GUILTY IL - Dora Betancourt, 11, stabbed to death, Mundelein, 21 Jan 2014

[LarkBunting]

If something was removed, I might have missed it, too. But I think that was a follow up to this post:




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Oh, perhaps I misread. It sounded to me like the PP was speaking from experience re refusing to pay for an incarcerated child's expenses. I was interested in the story behind her/his post, if there is one. It could be that I misread and s/he was posting hypothetically.


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[LarkBunting]

Here ya go....note:it's a comment on the page.

Thank you Katie and Mundelein Moms for being so selfless and helpful! This is just great! I have been promoting this site as much as possible personally and hope to continue to get more and more help. We need to acknowledge that not only will this mother need help with funeral expenses (immediate) .... She will also need to support her older daughter financially, legally, medically etc.... This is an unimaginable tragedy that EVERYONE can only imagine. Our hearts go out to Dawn and the rest of the family at this time of need! May I suggest that the "goal" be raised even higher?

This is very confusing to me. I thought once someone is incarcerated, his/her expenses become the responsibility of the state (aka us taxpayers).
I don't understand the above comment about how the girls' mother will still be responsible for the 14yo's expenses, save her legal fees, if they decide to hire a private attorney. ???
We need a legal eagle poster on our thread!


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[CHICANA]

Seems to me the STATE is now responsible for the daughter's room and board, medical costs, etc...

Is the mother planning to hire an attorney to fight the charges? If she tries to get that kid off on a light sentence (and basically set her loose to victimize others) I have no sympathy for the mom.

My oldest got busted for shoplifting at the age of 14. I wanted to let her spend the night in juvenile detention, they wouldn't let me- said they could charge me with abandonment. They forced me to pay for an attorney for her even though she was going to get probation anyway. I had to pay the fine and court costs and the judge told her she should find a way to pay me back. More or less, I paid all the consequences for her actions. The state can and will make the parents pay for all her expenses and if they don't they'll garnish their paychecks.

 

[TexasChica7]

My oldest got busted for shoplifting at the age of 14. I wanted to let her spend the night in juvenile detention, they wouldn't let me- said they could charge me with abandonment. They forced me to pay for an attorney for her even though she was going to get probation anyway. I had to pay the fine and court costs and the judge told her she should find a way to pay me back. More or less, I paid all the consequences for her actions. The state can and will make the parents pay for all her expenses and if they don't they'll garnish their paychecks.

I have heard this before- I had a coworker whose son was in juvenile hall and they made her and her ex husband each pay a monthly fee to pay for his care, legal bills, etc. I had never heard of that before and thought it was crazy. And the amount was a lot of money.

 

[nightwatch]

Imo she may have lied about more than the made up killer. I don't believe she cooked dinner for six days. Even if she did how much cooking would she have done? More like heating up something frozen or mac & cheese type cooking. @14 most teen girls enter into the it's all about me stage. There is much more to this story, and the mother knows it. This didn't just start that morning or that whole week it goes back further. This case belongs in adult court. Jmo

ciao

 

[CHICANA]

I have heard this before- I had a coworker whose son was in juvenile hall and they made her and her ex husband each pay a monthly fee to pay for his care, legal bills, etc. I had never heard of that before and thought it was crazy. And the amount was a lot of money.

I'm thinking it would be like a child support order and they'd base it on income ?
Parents who have children in state/foster care are ordered to pay support.

 

[Sonya610]

I have heard this before- I had a coworker whose son was in juvenile hall and they made her and her ex husband each pay a monthly fee to pay for his care, legal bills, etc. I had never heard of that before and thought it was crazy. And the amount was a lot of money.

I didn't know some states did that! Seems like a very good idea imo.

I am sure others will disagree but I still think it is a great idea.

 

[seattlechiquita]

Haven't logged in for days. I had no clue it was the sister who was charged. I have no words. And that, friends, is not an easy fit. Off to the gym to vent my frustrations for these children, for lovely Skylar Neese, and for the parents of all children. This is not right.

 

[CHICANA]

I didn't know some states did that! Seems like a very good idea imo.

I am sure others will disagree but I still think it is a great idea.

Except most parents would try harder to get their kids out (when they are kids that really need to be in) because of it. If you're middle class and have other children and then you're told you have to pay $600- $1000 (or more based on income) a month ?

 

[LarkBunting]

Dora's funeral is today. I'm already steeling myself against the sadness. I imagine many children will be in attendance. If we can't understand this tragedy as adults, how are they supposed to wrap their little minds around it?



