Mother Arrested for Child Fatality, Two Others with Bodily Injuries
By: APD Press Release
Updated: October 19, 2012
A mother is arrested after the death of one child, and the discovery of bodily injuries on the other two.
On August 28 at 3:56 pm, Abilene Police Department (APD) Dispatch received a call from a female that sounded distressed.
APD Dispatch was able to piece together that the call was coming from a residence on Dyess Air Force Base (AFB). Dyess Security Forces were contacted and advised of the call.
Dyess Security Forces then contacted APD advising they needed APD assistance after locating an unresponsive child at a residence in the 100 block of Washington Loop, Dyess AFB.
On August 28 at 3:56 pm, Abilene Police Department (APD) Dispatch received a call from a female that sounded distressed.
APD Dispatch was able to piece together that the call was coming from a residence on Dyess Air Force Base (AFB). Dyess Security Forces were contacted and advised of the call.
Dyess Security Forces then contacted APD advising they needed APD assistance after locating an unresponsive child at a residence in the 100 block of Washington Loop, Dyess AFB.
Detectives with
APD's Criminal Investigation Division, Crimes Against Persons Unit, went to
Dyess to assist after being advised that the nature of the call involved an
injured child.
The female child, age 22 months, was taken by ambulance to
Abilene Regional Medical Center (ARMC). Justice of the Peace Bryan Smith was
summoned to ARMC where he pronounced the child deceased and ordered an autopsy.
Detectives also learned that two other young female children (ages 6-months and
3 years) were living at the residence
with their mother at the time of the call and that the mother was the person
that called APD for assistance.
Further investigation revealed that the mother of the children was identified as Tiffany N. Klapheke, 22, and that she was a military dependent to a U.S. Air Force member currently deployed.
The two other
small children living with Mrs. Klapheke were taken by ambulance for
treatment.
Detectives believe that
injuries to these two children, and the deceased child, appear to be related to
severe neglect.
Both children were
care-flighted to Cook Children's Medical Center in Ft. Worth for
treatment.
One of the surviving children had serious bodily injury while the other had suffered bodily injury.
Mrs. Klapheke
was subsequently arrested on three counts of felony injury to a child. Her
bonds total $500,000.
This investigation
continues.
More information may be released as it becomes available.
Comments
Maureen - I am " The One Who Knows"_ Unfortunately, I know that your comments on Tiffany are valid. your post concerning Tiffany.
Scott S.
September 3, 2012 at 10:53 am
This mother needed psychiatric help her entire life. She never developed a correct understanding of love and empathy. She was unable to love, as many people understand love. Having a history of severe neglect in her early years and abuse that continued until age 16, she was unable to feel or give love. She refused therapy and medication which would have helped her with her psychiatric challenges.
Please know that yes she has psychiatric issues but I believe that SHE WAS NOT SUFFERING FROM POST PARTUM DEPRESSION. I believe she was suffering from a history of neglect and abuse which left her with severe Reactive Attachment Disorder.
Reactive Attachment Disorder means you never develop the ability to love anyone and you don't develop a normal conscience. She doesn't understand it is her fault. Some how in her mind She dismisses her behavior. These are common responses from a person with Reactive Attachment Disorder. She does know right from wrong and has the ability to do the right things.
This in, no way, releases her or mitigates what she did. It is offered as a possible explanation to how a mother can do this.
Scott S.
September 3, 2012 at 10:22 am
maureen- your explanation makes sense given what we know about Tiffany and her character. Did you or anyone you know ever meet this "chris" guy?
The two other girls are doing very well today. Their father is not yet with them but their grandma is.
Scott S.
September 1, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Jennifer, you're right. I pray for those little girls and their father. May God have mercy on Tiffany Klapheke.
Momma M.
August 31, 2012 at 8:07 am
I don't know why you are bickering on here. This is a tragic situation that could have been avoided if people opened their [censored] eyes more. Obviously whomever the people Tiffany were hanging around with weren't any classier than her. My heart goes out to her remaining children and her husband. I'm sorry for the loss of his daughter. I hope he recovers from this........
Jennifer P.
August 30, 2012 at 4:07 pm
I wanna add fuel to the fire, has any one seen Mrs Klapheke's FACEBOOK. It kind of adds insult to injury. Straight from face book (Tiffany Klapheke) "It's just broke my heart. I can not begin to fathom the evil it takes to hurt a baby like that." 20 April at 05:06 via Mobile ˇ
Ben M.
