GUILTY IL - Alex Spourdalakis, 14, austistic, killed by mom & caregiver, 9 June 2013

[Rayemonde]

October 2015:

Just setting a trial date for the Illinois mother who admitted to the 2013 murder of her son, Alex Spourdalakis, could take six to eight months, according to the woman’s lawyer.

Attorney Michael Botti will ask a circuit court judge for a continuance on November 24. “We’re still in the discovery phase, and it could be six to eight months before a trial date is even set,” he said.

http://autism-news-beat.com/archives/7483

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Mother, Godmother Plead Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter of Severely Autistic Teen - December 8, 2016

http://abc7chicago.com/news/mother-godmother-plead-guilty-to-involuntary-manslaughter-of-severely-autistic-teen/1646761/

More than three years after Alex Spourdalakis, who had severe autism, was stabbed to death his mother and godmother pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Both women were found unconscious next to the 15-year-old's body in their River Grove apartment.

Dorothy and Agatha, Alex's mother and godmother, have spent about three and a half years in the Cook County Jail awaiting trial. They could have faced up to 60 years in prison for murder charges. Instead they are expected to be released for time served next week after entering their guilty pleas.

While the State's Attorney first considered first degree murder charges, the two instead pleaded guilty to the much lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter.

"Justice has to have some compassion, and looking at the facts of this case this was the just result," Botti said.

Statement on the Sentencing of Alex Spourdalakis’ Murderers

http://autisticadvocacy.org/2016/12/statement-on-the-sentencing-of-alex-spourdalakis-murderers/

On Thursday, December 8, the prosecutors assigned to this case agreed to a plea deal that would let the two women plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter. They were sentenced to only four years in prison and are expected to be released this week for time served. If this happens, Alex’s murderers will walk free after only three and a half years actually spent in jail.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network condemns this plea deal, which sends a clear message that the judicial system finds Alex’s murder somehow more acceptable than the murders of others. The sentence they received will be no longer than the mandatory minimum sentence for crimes such as taking a weapon from a police officer, possession of certain drugs, some types of benefits fraud, some types of insurance fraud, and theft of property exceeding $10,000.

We note that the case of B. Liltz, who earlier this year received a four-year sentence for killing her disabled daughter Courtney, was used as a precedent by the defense in this case. As we have said for many years, when a victim’s disability is used as a reason to reduce a killer’s sentence, the harm it does goes far beyond that individual case. Each case in which a victim is denied justice contributes to the pattern of sentencing disparity and further entrenches this inequality in our justice system. When this happens, it sends a message that as a society, we tolerate these murders in a way that we would never tolerate others. This is a message that actively endangers disabled people.

 

[Indy Anna]

I find it unbelievable that these people cannot find residential facilities to accept their disabled children. I worked for a group home and a skilled nursing facility that received residents with severe behavior problems. Medicaid pays for their board and care. Some facilities seek out residents with severe physical and behavioral disorders because they receive more Medicaid funds.

Giving parents lesser sentences for murdering their disabled children "out of compassion" (for the parents) only dehumanizes and devaluates people with disabilities.

 

[MsFacetious]

The precedent setting case mentioned above that contributed to Alex's lack of justice has an update:

http://people.com/crime/mom-who-killed-disabled-daughter-commits-suicide/

The terminally ill Illinois mother convicted in 2016 of killing her severely disabled daughter because she feared what would happen to the 28-year-old after her death committed suicide on Saturday, PEOPLE confirms.

Bonnie Liltz, 57, of Schaumberg, was found dead in her home Saturday evening after family members called 911, Sgt. Christy Lindhurst of the Schaumberg Police Department tells PEOPLE. Her death is “believed to be a suicide,” says Lindhurst, adding that there is no evidence of foul play.