GUILTY PA - Matthew Whitehead, 11, found deceased in mom’s bedroom, her SUV found in NJ ocean, Horsham Twp, 11 Apr 2023 *arrest*

[vls12345]

In some states, it's done this way so that the jury can return a verdict of guilty, regardless of whether it was pre-meditated or intentional, or instead, was in an act of passion or whatever their law says about second degree.

That way, instead of having a hung jury and a mistrial, they get a conviction on something.

IMO.

Here's what I found for Pennsylvania:

Section 2502.0 - Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES

§ 2502. Murder.


(a) Murder of the first degree.--A criminal homicide constitutes murder of the first degree when it is committed by an intentional killing.


(b) Murder of the second degree.--A criminal homicide constitutes murder of the second degree when it is committed while defendant was engaged as a principal or an accomplice in the perpetration of a felony.


(c) Murder of the third degree.--All other kinds of murder shall be murder of the third degree. Murder of the third degree is a felony of the first degree.

 

[Gemmie]

Here's what has come to mind about an 11 yo boy sleeping with his mother, and the father in another room....

I don't think this was normal for them. I think it was a 1 off because he had been "upset and had been crying throughout the day". Perhaps the parents decided since he had been so upset, that Matthew would sleep with his mom for comfort. Dad agreed and slept in another room so they could have "mom & son time" and everything would be fine come morning. And then it wasn't. I also believe she somehow came up with this plan sometime that day, and asked Matthew if he wanted to sleep with her. Then she carried it out.

As for the room being locked from the inside (someone upthread had questioned how that was done)... it depends on the lock. My bedrooms have locks with a button you push from the inside of the room, then you would simply close the door behind you, which leaves the room locked with you on the outside. To get in, if you accidentally lock yourself out, you take a bobby pin or something thin and poke it into a hole in the middle of the knob (from the hall) which releases the lock.

Pennsylvania Mom Accused of Strangling Son With Belt, Fleeing State

A Montgomery County mother said she strangled her 11-year-old son with her husband’s belt because she didn’t want him to grow up dealing with their family’s financial difficulties, according to investigators.

www.nbcphiladelphia.com

 

[kkdj]

Such a strange story. I'm not buying the mom's story.

 

[10ofRods]

Here's what I found for Pennsylvania:

Section 2502.0 - Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES

Sounds like first degree murder to me, since she doesn't seem to have been in the act of committing a felony (I assume that the case law would say that the felony was intentional, but death of the victim was not the goal).

I find it hard to believe that this could be a case of child abuse/child punishment gone awry. But I suppose that will be her defense.

IMO

 

[Unsolved]

505 Privet Rd, Horsham, PA 19044 | realtor.com®

View 1 photos for 505 Privet Rd, Horsham, PA 19044, a 3 bed, 1 bath, 1,176 Sq. Ft. single family home built in 1957 that was last sold on 08/22/2001.

www.realtor.com

Realtor.com says the house was 1176 sq feet and has 3 bedrooms. Of course that probably doesn't include the basement (no idea really, I'm on the Gulf Coast where we can't have basements).

<snipped for focus on this part>

Looking at Cape May County Property site I see that they also owned a house in Wildwood Crest (Mom was arrested in Wildwood Crest) - wonder if Dad was staying at that house? Just my speculation, maybe they couldn't afford to keep both homes and the son was upset they had to sell the "beach" house/or vice versa?

Public Records Electronic Search System

 

[realanastasia]

Here's what has come to mind about an 11 yo boy sleeping with his mother, and the father in another room....

I don't think this was normal for them. I think it was a 1 off because he had been "upset and had been crying throughout the day". Perhaps the parents decided since he had been so upset, that Matthew would sleep with his mom for comfort. Dad agreed and slept in another room so they could have "mom & son time" and everything would be fine come morning. And then it wasn't. I also believe she somehow came up with this plan sometime that day, and asked Matthew if he wanted to sleep with her. Then she carried it out.

As for the room being locked from the inside (someone upthread had questioned how that was done)... it depends on the lock. My bedrooms have locks with a button you push from the inside of the room, then you would simply close the door behind you, which leaves the room locked with you on the outside. To get in, if you accidentally lock yourself out, you take a bobby pin or something thin and poke it into a hole in the middle of the knob (from the hall) which releases the lock.

Pennsylvania Mom Accused of Strangling Son With Belt, Fleeing State

A Montgomery County mother said she strangled her 11-year-old son with her husband’s belt because she didn’t want him to grow up dealing with their family’s financial difficulties, according to investigators.

www.nbcphiladelphia.com

My reading of the AA was that the father stated that it was not unusual for him to sleep in a different bedroom than his wife. But now I’m wondering if he actually meant it wasn’t unusual for the child to sleep with his mother in the primary bedroom.

 

[MyJoey]

I just don’t get this one, there has to be more to it. According to things posted on her Facebook they been married 12 years, she must have gotten pregnant early on. They were taking nice vacations last year. She was selling items on the market place but nothing unusual. She just posted yesterday about selling a house with pets, she was very active posing. Lots of great family pictures. My heart goes out to the father and family, I can’t imagine.

 

[Gemmie]

My reading of the AA was that the father stated that it was not unusual for him to sleep in a different bedroom than his wife. But now I’m wondering if he actually meant it wasn’t unusual for the child to sleep with his mother in the primary bedroom.

Perhaps. Or maybe one of them was a snorer, or cover stealer, or took up most of the bed and they slept in different rooms. It's not at all uncommon. I've seen it a fair amount. Even when I was a kid I knew 2 couples across the street that had separate bedrooms, as did my parents for decades. It happens.

