Pathologist Suffocates Her 3yr old Daughter

[dallasvic]

Videotaped confession shown at mother's hearing in murder case


PEKIN, Ill. (AP) — A Morton pathologist accused of suffocating her autistic daughter described how she put a garbage bag over the 3-year-old's head in a videotaped confession. The details come from an approximately 60-minute videotaped statement
shown at a hearing to suppress evidence in the case in Tazewell County yesterday.
Thirty-8-year-old Karen McCarron has pleaded NOT guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of obstructing justice and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in the 2006 death of her daughter Katherine.
The statement was taped on May 15th, 2006, two days after the alleged killing.
In the tape, McCarron says autism left her hollow and she didn't know how to help her daughter.
Authorities say McCarron allegedly overdosed on pain reliever the day after the killing.

[lucky13]

She didn't know how to help her autistic daughter so she kills her? I'm sure that she knew suffocating her was not the answer.
What an evil person.

Originally Posted by lucky13

She didn't know how to help her autistic daughter so she kills her? I'm sure that she knew suffocating her was not the answer.
What an evil person.

To mask her evil deed, she might have convinced herself she was performing a euthanasic act of love.

IMO

[STLcardfan]

this is sick. How do people kill their kids.

[charmaine]

Originally Posted by STLcardfan

this is sick. How do people kill their kids.

Hey,
When I read about things like this I keep thinking how scared this poor little girl must have been. How horrible to have the one who is meant to love and nurture you unconditionally do something like this to you. Just because she was autistic does not mean she didn't feel fear. If it was too hard for the mother there are support services out there. I have a friend with an autistic child (who is now a teenager) and even though it can be hard for her she loves him and knows that she brought him into this world, he did not ask to be here, so it is her responsibility to take care of him and guide and protect him. I know it is easy for people who have 'normal' kids to judge, but for God's sake she was just a little girl. I cry for her.

[ShadowAngel]

This is horrible! It is really hard for me to understand how a mother could do this to her OWN child

[xodebiox]

all this little girl would have wanted is love! a mother should love her child no matter what its unconditional. i can not believe a woman can do this to her own child giving her up for adoption would have been a better option why dont they think of these things it makes me sick

[odette]

McCarron confession ruled admissible

Morton mother accused of killing daughter sought to quash video statement

Saturday, August 4, 2007

BY KEVIN SAMPIER
OF THE JOURNAL STAR

PEKIN - A confession a Morton mother made at a Peoria hospital about allegedly killing her daughter last year will be admissible during her trial, a Tazewell County judge ruled Friday. .... continued

McCarron confession ruled admissible

[odette]

~:~ Photo of Katie McCarron ~:~

http://i11.tinypic.com/63bkwg3.jpg

Click On The Photo To Enlarge

[sharlock]

Originally Posted by charmaine

Hey,
When I read about things like this I keep thinking how scared this poor little girl must have been. How horrible to have the one who is meant to love and nurture you unconditionally do something like this to you. Just because she was autistic does not mean she didn't feel fear. If it was too hard for the mother there are support services out there. I have a friend with an autistic child (who is now a teenager) and even though it can be hard for her she loves him and knows that she brought him into this world, he did not ask to be here, so it is her responsibility to take care of him and guide and protect him. I know it is easy for people who have 'normal' kids to judge, but for God's sake she was just a little girl. I cry for her.

ITA Charmaine this is exactly how I feel!

[krystal347]

This woman was a professional...she would have know all of the avenues to take to get whatever help she needed...she could have hospitalized this sweet child...but to put a plastic bag over her head and kill her....HOW-how could any parent kill a child...I dont understand...

My heart goes out to this small innocent child...and I hope the courts do not allow this person to ever get out of jail...

A rose for this innocent angel...

[dallasvic]

This woman is sick and should never be let out of prison. In her profession she might have dealt with children and that should never happen again.
I can't even take my pets to be put to sleep much less kill a child. They are sooooooooo innocent.

