8mm
Posted on 03/05/2007 2:49:20 PM PST by Fractal Trader
Prosecutors believe the parents accused of fatally overdosing their 4-year-old daughter killed the girl because she wasn't earning them the same amount of government money as her two older siblings, the woman's defense lawyer said Monday.
Michael Bourbeau, Carolyn Riley's lawyer, told The Associated Press a prosecutor outlined for him the motive, which he called "a sick theory."
Carolyn and Michael Riley, of Hull, are charged with murder in the Dec. 13 death of their daughter, Rebecca.
[SNIP]
Bourbeau said Assistant District Attorney Frank Middleton told him prosecutors believe the Rileys sent Rebecca to a psychiatrist so she would be classified as disabled and become eligible for government benefits.
"He said they went to this doctor in order to get the drugs and place the child on disability, and when they couldn't and when Rebecca wasn't bringing in any money, they killed her," Bourbeau said.
"It is totally insane, if not just simply sick. It's a sick theory," he said.
Middleton did not return a call seeking comment. A spokeswoman for Middleton's boss, District Attorney Timothy Cruz, declined comment.
The Rileys' two older children, now ages 11 and 6, had gone to the same psychiatrist and been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and were receiving Supplemental Security Income, a program administered by the Social Security Administration, according to Carolyn's mother, Valerie Berio.
Carolyn Riley told police the same psychiatrist, Dr. Kayoko Kifuji, had diagnosed Rebecca with the same illnesses when she was 2.5.
But for some unknown reason, Rebecca wasn't eligible to receive the same benefits, Bourbeau said.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
DSS and their doctor who prescribed the medications screwed up big on this one. Looks like the prosecutors are trying to cover for them. Too late. Too many facts have already been reported on.
Good gawd!
How can you make this kind of diagnosis on a 2 y/o. Aren't they all bipolar and hyperactive at that age?
So who gets executed, and who gets castrated/sterilized? Or should we just go ahead and euthanize the other kids just for good measure?
Amazing times we live in.
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