I'm glad you remembered the case I was trying to describe. I am sorry that I cannot remember the name of the child who died, or his mother who was sentenced to prison, but as much as I try to remember, I just can't.
I know that the probability is that this stepmother killed the little boy. I guess I just am hoping against hope that his death was the result of a natural process, and not murder.
If she did this, manslaughter doesn't even begin to describe what she did. She should be charged with first degree murder, she should be never ever be set free to harm another innocent child.
first degree murder is pre meditated with malice of forethought.........i would think this crime would define that
http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/03/stepmom-poisons-and-kills-21-month-old.html
snip:
The Monroe County Medical Examiners Office determined the cause of death as poisoning by methanol, a common ingredient in anti-freeze.
Police think Melissa Engelhardt put the toxic chemical in Andrews juice.
Captain Kain explains why Engelhardt's charged with manslaughter, not murder.
You could intentionally poison somebody, but not mean to kill them and as a result from the poisoning he ended up dying, Captain Kain said.
Engelhardt was in court Friday morning.
Say What?! She just says Opps my bad, and now its all better!!??:curses:
I am going to withhold my opinion for now. I remember watching a program on tv where a baby boy died and his autopsy showed he'd died of antifreeze poisoning. Mommy went to prison. Gave birth to a 2nd child. 2nd child is in a foster home and begins displaying symptoms of antifreeze poisoning. Eventually, both children (the big brother who died, and baby brother who was displaying symptoms) were found to have a genetic defect which caused a condition that VERY CLOSELY mimicked antifreeze poisoning. His little brain showed crystalization that is common in antifreeze poisoning...... They even tested the baby's bottle and it showed signs of having contained antifreeze, but more sophisticated tests by a more experienced scientist showed that the substance in the bottle was NOT antifreeze, it was crystals formed from the baby's (I don't know how to describe this....) from the baby's backwash into the bottle. The crystals in his brain were also the result of a genetic defect.
It took a very long time for that mommy to prove that she had not killed her son. In fact, if her second child had not suffered from the same genetic defect, she'd probably STILL be in prison.
While it is very easy in today's world to believe that a step-mom would poison her step-child in a New York second, I just can't get that other case out of my mind. So I am going to withhold judgment, I am going to try to hope and pray this baby wasn't murdered. I am going to try to believe he had a genetic defect.
And, yeah, I know, what are the odds of that?
http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/03/stepmom-poisons-and-kills-21-month-old.html
snip:
The Monroe County Medical Examiners Office determined the cause of death as poisoning by methanol, a common ingredient in anti-freeze.
Police think Melissa Engelhardt put the toxic chemical in Andrews juice.
Captain Kain explains why Engelhardt's charged with manslaughter, not murder.
You could intentionally poison somebody, but not mean to kill them and as a result from the poisoning he ended up dying, Captain Kain said.
Engelhardt was in court Friday morning.
Say What?! She just says Opps my bad, and now its all better!!??:curses:
I saw that too -- very fascinating case. Lots of questions on this one -- did they confiscate anti-freeze? I always am curious when police say they "think" she put anti-freeze in the bottle.
I need a bit more before I can convict.
Best (oh, and MOO)
Mel
About her Myspace survey, the question about believing in the death penalty, she answered YES in capitol letters. (lowercase for other answers) Ahem.
About her Myspace survey, the question about believing in the death penalty, she answered YES in capitol letters. (lowercase for other answers) Ahem.