The 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winning story, The Girl in the Window by Tampa Bay Times journalist Lane DeGregory, led to widespread awareness of child neglect, increased support in the adoption and foster care systems, and shined a light on the possibility of developmental recovery for children who have experienced severe neglect.

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In her winning article, DeGregory wrote about the investigations of Danielle Crockett, a 6-year-old child who was rescued from her family home where she lay trapped inside a room for the majority of her life. Inside the room filled with maggots and excrement, Danielle was found both malnourished and withdrawn. Her lack of human interaction and education ultimately created great mental developmental issues, which doctors claimed she would be dealing with for the rest of her life. DeGregory’s story later covers Danielle’s adoption by a couple: Bernie and Susan Lierow and Danielle’s sociocognitive development over time, which DeGregory spent a substantial amount of time documenting firsthand. The ending of the article concludes with an interview with Danielle’s adoptive mom, describing how she feels more wronged herself than apologetic about the situation.

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DeGregory’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work gave the public a concrete example of the larger problem of how even if children are reported as being neglected, dangers were not often resolved before serious harm occurred to the child. According to Walter R. McDonald & Associates, “The report is screened-in, or assigned, if it meets State policy criteria for defining a potential incidence of maltreatment.” DeGregory transformed the topic of child neglect, a very abstract social problem, into a personal story of Danielle Crockett.

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DeGregory used a mix of investigative journalism, as she worked firsthand alongside Danielle, her adoptive parents, and finally her mother to reveal the abuse and effects of Danielle’s traumatic childhood and her recovery process, mixed alongside an explanatory storytelling narrative. DeGregory takes the readers step by step, as if walking through life with Danielle and her adoptive parents, revealing both the pain and progress of Danielle’s recovery.

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To document and investigate this case, DeGregory interviewed the people who were directly connected to Danielle's case including former neighbors, the detective that saved her, psychologists, teachers and more. To back up her interviews, DeGregory used hundreds of both public records alongside medical and court documents. DeGregory worked alongside photographer Melissa Lyttle, who visually documented Danielle’s story as well.

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Although, The Girl in the Window, revealed the horrors of Danielle’s childhood and the restraints of her mental development that resulted from it, DeGregory’s work created substantial awareness for the effects of child neglect, leading to an increased number of people contacting child welfare systems. As a matter of fact, the impact of her piece “had a 33 percent increase in the number of calls to the child abuse hotline,” DeGregory explained in Simina Mistreanu’s article, “‘Narrative Sweat & Flow,’ Part 2: Lane DeGregory and David Finkel” (Mistreanu).

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Exploring the ins and outs of Danielle’s trauma and recovery, DeGregory attracted a national audience to whom she unveiled the harsh realities of child neglect and the lasting effects it can have on children later in life. In doing so, DeGregory stimulated a greater national awareness of this problem, making more people aware of the realities of child neglect and more likely to report what they see. This, in turn, allowed authorities to step in and help other children facing neglect as well.

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As a result of DeGregory’s investigations and research crafted into a deeply personal storyline, her piece struck a chord with a national audience leading to an immediate increase in adoptions and support to foster care systems across the nation. “Contributions to foster care agencies increased. In the first week alone, inquiries about adoption quadrupled,” (DeGregory). Through her work, DeGregory caused individuals to open their minds to the possibilities of adoption especially after seeing how the Lierow family overcame the immense difficulties of nurturing Danielle back to health physically and cognitively. In writing this, DeGregory sparked a powerful movement that brought greater attention to adoption and encouraged more people to consider giving children in need a permanent home.

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According to the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), “When the story ran, the website of her former adoption agency was flooded, as thousands of people logged on to consider adoption.” Immediately, her work gave way to quick action across the country, where children were both rescued from neglect and placed into the adoption process with safe and supportive families. DeGregory’s work was truly impactful, her investigative storytelling truly connected with a large audience leading to an outpour of movement. It prompted them to trust their eyes and ears, speaking up about the possibilities of neglect rather than ignoring out of fear.

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Through the substantial time DeGregory spent with Danielle and her adoptive parents, witnessing her cognitive and social development, she creates a sense of hope for children who have experienced severe neglect and developmental challenges. Danielle’s progress demonstrates how significant recovery can be possible, which challenged the expectations that initially suggested her capabilities would remain severely limited. Describing Danielle’s developmental delay during her first examination Degregory noted, “‘In the first five years of life, 85 percent of the brain is developed,’ said Armstrong, the psychologist who examined Danielle,” (DeGregory). Yet, after spending time playing, working with therapists, and receiving love from her adoptive family, Danielle “initiates contact now,” according to Steve Myers. “Before, she would almost cringe if someone tried to hold her hand or pat her on the head or whatever. And now, she hugged us, she held our hands, she reached out to these little girls” (Myers).

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While Danielle’s cases of both trauma and neglect may have seemed like an impossible challenge to work through or get past, DeGregory revealed a greater truth: that with love, hard work and patience anyone can overcome even the hardest of trials. Danielle is a living example of resilience, and the storyline that DeGregory created provides immense hope to other families who are considering adoption, foster care, or to individuals or families that know someone who is dealing with mental impairment or delayed development.

Without DeGregory’s work the reality of child neglect would be further hidden from both the public eye. Her immense work had the ability to spread a vast awareness instead, increase the numbers of adoptions, and create a shining light of hope to those who were otherwise unsure about adoption.

Danielle’s story is one of raw truth of abuse and neglect but also one of immense hope in the goodness and care of people and the resilience that even a child carries within themselves.

 

Works Cited

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DeGregory, Lane. “The Girl in the Window, 10 Years Later.” The Girl in the Window, 10 Years Later | Features | Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Times, 13 Apr. 2021, projects.tampabay.com/projects/girl-in-the-window/neglect-feral-child-ten-years-later/.

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Haney, Audra Smith. “The Girl in the Window.” The 700 Club, CBN, 2011, cbn.com/article/not-selected/girl-window.

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Mistreanu, Simina. “‘Narrative Sweat & Flow,’ Part 2: Lane DeGregory and David Finkel.” Nieman Storyboard, 5 Dec. 2013, niemanstoryboard.org/2013/12/05/narrative-sweat-flow-part-2-lane-degregory-and-david-finkel-2/.

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Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. National Study of Child Protective Services Systems and Reform Efforts: Literature Review. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, aspe.hhs.gov/reports/national-study-child-protective-services-systems-reform-efforts-literature-review.

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Poynter. “Sequel to Pulitzer Prize-Winning ‘Girl in the Window’ Story Shows Challenges of Following Up on a Big Story.” Poynter, 2011, poynter.org/reporting-editing/2011/sequel-to-pulitzer-prize-winning-girl-in-the-window-story-shows-challenges-of-following-up-on-a-big-story/.

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The Pulitzer Prizes. “Lane DeGregory.” The Pulitzer Prizes, 2009, pulitzer.org/winners/lane-degregory.