Mother pleads guilty in death of disabled son - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 07-17-2005, 12:44 AM

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/leonard16.html

Mother pleads guilty in death of disabled son

A Crystal Lake woman has pleaded guilty in the death of her emaciated 15-year-old disabled son.

Katherine Leonard, 46, pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of criminal neglect to a disabled person after the March 11, 2004, death of her son, Seamus. She faces up to 14 years in prison.

Police and paramedics found Seamus Leonard's body on the floor of his mother's home wearing only a diaper. She called 911 after returning from work and discovered her son wasn't breathing, authorities said.

Though the official cause of death was pneumonia, authorities have said the boy, who suffered from cerebral palsy, was severely malnourished and weighed just 23 pounds.

In return for Leonard's guilty plea, prosecutors dropped charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the health or life of a child.

Leonard's attorney, Henry Sugden, said she decided to enter the guilty plea because she didn't want to see any of her six children testify against her at trial.

Leonard will be sentenced on Aug. 25. She is barred from seeing her other children, ages five to 20, but can exchange letters with them. The children are currently living with relatives.

Warm & Fuzzy · 07-17-2005, 01:54 AM

TWENTY - THREE POUNDS??? Oh lord, what a mother she was. Arghhhh.

Mikado · 07-17-2005, 03:26 AM

im speechless

MsOrange · 07-17-2005, 07:43 AM

some people...

Superstar · 07-17-2005, 07:46 AM

Thats horrible

Courtnee · 07-17-2005, 10:54 AM

Bobby F. · 07-17-2005, 11:21 AM

People like this b*tch and that a-hole who had the disabled kid beat up make me sick! In cases like this there should be no plea bargain. They should get the full punishment of the law. Better yet. Let them rot in hell!

EmoJoe · 07-17-2005, 12:46 PM

Thats horrible

80s_Fan · 07-17-2005, 01:38 PM

She's sick and heartless among other things; she should go to jail forever.

rusyd · 07-17-2005, 03:13 PM

It just makes me so angry when I read about people like this. There are so many people out there who want children and would be wonderful parents and then this ass goes and does this to an innocent child.

Hollow · 07-17-2005, 05:12 PM

well she did the right thing about it. for sort of the wrong reasons though.

Nighthawk76 · 07-17-2005, 07:03 PM

Terrible!

07-17-2005, 12:44 AM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Mother pleads guilty in death of disabled son http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/leonard16.html Mother pleads guilty in death of disabled son A Crystal Lake woman has pleaded guilty in the death of her emaciated 15-year-old disabled son. Katherine Leonard, 46, pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of criminal neglect to a disabled person after the March 11, 2004, death of her son, Seamus. She faces up to 14 years in prison. Police and paramedics found Seamus Leonard's body on the floor of his mother's home wearing only a diaper. She called 911 after returning from work and discovered her son wasn't breathing, authorities said. Though the official cause of death was pneumonia, authorities have said the boy, who suffered from cerebral palsy, was severely malnourished and weighed just 23 pounds. In return for Leonard's guilty plea, prosecutors dropped charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the health or life of a child. Leonard's attorney, Henry Sugden, said she decided to enter the guilty plea because she didn't want to see any of her six children testify against her at trial. Leonard will be sentenced on Aug. 25. She is barred from seeing her other children, ages five to 20, but can exchange letters with them. The children are currently living with relatives.

07-17-2005, 01:54 AM	#2
Warm & Fuzzy Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 02, 2001 Posts: 10,254	TWENTY - THREE POUNDS??? Oh lord, what a mother she was. Arghhhh.
	__________________ "To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world." ~Unknown

07-17-2005, 10:54 AM	#6
Courtnee MAN VS SAMMICH. Forum Star Join Date: Mar 23, 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 16,413
	__________________ Whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection A freckle on the nose of life's complexion The Cinderella or the shine apple of its eye I gotta fly once, I gotta try once, Only can die once, right, sir? Ooh, life is juicy, juicy and you see, I gotta have my bite, sir. Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer" I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer Don't bring around the cloud to rain on my parade

07-17-2005, 12:46 PM	#8
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	Thats horrible
	__________________ "I know the difference between TV and reality, Jeff. TV has structure, it makes sense, there are likable leading men. In real life, we have this. We have you." - Abed Nadir, Community www.sitcomsarestupid.blogspot.com

07-17-2005, 01:38 PM	#9
80s_Fan Healthcare_Clerk Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2004 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 1,697	Sick And Heartless Woman She's sick and heartless among other things; she should go to jail forever.

07-17-2005, 03:26 AM	#3
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	im speechless

07-17-2005, 07:43 AM	#4
MsOrange Bringin' Sexy Back Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 6,133	some people...

07-17-2005, 07:46 AM	#5
Superstar Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 08, 2003 Posts: 63,316	Thats horrible

07-17-2005, 11:21 AM	#7
Bobby F. Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 30, 2004 Posts: 3,818	People like this b*tch and that a-hole who had the disabled kid beat up make me sick! In cases like this there should be no plea bargain. They should get the full punishment of the law. Better yet. Let them rot in hell!

07-17-2005, 03:13 PM	#10
rusyd Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 13,505	It just makes me so angry when I read about people like this. There are so many people out there who want children and would be wonderful parents and then this ass goes and does this to an innocent child.

07-17-2005, 05:12 PM	#11
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	well she did the right thing about it. for sort of the wrong reasons though.

07-17-2005, 07:03 PM	#12
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	Terrible!