August 30, 2012 at 2:19 pm
OK MAMMA [censored]...I am not in the circle..I am not her nosy neighbor and I do not thrive on Drama..unlike yourself! And yes..the truth is what it is..they can pull the tapes at the stripes and see she was in there untill all hours of the night in her little outfits doing her own thing not minding her children..and..once again if you had read what I said..in English unless you need it written in [censored]..it clearly says she was lying to everyone about the children and if anyone had known what was going on they would have been the FIRST to call the police, the Base..CPS and anyone else who would do something about it..Chris..whoever that is, was with the children..so how waas anyone to know she was phycho..none of them knew she was suicidal..she seemed normal to everyone around her..so no..I do not need to be in jail and neither does anyone who was with her at the Stripes...and one more thing..do you beleive everything everyone tells you or are you just a suspicious bitty???
maureen m.
August 30, 2012 at 12:19 pm
If you are no mind reader, then you know nothing of what the circle of friends were thinking. You must be some kind of psychic because you start of your comment, "Here's the truth...most of what the girl stated is a lie..." Really? and how do you know? Look lady, you are either in her circle of friends and know something, or youre an ignorant air-force-wife-neighbor of hers who has nothing else better to do than peek out her window and get into other peoples' business. Its obvious all you are good for is drama and spreading rumors, because that is what youre doing here. That said, if you knew the truth, you should have spoken up, and your A** should be in jail too.
Momma M.
August 30, 2012 at 11:58 am
momma m. if you read the comment you would know that she said the children were fine with a babysitter..she lived on base so no one went there to check she always left and hung out off base...and yes..if the police want to speak to the people she was with. that is fine..and if anyone of us knew what was actually going on..we would have all interviend..so you are a mind reader and know when someone is lying to you??? Cause we sure are not...
maureen m.
August 30, 2012 at 11:19 am
Wow, Maureen M. You have a mouth on you. You seem to know A LOT about her personal situation. If you knew she was leaving home at night and coming home at all hours of the night, why didn't YOU say anything???? Maybe police should come question you since you seem to know so much.
Momma M.
August 30, 2012 at 10:47 am
Sad thing is there are multiple programs, and people on base that would have assited her with the children. On flip side of that, you put your defenceless child in a crib for a week with out taking care of him/her, lets face it you are the most worthless human on the planet. I no expert but if you leave a child in a crib for a week with out food, water, sitting in its own waste, its probably going to cry, ALOT. So basicaly for the time that the woman was home, she had to listen to her child scream and cry, because of the hunger pains. WOW hope some one makes that woman feel that way in prison. starvation is a horrible way to die
Ben M.
August 30, 2012 at 9:53 am
Thank you for speaking up Maureen!! The truth needs to be heard over the noise of her lies!
Misty M.
August 30, 2012 at 8:47 am
If she had so called friends that came and helped her not kill herself, were they blind to the living conditions for these 3 babies? Did they care? If they were caring human beings, they would have helped, them as well as her. If that was me, I would have TAKEN them, called somebody, called CPS, or APD. They deserve to be protected NO MATTER WHAT RESULTS FOR THE MOTHER. Nobody believes in "rocking the boat or getting involved" anymore. What is wrong with this society? Honestly, if I had been one of those "friends" that showed up to help her, and I saw those babies living like that, I would've called someone RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER!!! Then I might have gone to jail myself for beating her [censored]!!! If you are a person who can't stand up for the people who CAN'T stand up for themselves, then you should never call yourself a human being!!!! PEOPLE, If you see signs of abuse, please let that kid know they are important enough for you to pick up the freakin' phone. They might not have much time left if you don't.
Patty V.
August 30, 2012 at 8:46 am
Here is the true story..most of what this girl stated is a lie..she was never home..she had several friends who she could have asked for help..she kept her home life a secret from anyone she knew. She was out all hours of the night at the Local Stripes with several people hanging out..taking people out to eat(while her children are starving) she would not get home until 7 or 8 in the morning and then go home and sleep..she would dress in Skimpy atire and try to alure men..she would spend her earnings on tattoos (which the stars on her arms were dedicated to her little girls) After hearing of this there are 10 people whom she would hang out with who are wondering what was really going on..they would ask her where her babies were and she would say "at home with Chris" no one knows who this Chris is..is he a phantom and she really left her babies home alone all night..or is he real and helped all of this happen..we would like to know who this Chris is..if he he exists..this is a very sad story..for the girls, she did not have the hardest Job in the Military..she neglected those baby intentionaly, she knew what she was doing and she should be punished to the fullest extent of the Law and that still will not do Justice for her baby girls..God be with them..
maureen m.
