Posted on 11/17/2004 9:12:40 AM PST by cgk
Intoxicated mother held in deaths of 2 unfed tots
ASSOCIATED PRESS
November 17, 2004
KENT, Wash. – A woman with a history of child neglect complaints was arrested, while in a drunken stupor, after her two young boys were found dead in their apartment of malnutrition and dehydration, authorities said.
Police entered the apartment of Marie Robinson, 36, in the Seattle suburb of Kent after the children's paternal grandmother said she was unable to contact Robinson. Officers found the bodies of Justice W. Robinson, 16 months, in a crib, and Raiden A. Robinson, 7 weeks, in a bassinet.
Their mother was passed out from alcohol intoxication, lying in bed with covers over her head, prosecutors said. A third Robinson boy, 2 years old, appeared to be undernourished, said Officer Paul A. Petersen. The boy was checked and placed in the care of the grandmother.
Robinson was arrested for investigation of child mistreatment and second-degree murder. A judge set her bail at $2 million Tuesday. Prosecutors have until tomorrow to file charges.
Medical examiners classified both deaths as homicides. Authorities have not said how long the children had been dead.
The woman's attorney, Colleen O'Connor, said Robinson has been distraught and confused since her arrest Sunday. "She can't stop crying, and she's shaking," O'Connor said.
State records show Robinson was investigated on complaints of child neglect in October 2003 and February this year. Two complaints in September 2002 were considered not serious enough for an investigation.
Bail set at $2 million for mother held in neglect deaths
KENT, Wash. -- A judge set bail Tuesday at $2 million for a Kent woman arrested after two of her children were found dead of malnutrition and dehydration.
Marie Genevieve Robinson, 36, didn't say a word at her first court appearance in King County District Court here, nodding her head to confirm her name and date of birth.
She was jailed Sunday for investigation of second-degree murder and criminal mistreatment in the deaths of her two youngest sons, 16-month-old Justice and 7-week-old Raiden. Prosecutors planned to file charges Wednesday.
Police found her passed out from alcohol intoxication, lying in bed with covers over her head, when they entered her apartment in this suburb south of Seattle, prosecutors said. A 2-year-old boy who survived helped police get the door open.
Her attorney, Colleen O'Connor, said Robinson has been distraught and confused since her arrest.
Her 2-year-old was released to a grandmother's custody after paramedics checked him out, Kent police spokesman Paul A. Petersen said.
In court Tuesday, prosecutors argued that Robinson is a flight risk because she is unemployed, on welfare and was being evicted from her apartment. Judge Robert McBeth agreed.
The deaths were discovered after Christopher Bone, Robinson's boyfriend and the children's father, was released Sunday from the Kitsap County jail in Port Orchard.
When he knocked on the door of the Kent apartment and got no response, he called police, telling them he had been trying to contact Robinson by telephone for 10 days.
Inside the apartment, police found the two dead children. Justice was lying on his stomach in a crib in one bedroom, wearing only a diaper with a crumpled-up blanket beside him. In the master bedroom, an emaciated Raiden was found in a bassinet covered with a blanket, next to his mother.
Dozens of empty beer cans were lined up on the dresser, and the floor was covered with dirty clothing, garbage and empty beer cans, police said.
Aid units were called to check on Robinson, who remained silent. Police said when she left her bed to use the bathroom, she grabbed an unopened can of beer from an 18-pack in the closet, on her way.
Robinson has been the subject of at least four complaints to the state Department of Social and Health Services.
She was investigated on complaints of child neglect filed in October 2003 and February while she was living in Pierce and Kitsap counties, according to records from Child Protective Services, a division of DSHS.
The state child welfare director for those counties, Chris Robinson, no relation, said the first complaint was ruled "unfounded" and the outcome of the second was unclear because the paperwork had not been completed.
Two earlier complaints, both in September 2002, were considered not serious enough for an investigation but were referred to public health nurses who help struggling mothers, Chris Robinson said. She said she could not disclose details about the complaints until DSHS completes an internal review of the case.
