Post by HeadMarshal on Aug 30, 2013 16:21:58 GMT -5
I'm not sure how many of you are aware of this but I found it to be quite interesting considering I have high-functioning autism (specifically, I am at the top of learning-capability when you compare me with the rest of the autistic population). The case revolves around an Illinois mother named Dorothy Spourdalakis and her 14-year old severely autistic son's caregiver Jolanta Skordzka who are charged with murdering the boy, named Alex.
Alex up until 2012 was living at his home but was non-verbal and started developing fits of violence that would take six to eight emergency personnel members to restrain him. Dorothy believed the outbursts were charged by gastrointestinal pain but health care providers did not apparently get to root cause and autism advocates had to get a specialist from New York to confirm the cause of the symptoms. Dorothy said that there were no facilities that would take him in and insurance failed to cover the treatment, this was supported by some of Dorothy's e-mails. Eventually, Dorothy and Jolanta overdosed Alex on medicine and stabbed him in the heart, then killing the family cat so it wouldn't go to an animal shelter before attempting to commit suicide, both adults were nearly dead when Alex's father (who was separated from Dorothy) found them. Dorothy left behind a suicide note that read in part; "Alex will no longer be treated like an animal" or "subjected to restraints". Dorothy's attorney is currently considering an insanity defense. The two women had been publicly campaigning to get Alex better medical care.
Thoughts? This is pretty much a sad situation all around. What Dorothy and Jolanta did was certainly criminal, the mental state they were in with the lack of help they had received and with Alex in such a horrible state makes this not seem like a 1st Degree Murder case however. It does beg the question if an insanity plea would be fitting with the medical community seemingly unable to treat severely autistic people and the caregivers being driven to their breaking points. If you compare Dorothy and Jolanta to an Alabama Death Row inmate named Christie Scott who was convicted of setting her house on fire and killing her six-year old autistic son so she could collect a life insurance payment, you will see a big difference in malintent. The third link I provided details her case.
www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57600751/film-provides-glimpse-into-life-of-autistic-teen-killed-by-his-mother/
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2340710/Alex-Spourdalakis-Autistic-boy-14-killed-mother-godmother-removed-hospital.html
murderpedia.org/female.S/s/scott-christie.htm
Alex up until 2012 was living at his home but was non-verbal and started developing fits of violence that would take six to eight emergency personnel members to restrain him. Dorothy believed the outbursts were charged by gastrointestinal pain but health care providers did not apparently get to root cause and autism advocates had to get a specialist from New York to confirm the cause of the symptoms. Dorothy said that there were no facilities that would take him in and insurance failed to cover the treatment, this was supported by some of Dorothy's e-mails. Eventually, Dorothy and Jolanta overdosed Alex on medicine and stabbed him in the heart, then killing the family cat so it wouldn't go to an animal shelter before attempting to commit suicide, both adults were nearly dead when Alex's father (who was separated from Dorothy) found them. Dorothy left behind a suicide note that read in part; "Alex will no longer be treated like an animal" or "subjected to restraints". Dorothy's attorney is currently considering an insanity defense. The two women had been publicly campaigning to get Alex better medical care.
Thoughts? This is pretty much a sad situation all around. What Dorothy and Jolanta did was certainly criminal, the mental state they were in with the lack of help they had received and with Alex in such a horrible state makes this not seem like a 1st Degree Murder case however. It does beg the question if an insanity plea would be fitting with the medical community seemingly unable to treat severely autistic people and the caregivers being driven to their breaking points. If you compare Dorothy and Jolanta to an Alabama Death Row inmate named Christie Scott who was convicted of setting her house on fire and killing her six-year old autistic son so she could collect a life insurance payment, you will see a big difference in malintent. The third link I provided details her case.
www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57600751/film-provides-glimpse-into-life-of-autistic-teen-killed-by-his-mother/
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2340710/Alex-Spourdalakis-Autistic-boy-14-killed-mother-godmother-removed-hospital.html
murderpedia.org/female.S/s/scott-christie.htm
