Mothers in Damar child beating point finger at facility

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - 24-Hour News 8 traveled to the town of Ladoga, Indiana to meet the mother of a 10-year-old boy who was brutally attacked last Tuesday, June 22, at Damar Services . The mother is outraged and looking for answers.

Cynthia Ross fought back tears as she talked about her son, 10-year-old Isaiah Ross.

"I'm doing it for my son, not for me. This is all about my son. Not me," said Ross. "This is my baby."

Ross showed 24-Hour News 8 a picture of Isiaha at nine-and-half years old. She also showed a picture of Isaiah recovering at Riley Hospital for Children.

"I know he's in the best care. I just want people to pray for him and hopefully he'll pull through," said Ross.

Isiaha was brutally attacked last Tuesday inside Damar Services on Indianapolis' west side. Investigators said a 14-year-old Damar resident repeatedly attacked him, stomping on Isiaha's head with his foot.

"It's sad. It shouldn't never happened. It shouldn't never happened," Ross said.

24-Hour News 8 reported Monday an employee at Damar Services witnessed part of the attack. Ross said she never imagined she would see her son looking like he does today.

"Isiaha has ADHD and bipolar. He is a very hyper child. He has a learning disability. When you teach him something, you got to more or less make it a game for him to understand," said Ross.

Ross agreed that because her son was at Damar Services, she believed he would be under the best care and supervision.

"I would hope so, but I can see somebody wasn't doing their job right or this probably wouldn't have never happened," Ross said.

The mother of Isiaha's attacker has apologized for her son's actions. Mary Lopez lives in Elkhart, Indiana, and told 24-Hour News 8 her son has the mind of an eight-year-old. Lopez blames Damar Services.

"He's a caring 14-year-old boy that has a big heart for anybody. My condolences goes out to the other child's mother. I'm praying that he's OK and I'm praying that his mother is not angry at me," said Lopez.

Ross doesn't blame Lopez or her son. She just hopes getting the right help for Isaiah is not too late.

"I'll fight until the day I die. I will never give up on my children. I already lost one. I don't want to lose this one. I lost one through death and I pray every day he helps this one pull through," she said.

Cynthia told 24-Hour News 8 she did not find out about Isiaha's injuries until three days after the attack. Ross said Isiaha had only been at Damar Services for about six months.