August 30, 2012 at 1:53 am
Who calls it the "hardest job in the military"???? Certainly no one in the actual ARMY. That's bs. Having a spouse in the army is no excuse to abuse your kids... She obviously has some sort of disgusting mental illness... Come on people.
Amber A.
August 29, 2012 at 7:22 pm
This is a sad day for many people. Those poor baby girls!!!!!!! It%u2019s heartbreaking to know the evil things people (mothers) are able to do to the children they claim to love. I hope she pays dearly for her horrible mistakes and is in pain for the rest of her life
On another note%u2026 %u201CThe hardest job in the military%u201D WOW!!! The hardest job in the military is one that involves a member giving their life for their country so you can sit at home in base housing and take care of your kids!!! It involves a parent leaving their children behind to deploy to Afghanistan for 6 months. Do you realize what our service members go through over there%u2026.NO U DON%u2019T so do not compare us to you!!!! I am a single mother in the military and I have never thought about harming my children because life is hard or for any other reason. Not having a man in the house%u2026WOW! Such a lame dependent excuse! This is the year 2012 and women have fought for equality long before you were born to prove that we can do it all...by ourselves. For a person to do the things that she did....there is NO excuse and no type of help could have saved her! She is a sick human being. There are many things you do not know about her so DO NOT show sympathy to a person before you know the whole story!!!!! She doesn't deserve it!!
Misty M.
August 29, 2012 at 6:30 pm
This is a sad day for many people. Those poor baby girls!!!!!!! It%u2019s heartbreaking to know the evil things people (mothers) are able to do to the children they claim to love. I hope she pays dearly for her horrible mistakes and is in pain for the rest of her life
On another note%u2026 %u201CThe hardest job in the military%u201D WOW!!! The hardest job in the military is one that involves a member giving their life for their country so you can sit at home in base housing and take care of your kids!!! It involves a parent leaving their children behind to deploy to Afghanistan for 6 months. Do you realize what our service members go through over there%u2026.NO U DON%u2019T so do not compare us to you!!!! I am a single mother in the military and I have never thought about harming my children because life is hard or for any other reason. Not having a man in the house%u2026WOW! Such a lame dependent excuse! This is the year 2012 and women have fought for equality long before you were born to prove that we can do it all...by ourselves. For a person to do the things that she did....there is NO excuse and no type of help could have saved her! She is a sick human being. There are many things you do not know about her so DO NOT show sympathy to a person before you know the whole story!!!!! She doesn't deserve it!!
Misty M.
August 29, 2012 at 6:27 pm
This is complete [censored]. "Hardest job in the military"?! Not even. I'm a military spouse and have plenty of other dependent friends that function perfectly fine when their spouses are deployed or TDY. Just because your spouse experiences the hell that is deploying doesn't mean you've done anything extraordinary. Single mothers/fathers that aren't military affiliated raise healthy children everyday, all over the country. Having a deployed spouse is in no way an excuse for the level of neglect these poor babies endured. Absolutely sickening, and shameful. Don't blame anyone or any circumstance other than this woman and her own choices.
Taylor T.
August 29, 2012 at 4:58 pm
This happened a few houses down from where I live. I know how helpless a woman can feel when her husband is deployed. I can imagine the stress a woman goes through when she is left alone to care for her children. This is so, so sad. I wish she would've asked someone for help before it was too late. I wish I would've gone over and checked on her, and offered my help. Never forget the sacrifice women make for you, so that their husbands can deploy. Never hesitate to check on them, and offer them some help. It's a hard, hard job. They call it "the hardest job in the military." My heart is broken over this situation.
Bekkah F.
August 29, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Save us all the money of housing her in a jail cell or prison. Send her off to be used as a test animal or something. Any person who abuses a child should be punished in a way they dont die but suffer. Those poor babies. And one passed. That should have never happen. But there is more of that goingon in the Abilene area than people know. Most turn their heads and this sort of thing happens.
Nancy K.
August 29, 2012 at 2:31 pm
