Comments on: I Have Your Easy Answer

By: Peoria Illinoisan » 2007: A Blog Year In Review

Peoria Illinoisan » 2007: A Blog Year In Review — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 22:16:37 +0000

[...] records it’s first homicide (Peoria Chronicle) 6 – The Mysterious Case of Silven Yocum (Knight in Dragonland) 7 – John A Carroll continues his one man pissing contest, this time slamming Billy and Eyebrows in [...]

By: A Knight in Dragonland » Justice for Silven Yocum

A Knight in Dragonland » Justice for Silven Yocum — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:33:08 +0000

[...] the time of the coroner’s ruling of homicide, I made a post regarding this case. Over the last year, quite unintended on my part, this post has become a forum for those following [...]

By: So sad

So sad — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 02:43:01 +0000

Erin was very beautiful but could be a bully at times. I agree with “I remember” about the thing she said. JoAnne was very smothering and had a temper. I think the turning point was when JoAnne got into trouble while working at the Superintendants office for embessaling money. Sorry I can’t spell. JoAnne always acted like she was better than everyone else so this was quite an embarrassing event for the family. Erin was a wonderful artist and always creative. If you were her friend she was a lot of fun but if she didn’t like you she would make your life hell. I was her friend but I saw how mean she could be to some girls at our school. Erin always struggled with her weight and when she started doing crack she got skinny and loved it. She went to dry out but then turned to meth. She was with silvies dad who went to prison for it. then while pregnant from him she met andy who was there since the day silven was born. they did party and they did fight but andy never beat on her. erin has always been bailed out by grandpa and mom so i can see why she lived like she did. After erin had silvie she worked on and off (very little) at The Spirit in The Sky but hudd paid for her home, WIRC paid her cips and the state paid the rest. Erin would also frequent the Salvation Army on 1/2 price weekend get a bunch of clothes and items and then have yard sales to get money. I always hated that, cause there are people who really needed that stuff and she would grab the best brand name stuff. enough already i used to care for her and i will always love silvie but she was there and she was always high and she let her daughter die and i hope she goes to jail for it. she needs some time without chemical assistance to realize what has happened. i do know she loved silvie but like i said she loved the meth more. meth will grab ahold of you and you have to be very strong to get away from it. the thought of getting fat again terrified her.

By: I remember

I remember — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:44:50 +0000

Erin and her brother had everything. I was always so jealous of her because it seemed like she had it all. They lived in a nice home and Erin used to be very popular. She was a cheerleader, an amazing artist, sang beautifully, and could always make people laugh. Her relationship with her mom was always a struggle though. JoAnne smothered her and always thought she was up to the worst. So much that usually when Erin got away from home she did go wild. JoAnne could be very hateful at times. It seemed she would do anything for her kids, buy them everything, but was very criticizing, they were never good enough for her.

By: BA411

BA411 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:42:54 +0000

Just wondering…What was Erin’s childhood like?

