GUILTY WI - Theresa, 'Baby Theresa', Fem Newborn, 870UFWI, Apr'09 - 'Mom' ID'd as Karin Luttinen

[LeBlack]

From the linked article. Bolded by me:
She said she did not know she was pregnant at first. She said she thought she was in denial.

“K.L. thought that towards the end (of her pregnancy) she knew for sure that she was pregnant but her mind was not grasping the concept,” reads the complaint.

Woman charged in “Baby Theresa” infant death case

What should the law/society make of that?

IDK, I'm tired of people getting the benefit of the doubt when they hide a body or a child that is their responsibility goes missing (ex Casey A.) Just because the ME can't prove the child didn't take a breath. I'm extremely disappointed that it took so long to identify the mother with both her DNA and Theresa's DNA available. It almost doesn't seem like a priority for LE. IDK the life circumstances, if more children have been born... law enforcement isn't just about punishment, it should be about prevention.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

@LeBlack I agree, though would look at each case individually.

There are major differences between cases. My heart goes out to people who do lose a child to abduction, for example - my biggest nightmare.

And then there is the massive miscarriage of justice that was Casey A...

In a case like this with pregnancy denial it's more complicated. I do think the small details then matter. For example, the age of the mother, what exactly she did with the baby, is there remorse, etc.

 

[ashhouston]

why are laws so different when it comes to this is it because they see a newborn as someone with no personality yet or what? she needs to get life in prison its just sick she says she didnt know well if even true and i dont believe for a second it is but say she didnt and baby was born well get on the phone call 911 shea a sicko a phycopath people need to see that women can be phycopath maybe cases like this would get real justice and a life sentence not a damn year in jail

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I don’t agree with this article’s theme though I admit many people may…

Dodge Co. cold case solved using new DNA technology sparks privacy concerns

A bioethics professor with the University of Maryland says people don’t always know what they’re signing up for when they submit DNA samples to genealogy websites.

www.nbc15.com

 

[Melt71]

why are laws so different when it comes to this is it because they see a newborn as someone with no personality yet or what? she needs to get life in prison its just sick she says she didnt know well if even true and i dont believe for a second it is but say she didnt and baby was born well get on the phone call 911 shea a sicko a phycopath people need to see that women can be phycopath maybe cases like this would get real justice and a life sentence not a damn year in jail

The ME has said the baby was “likely” stillborn. So not a newborn (which refers to a live baby).

In order to lay charges of murder or ending a life, LE would need to establish that the mother caused the death. While maybe it’s possible, LE need a lot more than “possible” to lay those charges. We are not privy to interviews with family members, psych assessments and other evidence that lead LE to conclude that they couldn’t win by following that path.

What isn’t in doubt is that she concealed the body and therefore that’s what she’s charged with.

 

[JerseyGirl]

From Sept 2022:

Milwaukee woman sentenced, can avoid prison time for hiding her newborn baby's death in 2009

Karin Luttinen, 46, pleaded guilty to the charge in 2022 after DNA testing confirmed she was the mother following years of investigation.

www.cbsnews.com

A Milwaukee woman convicted of hiding the death of her newborn baby more than a dozen years ago was sentenced to six months in jail, but can avoid prison time if she completes terms of her probation.

A judge ordered Karin Luttinen, 46, to serve three years of probation, during which time she must spend time in a Dodge County jail, perform 60 hours of community service, undergo mental health counseling and pay a $5,000 fine. Luttinen can avert an 18-month prison term if she follows those instructions.