[Family Snapshot]

Wow. "Autism left her hollow?" Are we supposed to feel sympathy or empathy for this woman? If autism left her so hollow she felt that putting a plastic bag over her three year old's head was the right thing to do, then maybe someone should hand her a Ziploc for herself. Think of how hollow that child must have felt.

I don't understand why there is a 2nd degree murder charge? I would think that you'd have to be pretty deliberate about putting a garbage bag over your child's head. It's not like you could trip and ooops, the bag just slips over her head. Or, in a rage you pick up the bag . . .it just doesn't sound realistic to me. It sounds more like a planned event. But wait, the overdose of pain-killers, that's right. What a load of BULL!!! If she'd taken an overdose she'd be the one who was dead.

My analysis? She is trying to set up mitigating circumstances to defend herself for having comitted a selfish, cold-blooded murder in the first degree. Good thing I'm not on the jury.

[dallasvic]

Originally Posted by odette

McCarron confession ruled admissible

Morton mother accused of killing daughter sought to quash video statement

Saturday, August 4, 2007

BY KEVIN SAMPIER
OF THE JOURNAL STAR

PEKIN - A confession a Morton mother made at a Peoria hospital about allegedly killing her daughter last year will be admissible during her trial, a Tazewell County judge ruled Friday. .... continued

McCarron confession ruled admissible

Well here you are again. You are a blessing to us with the updates. I tried

to give you a rep but it would not let me yet it's too soon i guess,but I sure will when I can you can count on that. I was not able to update my thread do to pc problems and I am grateful we have you to make updates on the threads. Your Are Truly A Blessing to all of us here a CL, and I truly mean that . Your a GEM in my EYES

This is a very sad case. A child is so innocent and a parent just decides she can't help her. Why not give her to a family member or adoption agency.

[DigitalDreamKat]

This is so terrible. This is what carers are for, to relieve the pressure that parents of autistic children have to deal with. Why didn't this woman have a carer for her child if she couldn't do it on her own?

I find it unbelievable that she says she didn't know how to help her daughter, there are lots of resources out there. Goodness knows, parenting is difficult enough without throwing autism into the mix, but that is no excuse. There is help out there, all you need to do is ask.

Not to mention that as a pathologist, she would know exactly what suffocation would do, at the very least, and I don't mean to be flippant, she could have been more humane about her choice in killing methods.

[odette]

Here is an earlier article about Karen McCarron for those of you who may not have read it.

8/05/2006

Mother kills autistic daughter, then attempts overdose

PEKIN, Illinois, USA: Police say a central Illinois mother accused of killing her three-year-old autistic daughter tried to overdose on over-the-counter medication a day later. continued at below link.

http://www.autismconnect.org/news.as...e=news&id=5749

[DigitalDreamKat]

I just read that report Odette, thank you for posting.

It just made me more angry about the whole thing.

[odette]

Affidavit Of Probable Cause - PDF Document

http://www.pjstar.com/images/pdfspec...o_probable.pdf

[odette]

The links for the following articles can all be accessed at link below.

Karen McCarron: Doctor Says She Killed Daughter To "End Their Pain"

2007
Jan. 9: Board Suspends Dr. McCarron's License Indefinitely
2006
Nov. 16: McCarron 'Fit' To Stand Trial For Daughter's Murder
Sept. 26: Judge Orders McCarron To Undergo Psych Evaluation
June 30: Police Accuse Mother Of Trying To Poison Daughter; Media Softens Approach Toward Victims
June 5: McCarron Indicted On New Charges In Daughter's Suffocation Death
May 26: Detective Says Doctor Admitted Planning Daughter's Murder
May 24: Grandfather Says Girl's Murder Had Nothing To Do With Autism
May 16: Doctor Says She Killed Daughter To "End Their Pain"

http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/c...l/mccarron.htm

[dallasvic]

