Friday, Nov. 12, 2004 | 11:10 a.m.
Those who want to send get-well cards, gifts or other well-wishes to Shilo Edsitty can mail them to the Children's Service Guild, 701K N. Pecos Road, Las Vegas, NV 89101.
Relatives of a 12-year-old boy stabbed in the chest during an incident in which his mother was killed have come forward to take responsibility for the child, officials at University Medical Center and Clark County Family Services have confirmed.
Meanwhile, Shilo Edsitty remained in critical condition today in the UMC's pediatrics intensive care unit, a hospital spokesman said.
Edsitty's aunt, Victoria Tilden of Albuquerque, is staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Las Vegas and was expected to visit the boy this afternoon, a hospital spokesman said. She had visited the boy yesterday after coming forward, the hospital confirmed.
Attempts to reach Tilden at the Ronald McDonald House today were not successful.
Tilden's sister Teresa Tilden, Edsitty's mother, was killed Monday at a Las Vegas apartment complex, from which her son fled after being stabbed, police said.
Later that day Metro Police arrested James Valdez, 29, and charged him with murder in the death of Teresa Tilden, 31, and attempted murder in the boy's stabbing.
Valdez is being held without bail on the murder and attempted murder charges and on $10,000 bail for a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. He is scheduled to face a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. on Nov. 29 in Las Vegas Justice Court.
Doctors at UMC on Monday removed a butcher knife from Edsitty's chest. Before the operation the sixth grader at Schofield Middle School told Metro Police who had attacked him.
The case drew media attention not only because of its brutality but also because initial reports were that the boy had no relatives, and people wanted to help.
However federal laws passed to protect patients' privacy rights prevented well-wishers from sitting with the child to give him companionship without a parent or guardian's approval.
Joy Salmon, assistant director of family services, said her agency received numerous calls from the public wanting to help the boy.
The agency worked with the nonprofit Children's Service Guild to establish it as the conduit for accepting cards and gifts for him.
Salmon said that as of today no gifts or cards had arrived for Edsitty through the guild, but noted that it might be too early as the project was set up in just the past few days.
The Children's Service Guild focuses on support and needs of children touched by the court system, Salmon said, noting that this incident is "a police matter" and likely will go through Family Court "in terms of guardianship."
"When we received a lot of calls initially to help the child, we decided to work with the Children's Service Guild to try to assist folks in channeling their desire to help," Salmon said.
Responding to reports that the boy has told his aunt that he wants to remain in Las Vegas, where no other relatives apparently reside, Salmon said that while there may be no legal obligation for relatives to provide him the means to remain here, the consideration of his wishes is important.
"It can offer him some continuity and ease further pain," Salmon said, noting that the matter is not a Clark County Family Services case. "Any good parent or guardian will consider the needs and wishes of a child and do what is best for the child."
Had a family member not come forward, Salmon said, a referral likely would have gone to Family Services, which would have made decisions, such as where the boy would reside once he recovered from his injuries.
"I think that as I read her (Victoria Tilden's) statement, she or other family members intend on becoming his guardians, and it will be up to his guardians to decide where he will be raised," Salmon said.
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