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[LarkBunting]

http://m.dailyherald.com/article.html#!/102210/5707d9ecb1c51c3e486e870802d8b499

Dora's funeral today was packed, standing room only. (They had an overflow room open, as well, with the service televised in from the church.)
Her purple casket was decorated with peace signs. Her school's children's choir sang the school song.
There were so many people present, yet it seemed so quiet. You could tell everyone's hearts felt heavy & most people were somber & lost in thought.
RIP, Dora.

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[HMSHood]

Imo she may have lied about more than the made up killer. I don't believe she cooked dinner for six days. Even if she did how much cooking would she have done? More like heating up something frozen or mac & cheese type cooking. @14 most teen girls enter into the it's all about me stage. There is much more to this story, and the mother knows it. This didn't just start that morning or that whole week it goes back further. This case belongs in adult court. Jmo

ciao

That is what I suspect too. I am not excusing what she did, but sounds like she has some deep seated anger issues.

 

[Softail]

Girl, 14, pleads not guilty in slaying of sister, 11

The 14-year-old girl accused in her sister’s murder pleaded not guilty in a juvenile courtroom in Lake County this morning.

Dressed in dark blue scrubs from juvenile detention, where she has been held, the teen responded "yes" as the judge asked if she understood the murder charges against her.

The teen is accused of attacking her 11-year-old sister, Dora Betancourt, in her bed and stabbing her dozens of times with a kitchen knife.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...slaying-of-sister-11-20140131,0,6368024.story

 

[LarkBunting]

Not guilty plea. Um...

Sigh.


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[Ruby]

I think the "Not guilty plea" is a standard way of pleading, someone please correct me or give more details on this.

But if I remember correctly on another case where clearly the defendant was guilty (confessed, evidence etc...) they plead not guilty, so they can then make deals with the prosecution for a lighter sentence or whatever that they were after. Also if they are in need of a public defender I think a defendant may plead this way?

I don't know, not sure of all the intricacies of court proceedings. I just remember from reading another case, and that is if I'm remembering correctly :blushing:

 

[AnaTeresa]

I think the "Not guilty plea" is a standard way of pleading, someone please correct me or give more details on this.

But if I remember correctly on another case where clearly the defendant was guilty (confessed, evidence etc...) they plead not guilty, so they can then make deals with the prosecution for a lighter sentence or whatever that they were after. Also if they are in need of a public defender I think a defendant may plead this way?

I don't know, not sure of all the intricacies of court proceedings. I just remember from reading another case, and that is if I'm remembering correctly :blushing:

Yes, that's it exactly. It's about giving the defendant time to attempt to negotiate a plea deal with prosecutors. And honestly, most prosecutors aren't ready for sentencing at the outset of the case. They're still waiting for reports and other evidence in final form to come in, so that they can decide on a plea, or how they will address sentencing.

It's rare for someone to plead guilty right out of the gate. A not guilty plea is a standard form of the process for most defendants.

 

[Softail]

Efforts continue to evaluate girl, 14, accused of killing sister

Lawyers for a 14-year-old Mundelein girl charged with killing her 11-year-old sister said during a brief juvenile court hearing this morning that efforts continue to find an expert to perform a psychological evaluation.

The girl's lawyers and prosecutors discussed the sharing of evidence and agreed on a next court date of March 14.

Asked how his client was faring in custody, attorney Michael Goody said she was fine and added, "As fine as could be expected."


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...ed-of-killing-sister-20140214,0,6714236.story

 

[inthedark14]

A 14-year-old Mundelein girl charged with her younger sister's stabbing death appeared in juvenile court this morning while her lawyer asked for more time to complete a psychological evaluation.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/mundelein/chi-more-time-needed-to-evaluate-teen-accused-in-sisters-stabbing-death-20140625,0,3819847.story

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/subur...sister-killed-hearing-met-20150127-story.html

A teenager accused of stabbing to death her 11-year-old sister following an argument over chores was granted a plea deal Tuesday that will keep her in juvenile detention for at least five years. The girl, who was 14 when she was accused just over a year ago of killing her sister Dora Betancourt with dozens of stab wounds, pleaded guilty in juvenile court to first-degree murder, tearfully telling the Lake County judge: "I am truly sorry."

The girl will be formally sentenced later, but prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to a deal that will have her remain in juvenile detention until her 21st birthday. After five years, however, her lawyers will be allowed to petition the court for her parole...

She is to receive "intensive mental health services" while in detention, officials said.

 

[ontheclock]

I'm okay with the next five years in juvie detention, but after that, off to adult prison you go. At least for another 15 years. Who cares if she's a prolific reader?