ETA - I just thought of 2 more couples that slept apart on my block when I was a kid. Why I knew that at 11 or 12 yrs old, I don't know, but I did. LOL

 

[MyJoey]

Perhaps. Or maybe one of them was a snorer, or cover stealer, or took up most of the bed and they slept in different rooms. It's not at all uncommon. I've seen it a fair amount. Even when I was a kid I knew 2 couples across the street that had separate bedrooms, as did my parent for decades. It happens.

ETA - I just thought of 2 more couples that slept apart on my block when I was a kid. Why I knew that at 11 or 12 yrs old, I don't know, but I did. LOL

Yup just the last few weeks I’ve started going to the other room once the TV goes off. I toss and turn keeping my husband up and he snores…..waking me up lol.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I just don’t get this one, there has to be more to it. According to things posted on her Facebook they been married 12 years, she must have gotten pregnant early on. They were taking nice vacations last year. She was selling items on the market place but nothing unusual. She just posted yesterday about selling a house with pets, she was very active posing. Lots of great family pictures. My heart goes out to the father and family, I can’t imagine.

BBM

So she is still selling real estate? Someone upthread posted that she's no longer active as a realtor. Do we know one way or the other?

 

[MyJoey]

BBM

So she is still selling real estate? Someone upthread posted that she's no longer active as a realtor. Do we know one way or the other?

She was still posting tips on how to sell up till yesterday.

 

[vls12345]

BBM

So she is still selling real estate? Someone upthread posted that she's no longer active as a realtor. Do we know one way or the other?

I understood the post you are referring to as she's no longer a realtor because she's currently under arrest and with a murder 1 charge, she may remain in jail the rest of her life. (Also thinking many would no longer want her as an agent either.)

IMO and MOO.

 

[MyJoey]

BBM

So she is still selling real estate? Someone upthread posted that she's no longer active as a realtor. Do we know one way or the other?

Log into Facebook
Hopefully I’m allowed to post this.

 

[MyJoey]

I understood the post you are referring to as she's no longer a realtor because she's currently under arrest and with a murder 1 charge, she may remain in jail the rest of her life. (Also thinking many would no longer want her as an agent either.)

IMO and MOO.

Think she thought she lost her job before the murder…….

 

[Gemmie]

BBM

So she is still selling real estate? Someone upthread posted that she's no longer active as a realtor. Do we know one way or the other?

That was me that said she "was" a realtor, not "is" a realtor like the post I quoted. I said that not because I knew anything, but because to me, you can't sell real estate from jail. Plus, Horsham Township's population is ~16K, so to me, everyone knows everyone and who'd want to use her? I don't think she'd do well going forward (IMO). It was said sarcastically.

Just wanted to squash that (potential) rumor. And I apologize that I didn't note that it was said with sarcasm.

 

[ifindedout]

As for the room being locked from the inside (someone upthread had questioned how that was done)... it depends on the lock. My bedrooms have locks with a button you push from the inside of the room, then you would simply close the door behind you, which leaves the room locked with you on the outside. To get in, if you accidentally lock yourself out, you take a bobby pin or something thin and poke it into a hole in the middle of the knob (from the hall) which releases the lock.

And if that doesn't work or isn't applicable, there's always the cut-up credit card trick.

 

[ifindedout]

She was still posting tips on how to sell up till yesterday.

Those posts are almost certainly automated. Bloggers regularly do this, they have a long queue of content so they don't run dry while on vacation or are sick or otherwise unable to write new material.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A police officer said that DiRienzo-Whitehead was dressed in black tattered pajamas, had messy hair and a confused expression, WCAU-TV reported. She allegedly told the officer, “I know what I did,” according to the television station.

Woman accused of strangling son to death with belt

Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead is awaiting extradition after she was arrested in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey.

www.wpxi.com

 

[Really?]

Dang…I saw the police car lights reflecting on my neighbors window when she got arrested. I should have taken a walk. And to add I was watching the LS trial!, So so sad.
I am not buying moms story either.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Back in Pennsylvania, neighbors are dumbfounded.

"You love your grandchildren so much, and your children, it's beyond comprehension," said Ellen Brookstein.

"I feel bad for her husband who now lost his own child. I feel bad for the schoolmates who, you know, teachers have to explain what happened to this 11-year-old," said Jill Zipin.

"Our community is hurting right now, and as a community we're going to help each other get through this," said Chief Scott Fida.

Mom charged in death of son, 11, in Horsham

The 50-year-old told detectives her son had been upset about the family's financial difficulties, and she didn't want her son growing up dealing with them.

www.wfmz.com

“Boy Mom” is the tagline on DiRienzo-Whitehead's Instagram social media profile.

DiRienzo-Whitehead identified herself as a Realtor, however the National Association of Realtors on Wednesday said her membership is not active.

She worked in staging homes for potential buyers before her work as a licensed real estate professional at Keller-Williams, according to her online profiles.

Only three weeks ago, DiRienzo-Whitehead posted on Instagram an image of her jubilant boy holding the family dog “Bailey.” On Facebook, she said she was a graduate of Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School and studied at Drexel University.

Other posts capture only the waves at the Jersey Shore, where her car would be discovered this week. Property records show the family owned property in Wildwood Crest.

DiRienzo-Whitehead is currently in custody in New Jersey and is awaiting extradition back to Montgomery County. Once in Montgomery County, she will be arraigned on her charges. Homicide is a non-bailable offense in Pennsylvania so she will remain in custody.

Horsham mom charged with killing son, fleeing to Jersey shore. Here's what we know

Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead of Horsham, is accused of killing her 11-year-old son, Matthew, then fleeing to Cape May and ditching her car in the ocean.

www.phillyburbs.com