thighbone is the largest and strongest bone in the body. Common causes of child femur fractures include falling on the playground, taking a hit in contact sports, being in a car crash or child abuse.

Fishburn’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 5. Aggravated battery to a child is a Class X felony punishable by six to 30 years in prison.

Fishburn is on a parole hold from the Illinois Department of Corrections, meaning that even if he posts bail he cannot be released from jail. He was paroled May 16, 2006, after being sentenced to three years in prison for illegal use of a weapon and possession of a stolen firearm in 2005 in Sangamon County.

He also was arrested in 2004 for vehicular endangerment.

Beaten toddler in partial body cast
June 21, 2007

The 3-year-old boy who allegedly was battered by his mother’s boyfriend on Father’s Day is in a partial body cast to repair the broken thighbone he suffered, his grandmother said Wednesday.

Cameron Cleeton-Wilson has a lingering footprint on his right thigh, bruises on his buttocks and a cut over his ear that is healing, according to his grandmother, Shirley Holloway, of Springfield.

The boy’s cast extends from his right foot to just above his belly button, and he is living at his grandparents’ home while he recovers, she said. His mother works and has another child to care for, and the Holloways are stepping in to help.

“He’s mostly in bed,” she said. “He can’t put any pressure on his leg or anything. I have to give him a sponge bath because he can’t take a bath. He can’t stand up.”

While Cameron is on the road to physical recovery, he has mental scars that must heal, too.

“He has dreams and cries in the middle of the night. He’ll say, ‘Don’t make me go back to the trailer, Grandma,’” Holloway said, her voice cracking with emotion. “I’ve just been trying to keep him comfortable, letting him watch cartoons, trying to get his mind off his leg.”

Cameron was rushed to St. John’s Hospital on Sunday night after his injuries were discovered. The alleged abuse happened between 9:30 and 10 p.m. at the family’s mobile home in the 3200 block of East Enos Avenue.

He was at home with his mother’s boyfriend, Jessie S. Fishburn, 20, while she was at work, authorities said. Emergency room workers notified authorities after determining Cameron’s injuries were consistent with child abuse.

Detectives at the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office will not say specifically what they believe transpired, but they arrested Fishburn, and he has been charged with aggravated battery to a child. His bond was set at $75,000, but even if he posts bail, he cannot be released from jail because of a parole hold. His preliminary hearing is set for July 5.

Members of Fishburn’s family said Wednesday he is on suicide watch at the jail.

His mother, Kim Uhrin, who lives out of state, said in an e-mail to The State Journal-Register that Fishburn did not break the child’s leg and that “those kids are his world and it is hurting him so bad to know his son is hurt.”

Cameron’s 1-year-old half sister also lives in the home and was not injured. She is Fishburn’s biological daughter with Cameron’s mother, Sheena Cleeton.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is investigating. A spokesman said this week that the agency has had no previous contact with the family.

Holloway said doctors are hopeful that Cameron’s femur will grow back together. If not, they will have to perform surgery to put in a pin.

She said Cameron is a happy, loveable, brown-eyed little boy who loves to play, watch NASCAR and work in the garden with his grandpa.

For now, the family is trying to figure out whether they can take him to this weekend’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Midwest 4-Wheel Jamboree monster truck event at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, an event he had been looking forward to for some time. Cameron’s injuries put the outing in limbo, though.

Cameron is a big monster truck fan and even has a favorite truck – Grave Digger.

Holloway said the family bought a wagon for the boy to sit in so that he can at least go outside, but they’re not sure they will be able to take it into the Grandstand and find a comfortable place for him to sit. They can’t carry him into the stands, she said, because of the pressure it would put on the cast.

The event is expected to draw 1,000 four-wheel-drive vehicles and monster trucks to the fairgrounds.

Holloway said the family has been through a lot the last few days and they thank people for their thoughts and prayers.

“This has never happened to us before. It affected me so bad,” she said. “How could somebody do something to this little boy who is so defenseless?”

Cameron will see monster trucks / VIP treatment for injured 3-year-old
June 22, 2007

Cameron Cleeton-Wilson has something fun to look forward to this weekend.

The 3-year-old is in a partial body cast because of the broken thighbone he suffered on Father’s Day when, authorities say, his mother’s boyfriend battered him at the family’s mobile home on Enos Avenue.

The boyfriend was arrested and is in Sangamon County Jail.

Prior to the attack, Cameron had been looking forward to going to this weekend’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Midwest 4-Wheel Jamboree monster truck event at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. He was particularly looking forward to seeing his favorite monster truck, Grave Digger.

But because of mobility issues, Cameron’s grandparents were not sure they would be able to take him. His grandmother, Shirley Holloway, who is caring for him as he recovers, said Wednesday she was not sure the family would be able to carry Cameron or pull him in a wagon up to the bleachers.

On Thursday, many concerned people who read about Cameron in The State Journal-Register tried to find a way to get the boy to the show and be the center of some special attention.

Their efforts paid off.

Jessica Hubley, an event promoter with Indianapolis-based Family Events, which produces this weekend’s monster truck event, said she had received an e-mail from a reader who forwarded the story and asked if there was anything that could be done. By afternoon, about 15 people had called Hubley about Cameron’s situation.

“I’ve never dealt with this before. I’ve never had this kind of thing happen, but the second I heard about it, right off the bat I knew we had to make sure we contacted Cameron’s family and extended an offer for him, pending whether he feels well enough to come out,” Hubley said.

“We wanted to make sure he got the VIP treatment because it was a terrible thing that happened to him.”

Not only is the Grave Digger crew putting together a package of T-shirts, hats and gear for Cameron, he is going to receive a private meet-and-greet with the truck’s crew, including driver Pablo Huffaker, and he and his family will be able to sit in the announcer’s booth to watch the show.

The family also received VIP passes to get into the event from John Henton, manager of one of the Springfield O’Reilly stores.

Holloway on Thursday said she was surprised by and thankful for the outpouring of support.

“I told him he’s going to go see Monster Jam, and he said, ‘Yeah! Vroom! Vroom!’ He’s all excited,” she said.

Cameron continues to be in pain and discomfort from his injuries, Holloway said as she tried to scratch an itch on his leg under the cast. He later started crying from the pain in his leg.

The child was at home with his mother’s boyfriend, Jessie S. Fishburn, 20, Sunday night when the alleged abuse happened.

Detectives at the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office will not say specifically what they believe transpired, but they arrested Fishburn, and he has been charged with aggravated battery to a child. His bond was set at $75,000, but even if he posts bail, he cannot be released because of a parole hold.

Cameron was rushed to a hospital emergency room after his injuries were discovered. Workers there notified authorities after determining the injuries were consistent with child abuse.

In addition to the broken bone, he had a footprint on his right thigh, bruises on his buttocks and a cut over his ear.

Fishburn reportedly has been on suicide watch at the jail. His family has said he is innocent.