Posted on 04/17/2009 11:39:01 AM PDT by nickcarraway
As charges of murder with special circumstances — kidnapping, lewd or lascivious acts on a child and rape by a foreign object — were read to defendant Melissa Huckaby, 28, a stream of tears rolled down her face. If convicted, Huckaby, who is accused of killing 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, of Tracy, could spend her life in prison or become one of a handful of women on death row in California.
After Tuesday's arraignment, San Joaquin County District Attorney James Willett said his office isn't ready to decide whether to seek the death penalty. "She's having medical evaluations in context of another case, which is being held in the mental health court," Willett said. "Obviously, any mental issues would have an effect on this case." Just hours later, investigators served search warrants on the home Huckaby shared with her grandparents in the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park and at the nearby Clover Road Baptist Church, where it's thought the girl may have been killed.
Both the mobile home, which Sandra visited regularly to play with Huckaby's 5-year-old daughter, and the church, run by Huckaby's grandfather, the Rev. Clifford Lane Lawless, have been searched several times.
Also on Tuesday, TV station KCRA 3 reported on its Web site that investigators close to the case said Huckaby admitted that Sandra Cantu's death was an accident. Investigators also told KCRA 3 that Huckaby said she wrote the note that she had originally said she found the day after Cantu's March 27 disappearance.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Ping
She must be some kind of real fruitcake!
agreed. She accidentally killed her while raping her with a foreign object? Ummm, too bad.
She’s a mad dog. And I hope she pays the ultimate price.
Just how would one “accidently” kill a young child during the course of committing one of the most perverse criminal acts that can be done to that child???? No sympathy will come her way if she’s found guilty (and since she’s saying it was accidental, I assume that she is guilty).
It’s such an unusual case ... I wonder if there’s a brain tumor or something involved.
Ala that episode of Law & Order: Special victims where the female teacher molested a male student?? I don't know if that is really possible - but I could see it being used as a defense - An MRI would reveal any abnormalities - Then, it will also depend upon if they find any cases of this woman doing "things" to children prior to killing Sandra.
“It’s such an unusual case ... I wonder if there’s a brain tumor or something involved.”
She’s nuts. My unsubstantiated understanding is that the other case currently with the mental health folks mentioned in the article involves her swallowing exacto-knife blades in a suicide attempt. The reports stated that she was hospitalized for internal bleeding.
My daughter is about this little girl’s age.
People think I’m crazy that I won’t let my girls play at other people’s houses without me there.
I can’t even imagine what this girl went through. My her family have peace. It will be very hard for them.
In consideration of her “accident”, the hangman could “accidently” give her a shorter drop than required for an instant snap.
At any rate, given the rarity of women committing crimes of this sort, you have to figure there's something wrong with her.
Absolutely. And you are right to speculate on a medical cause for her apparent sudden change in behavior.
True, and that comment applies to the huckster as well.
Calif.
Ain’t gonna happen.
Best ya can hoe for is life.
Go Florida,Beat Tennessee. :-)
I vote drugs. She has that look about her.
LOL. I ain’t a Vol fan either. So in this case (only), go Gators.
Your post brings to mind the attorney Susan Moss who is a frequent guest on the Nancy Grace program. Have you ever seen/heard her?
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