By: So sad

So sad — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:18:25 +0000

I have known erin since she was 12 years old. I knew silvie her whole life. I sat down tonight trying to find some information about the cases and have not been able to tear my eyes away from this discussion. Erin was a drug user a heavy drug user. I have seen her with silvie so many times and when this happened i knew it was Danny. I can also tell who really knew erin and who doesn’t. Erin did live in Macomb and when she was started dating danny she lived on adams she on the West side of town. Before that she lived on the east side of town. When she started seeing danny i was surprised she left andy. he is the guy who has been referred to as silvie’s daddy. he used drugs too, but i will tell you he loved that little girl and treated her very well. he was devastated when erin left him. also danny wasn’t kept from the hospital. when they were on the way to peoria, erin and danny pulled over and erin got in with her mom because danny said he was sick and wanted to go home. at least that is what i was told.. erin’s brother eric also loved silvie very much. we all have made mistakes in our lives and i do think erin loved silvie but she loved gettin high more. i also know of a couple of arguments erin and danny had about silvie. silvie was pretty upset about losing andy, and was i know that danny said, “i can’t handle that kid sometimes.” when i was told that he was talking like that i had my doubts about him. i said well silvie going through a change and misses andy and i was told that silvie needed to understand that mom had to have a life as well. Did i think this sounded shitty? yes but did i think he would kill her, no. as for DCFS telling the peoria journal star that they had no prior involvement was a lie. a little before all of this when erin lived on adams street, erics ex-girlfriend called dcfs late one night after drinking at the dog pound and reported meth use in her home. a male dcfs investigator came to erins house and talked with her. she told him that they were in bed when the report was made and it wasn’t true. to my knowledge that was that last contact they made. too bad for silvie huh. when asked about silvies death i knew erin hadnt been the one who did the abuse but how could she cover for his ass. i know danny could be a nice guy but they were wrapped up in getting high. i never believed erin would let anyone hurt silvie but she did and she didnt make him pay. istead they were worried about getting busted and sadly i don’t think erin wanted him to get into trouble. maybe cause she loved him but more because enabled her to do the amount of meth she wanted. I can picture it. they were strung out been up for days silvie, being a kid was getting on their nerves, and driving danny crazy. he snapped and erin thought silvie might be able to sleep it off and be ok, but she waited too long and then it was too late. erin has been addicted to drugs for a long time, she was a good mom at times but silvie sure could have had a better life. im not perfect but i would never allow anyone to hurt my child. silvie was a very good little girl. i watched her grow up and miss her very much.. she liked to dress-up and play make-believe. she loved poly pockets and did not like to share her pink and black boa. the last time i spoke to silvie i told her a lie. erin called me wanting mcdonalds and i brought her and silvie some food. i had been growing away from erin mainly due to her increased involvement in meth and i had a kid as well. silvie wanted me to bring my child in to play with her but frankly i was nervous to have my kid there. i promised her that we would be back and they could have a sleepover the next night. i didn’t mean it i was just trying to make her stop begging and make her happy. how do you say my child can’t play with you cause i don’t want to be around if your mom gets into trouble? it haunts me. i can see silvie. she used to run at me like a football player and knock me down and hug me. my child keeps a picture of her by her bed. we watch old videos of them playing. i will always love her and miss her. i can’t say i know whats going on in her mothers mind, it blows me away. i also never thought she would have another baby. if my guesses are right then i do believe she is as guilty as him and i don’t think she deserves special treatment. i realize that i don’t know everything but god someone needs to pay for that little girls life. she did love and worship her mommy. too bad mommy didn’t reciprocate that to her.

By: Deana O

Deana O — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:26:27 +0000

wake up…you are most welcome.

We never did get to meet this precious little girl, but her story touched our lives and my family has always hoped that she would someday get the justice she deserves. Children are so innocent and they trust us to give them a voice when no one can hear theirs. Everyone in that waiting room was like a family. We spent so much time there that we knew everyone’s story and we rejoiced with them for good news and wept with them when the news was bad. I think my Dad was about the only one from our “group” to make it out of there and I thank God for that everyday although he is not the man he once used to be. However, he is alive and still here with us and for that I am forever grateful.

I will never in my life forget her. Thank you for all of your insight on this blog and for fighting for Silvie. She is lucky to have had you in her life.

By: wake up

wake up — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:53:49 +0000

thank you deana o. I hadn’t seen those sites. I must thank you also for all of the support you have given torwards “Justice for Silvie” Wish you could have met her.

By: Deana O

Deana O — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:33:13 +0000

Here is another story on Erin and her posting bond:

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wium/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1201312

By: Deana O

Deana O — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:26:25 +0000

Yes, I do realize that it is 10% to be bonded out. My sister and her husband are both employed in law enforcement.

While listening to a radio interview on Tri States Public Radio, the States Attorney mentioned that the felony child endangerment charge against Erin carries a 2 to 5 year sentence.

You can read and listen to the interview here:

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wium/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1200555§ionID=1

By: wake up

wake up — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:08:27 +0000

Just a quick note it was $2,000 that she was let out on. I think that is what you meant but thought I would be sure. It was because of her health and her high risk pregnancy. The judge appologized but didn’t want to risk another death. Still all is not done and I pray that we do get all the answers some day soon.

By: Deana O

Deana O — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:13:01 +0000

Two articles in today’s Peoria Journal Star…

1) “Yocum Makes First Court Appearance” which I cannot find a link for and,

2) Belknap Sentenced to 44 Months for Meth

Here is the link to that particular story:

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/122007/TRI_BF8OB7FP.064.php

Erin’s bond was reduced to $20,000. due to the fact that she is pregnant. “She was released on bond shortly after her court appearance.”

By: finally justice

finally justice — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:58:34 +0000

That is what everybody wants……

By: Deana O

Deana O — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:26:35 +0000

All I want and all I’ve ever wanted is justice for Silven. I hope that she will have that now.

And…I hope that no other child will have to suffer the way she did.

That’s all…

By: I remember

I remember — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:57:52 +0000

I remember the hot summer day I helped her mom pick out her name, what a sweet, happy baby she was, the day we took her with us to the stream to collect pretty rocks, laughing and being ornery at the park, she said a bad word and giggled her little butt off about it.