Child Dies While Parent Plays EverQuest

EverQuest is an addictive and time-consuming game that has attracted thousands of players who devote 10-20 hours a week or more to the game -- hence the nickname "EverCrack." Support groups have started on the Web for the families of players, such as the Spouses Against EverQuest mailing list.

One of the members of that list is Christina Cordell, a woman who faces a felony charge of manslaughter related to the Aug. 8 death of her 3-year-old daughter. Brianna Cordell became trapped in the family car and died of heat-related injuries, allegedly while her mother and a live-in boyfriend were engaged in a multi-hour session of EverQuest.

Though Cordell could have just as easily been distracted by television or something else while the child wandered to the car, her mailing list posts document the impact the game had on her life even before this month:

I feel sorry that people get wrapped up into this and destroy their relationships. I just hope that one day they will wake up before it's too late and realize they are alone with no real friends and their family is gone.

Gaming · Addiction · Health · 2003/08/20 · 17 COMMENTS · Link

Comments

You know the first thing I thought when I read that? "Man, that reminds me, I have to go to Camelot and train my Sorceror in DAoC."

Good thing I don't have kids.

#1 · Xkot · 2003/08/21

Hey,if people destroy their own life with online gaming,let em do it,they are aware of what they do.that isnt our problem if those people arent enough smart to wake up.let em die,we wont have to worry about it anymore.

#2 · You do not need to know · 2004/12/05

If they weren't playing Everquest, I bet the chances of it happening were still great.

#3 · brandon · 2004/12/24

Yeah. If they are stupid enough to let their kid die while playing a video game, it would have happened another way instead. There shouldn't be support groups like Spouses Against EverQuest or MADD. They should just form all organizations like that into one called PASP. People Against Stupid People. It would save everyone a lot of time and money.

#4 · Daedalus · 2005/03/02

IF WE ARE TO BLAME VIDEO GAMES OR COMPUTERS WELL?
NOT HAPPENING THE BLAME GOES TO THE PARENT(S) FOR SIMPLY NEGLEGTING THIER RESPONABILITY..........

#5 · Kathy · 2005/11/02

wtf pwned is it fake ?

#6 · lol · 2005/12/06

isnt a SOE problem kids die in a different ways cause their parents doesnt look after,so cottect title of the article could be... child-dies-while-parent-plays a video game!!!

#7 · Gattone · 2006/03/13

There is an epidemic in this country right now. People no longer know how to place blame, it was not the responsibility of the video game to take care of the child, that responsibility was accepted by the parents. Thus, the game was not the cause of the child's death, it was the cause of the parents not being able to accept the responsibility and not being able to moderate their habits.

While it is true that video games have the capability to be addictive, so do many other activities. Anything that causes enjoyment can be addictive, some people may become addicted to knitting sweaters. This does not make it ok to let your children die because you are knitting for 10 days straight. If a person goes on a killing spree after playing grand theft auto, it is not because the game made him do it.

I could go on, but subjects like this upset me, all I want to say is, place the blame where it belongs. Beer does not wreck your car, movies and games do not commit acts of violence, nor do they neglect your children and the internet does not make you cheat on your wife, these are all decisions.

#8 · bobrocks · 2006/03/14

well this kid was retarded. who walks out in front of cars? what a loser? if the car didnt kill him i probably would have anyway. He probably did it because his mom is a nub i pwned her yesterday with my character merlin hes a level 98 magician.

#9 · nigerians · 2007/05/30

Obvious Fact: People are stupid.
The end.

#10 · Grave_Harry · 2009/05/11

@ nigerians

if u read the article properly u would hav seen the kid got trapped inside the car u illeterate scumbag

people like u should be shot

#11 · alsoni · 2009/05/11

@nigerians

Man i cant wait for the new world order to roll in ethnic cleansing then you and your kind who are no fucking use to no one will be extinguished from the face of the planet ...have nice day , while you can lmao

#12 · Templar · 2009/05/11

this is stupid. why play everquest when there are other better mmos around?

#13 · rockstar · 2009/05/11

OMG, WTF! sad very vrey sad.

#14 · Ledgic · 2009/05/11

Pathetic that she didn't realize her daughter wasn't aksing for like a drink, or some food, or the fact she wasn't making a fucking sound. They should lock her ass in a car in the heat, and have a bunch of people play everquest next to the car, so she can die slowly watching other people that stupid game.

#15 · Gigaddy · 2009/05/11

What a horrible, horrible way to die. And the really stomach-turning thing is is that this wasn't a tragic accident that couldn't have been avoided. This could have been avoided. It shouldn't even have been possible for this to happen.

I'm no medical professional, so I can't say whether or not video game addiction should be a recognised condition. Nor am I going to say that it doesn't exist, because I think you can become addicted to most things.

But at the same time I think you have to be a very poor parent indeed if you don't notice your child's absence. Obviously, this is just my opinion but I'd imagine that if the child wasn't ignored because of the video game, she'd have been ignored through some other medium. You don't see childrens charities campaigning against video games, you seem them campaigning against child abuse and neglect. To some extent, the details are irrelevant.

#16 · Jilly · 2011/07/14

You can't destroy your life through gaming.
People often say "Why do you just sit in and play video games, you're wasting your life, go out and live"
What else should they be doing, hiking? seeing movies?, going to wine tasting events....
If you game a lot and love gaming then you're living your life to the fullest.

#17 · Grim · 2016/05/07