The King County Medical Examiner's Office classified both deaths as homicides. Authorities have not said how long the children had been dead before they were found. Neighbors told investigators they hadn't seen the family in a week.
Court records show Marie Robinson had four other children with her former husband before they were divorced in 2001 and he won custody of all four. She later applied twice for protective court orders in Kitsap County, saying her boyfriend had assaulted and raped her.
Chris Robinson said she could not disclose the name of the father of the three children found in the apartment or whether he was mentioned in any of the complaints filed against Robinson, citing privacy rights.
News of the boys' deaths has dealt an emotional blow to DSHS staff, Chris Robinson said.
"It's terrible," she said. "It's just awful what those children went through."
Bone, 32, the children's father, was released Sunday after serving 2 1/2 months in the Kitsap County Jail for three counts of failure to appear in court on driving-related misdemeanor offenses, said Deputy Sheriff Scott Wilson of the Kitsap County sheriff's office in Port Orchard.
Bone has a history of misdemeanor offenses in Kitsap County, with previous convictions for domestic-violence assault, driving under the influence and criminal trespass, Wilson said. He had also been convicted of driving while intoxicated in Minnesota.
I'm so mad I can't even see straight right now. This is beyond words.
The state child welfare director for those counties, Chris Robinson, no relation, said the first complaint was ruled "unfounded" and the outcome of the second was unclear because the paperwork had not been completed.
Something is seriously broken in the system that was founded to supposedly look after children.
One of the true tragedies of life is that so many people who want children so bad cant have em but human trash like this can breed like dogs
So the DSHS staff is upset? Awww, my heart is breaking. If they were so bloody upset why didn't they take the children away from this skank before she murdered them? A fat lot of good DSHS tears does these miserable kids now.
How terrible to starve to death, alone and unloved by any but God! Well, at least they are now with the only One who loved them.
Don't worry, the ACLU will be there for her.
I cannot even begin to express the rage/horror/sadness I feel right now. I pray God forgives me for thinking about what I would like to do to this woman.
Yes, I'm sure she's upset that she has the DTs.
Too bad she doesn't care if her own children live or die.
Me too. Angry and sad these children weren't properly cared for and loved by the one who was supposed to protect them from the evils in the world... and failed by the government beast set up to protect them if the parent failed.
And to think the name of one of the dead little ones is Justice. This is a tragedy all around.
They shouldn't be wasting time even putting this woman on trial. Every day she's alive is a waste of taxpayer money.
Happens in WAY too many cases and the children left behind are shattered for years, shuffled into single-mother foster care with a half-dozen or more other kids in the home and maybe they get adopted. It's a sick, sick system.
The perp needs a fair trial and a fast execution. The surviving victim needs a good family.
This is one of the saddest stories I've ever read. I had to close my office door so I could cry.
Yes, I've had hangovers like that. I certainly do feel bad for this poor victim of circumstances. Yes indeedy.
Make that pregnant with her 7th child recently born. Her first four got lucky when her ex-husband won custody.
Hmmmm...Washington State...enlightened libs....'bout right.
One thing y'all should know.....the WORST thing about Gov't in Washington, the State....is.....DSHS.....they are a travesty of ineptness and downright (allowing) abuse of children.
A friend of mine (male) is an alcoholic and his ex is in the process of revoking his visitation rights with his kids.
This article reminds me of him - this is the path he's heading down and while it's sad that his kids are being taken from him it's far better than to have this happen. I'm actually relieved that it's finally happening.
It's absolutely astounding what alcoholism will turn people into. I never saw it before until my friend started down that road. He went from a nice, funny, smart, hardworking guy to a stumbling, unwashed, whining liar who lives for his next drink. What a waste of a life.
These poor kids. The "boyfriend" should've called the police when he got no answer. And the grandmother could've done some checking, too. Not that that absolves the woman of the responsibility, but those around her who knew she was a basket case need to intervene if no one else would.
LQ
Wideawake writes: Yes, I'm sure she's upset that she has the DTs.
My thoughts exactly!!!!!
They are too busy harassing the Christian home-schoolers to do their actual job.
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