Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Romeo.lima333

(1,127 posts)
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 01:21 PM Apr 2015

New York woman gets 20 years to life for killing son with salt

Source: reuters

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Reuters) - A suburban New York mother who blogged about motherhood was sentenced by a judge to 20 years to life in prison on Wednesday for murdering her young son with a salt overdose so she could bask in social media attention about his mysterious illness.

The sentence imposed on Lacey Spears, 27, who chronicled her 5-year-old son's illnesses on a personal blog called "Garnett's Journey" and other social media, was less than the maximum penalty of 25 years to life requested by the prosecution

"She continued to portray him as a sick child for her own bizarre need for attention. She used that feeding tube as a weapon to kill him," Lloyd said

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/york-woman-sentenced-20-years-life-killing-son-143802291.html

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
New York woman gets 20 years to life for killing son with salt (Original Post) Romeo.lima333 Apr 2015 OP
Is her husband's name Lot? KamaAina Apr 2015 #1
um, not funny nt geek tragedy Apr 2015 #3
i see what you did there Romeo.lima333 Apr 2015 #5
sick, evil, twisted geek tragedy Apr 2015 #2
Rot in jail shenmue Apr 2015 #4
poor kid died as a prop for her sickness Romeo.lima333 Apr 2015 #6
Faced with a cornucopia of trials evidencing the folly of Cap.Pun., she is NOT closeupready Apr 2015 #7
It is a mental illness known as Münchausen syndrome by proxy dixiegrrrrl Apr 2015 #12
Malignant narcissist AgingAmerican Apr 2015 #8
+1 freshwest Apr 2015 #9
Classic case of Munchausen Syndrome ... brett_jv Apr 2015 #10
I believe it's Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy. Quantess Apr 2015 #11
Yes, it's a sickness. Thinking is badly distorted. Warpy Apr 2015 #13
Are they really mentally ill, and not rotten, evil, people? Quantess Apr 2015 #14
You don't get it Warpy Apr 2015 #16
That's not the bottom line Major Nikon Apr 2015 #21
Actually, Munchausen by proxy Syndrome. Elmer S. E. Dump Apr 2015 #15
Judge gave only 20 years instead of maximum 25. OnlinePoker Apr 2015 #17
Of course, not max. She's WHITE. Yes, she not only murdered her son but TORTURED valerief Apr 2015 #18
Garrett... Dont call me Shirley Apr 2015 #19
Why does anyone read horror fiction marle35 Apr 2015 #20
 

closeupready

(29,503 posts)
7. Faced with a cornucopia of trials evidencing the folly of Cap.Pun., she is NOT
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 01:35 PM
Apr 2015

(repeat, NOT) a defendant whose circumstances warrant time or energy in presenting a 'textbook example' in support of abolishing capital punishment.

Let her suffer, and move on to a more worthy defendant, IMO.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
12. It is a mental illness known as Münchausen syndrome by proxy
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 02:39 PM
Apr 2015
Münchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP or MBP) is a behaviour pattern in which a caregiver fabricates, exaggerates, or induces mental or physical health problems in those who are in their care. With deception at its core, this behaviour is an elusive, potentially lethal, and frequently misunderstood form of child abuse or medical neglect that has been difficult to define, detect, and confirm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BCnchausen_syndrome_by_proxy

as opposed to:
Munchausen syndrome
a psychiatric factitious disorder wherein those affected feign disease, illness, or psychological trauma to draw attention, sympathy, or reassurance to themselves. It is also sometimes known as hospital addiction syndrome, thick chart syndrome, or hospital hopper syndrome.


I knew someone with Munchausen syndrome...very very sad to see. Denial is huge problem for these folks, they truly believe they are ill,

brett_jv

(1,245 posts)
10. Classic case of Munchausen Syndrome ...
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 01:59 PM
Apr 2015

That poor, poor child.

Glad she was caught & will not be allowed to be around children again for a very very long time.

Edit: addt'l comment removed ... no need to get all meta ...

Quantess

(27,630 posts)
11. I believe it's Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy.
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 02:10 PM
Apr 2015

Regular Munchausen Syndrome is self-inflicted.

I read an account of a woman who, as a little girl, had ner legs broken (among other injuries) by her own mother, just to get sympathy from others. So, so, sick.

Warpy

(110,913 posts)
13. Yes, it's a sickness. Thinking is badly distorted.
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 02:55 PM
Apr 2015

People with Munchhausen's or Munchhausen's by proxy do awful things because they're sick, not evil. It's a form of conversion disorder, it's overwhelming.

This woman needs incarceration in a mental hospital, not prison.

Oh, right, we emptied our mental hospitals out and closed them down.

(I've seen two cases of Munchhausen's. Both people were stopped just short of killing themselves. The denial was impenetrable and regular MDs are like the justice system and washed their hands of the whole thing. Likely both people are dead by now because mental health treatment in this country is only for the rich if they can't just write a prescription and get rid of you)

Quantess

(27,630 posts)
14. Are they really mentally ill, and not rotten, evil, people?
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 03:07 PM
Apr 2015

I guess you're a nurse, so if that's the official consensus...
But they still are committing a crime by acting on their sick desires.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
21. That's not the bottom line
Thu Apr 9, 2015, 12:07 AM
Apr 2015

The bottom line is whether they know and understand what they are doing is wrong. Even if people can't control their brain chemistry, this doesn't mean they can't seek help and protect others from harm. The child is still a victim of abuse, and if the person knew what they were doing is wrong, they are still culpable legally and ethically.

 

Elmer S. E. Dump

(5,751 posts)
15. Actually, Munchausen by proxy Syndrome.
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 03:14 PM
Apr 2015

This says a lot:

"Spears had moved with Garnett from Decatur, Alabama, to Clearwater, Florida, to Chestnut Ridge."

OnlinePoker

(5,702 posts)
17. Judge gave only 20 years instead of maximum 25.
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 06:47 PM
Apr 2015

His reason...to show mercy. Bollocks! This was premeditated murder. She should rot in jail for the rest of her life.

valerief

(53,235 posts)
18. Of course, not max. She's WHITE. Yes, she not only murdered her son but TORTURED
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 07:00 PM
Apr 2015

him. And that doesn't deserve the max? If she's crazy and not responsible for her actions, why is she being sentenced? If she's sane and responsible for her actions, why not the max?

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»New York woman gets 20 ye...