I would love to see this lady get the DP, but I wish crimes like these that the perp suffer the same faith as their victims. I do not see how a mother could suffocate a child they carried for 9 months.Suffocation is a slow death and this child would have struggled and fought her mother. How could she finish the job? She does not deserve to breath the same air as us

R.I.P Little One

[sharlock]

Originally Posted by dallasvic

I would love to see this lady get the DP, but I wish crimes like these that the perp suffer the same faith as their victims. I do not see how a mother could suffocate a child they carried for 9 months.Suffocation is a slow death and this child would have struggled and fought her mother. How could she finish the job? She does not deserve to breath the same air as us

R.I.P Little One

I personally disagree with the death penalty but it has always baffled me how women who kill their own children seem to get lighter sentences than other murderers when the whole concept of killing a child you gave birth to and nurtured seems an even more callous degree of murder than killing a stranger. Taking life is abhorrent no matter what but to kill your child? It is unfathomable to me.

[WarmNCozy]

Anyone know when she is going to trial?

[sharlock]

Originally Posted by WarmNCozy

Anyone know when she is going to trial?

I don't sorry, maybe someone knows though?

[odette]

McCarron to go on trial Oct. 1

PEKIN DAILY TIMES
By Nick Vogel
Published: Saturday, September 8, 2007 2:24 AM CDT

PEKIN - Judge Stephen A. Kouri denied a last minute motion to continue made by suspected child killer Karen McCarron.

At Tazewell County's 10th judicial Circuit Felony Court Friday morning, McCarron's attorney, Marc Wolfe, told the judge he was still waiting for a psychiatric evaluation report.

Kouri, who was clearly irritated with the motion, said “So Mr. Wolfe is going to decide when we try this case. Is that what's happening here?”

n May 2006, police responded to an emergency call of a child not breathing at the McCarron residence. They arrived and found Karen McCarron's 3-year-old autistic daughter, Katie McCarron, in full arrest with no pulse. She was not breathing.

The next day, police again responded to the McCarron residence. Karen McCarron had taken an overdose of a medication.

Police arrested Karen McCarron for murder.

n June 2006, a five-count indictment was filed against McCarron, charging her with first degree murder, obstruction of justice and concealment of a homicidal death.

Since the charges were filed, the case has been through three defense attorneys and two judges. In September of 2006, McCarron told Judge J. Peter Ault she wanted to hire a new attorney in place of her two public defenders.

At Friday's pre-trial hearing, Kouri pressed Wolfe for a date he expects the trial can begin. “I would suspect,” Wolfe said, “that we would be able to commence the trial for sure, the first week of December (2007).”

Kouri - who at one point held his head in his hands as he listened to the defense attorney's arguments for a continuance, told the attorneys that the case will remain on schedule.

McCarron was accompanied in court by her mother and father. McCarron's jury trial is set to take place on Oct. 1.

http://www.pekintimes.com/articles/2...news/news2.txt

[dallasvic]

Originally Posted by odette

McCarron to go on trial Oct. 1

PEKIN DAILY TIMES
By Nick Vogel
Published: Saturday, September 8, 2007 2:24 AM CDT

PEKIN - Judge Stephen A. Kouri denied a last minute motion to continue made by suspected child killer Karen McCarron.

At Tazewell County's 10th judicial Circuit Felony Court Friday morning, McCarron's attorney, Marc Wolfe, told the judge he was still waiting for a psychiatric evaluation report.

Kouri, who was clearly irritated with the motion, said “So Mr. Wolfe is going to decide when we try this case. Is that what's happening here?”

n May 2006, police responded to an emergency call of a child not breathing at the McCarron residence. They arrived and found Karen McCarron's 3-year-old autistic daughter, Katie McCarron, in full arrest with no pulse. She was not breathing.

The next day, police again responded to the McCarron residence. Karen McCarron had taken an overdose of a medication.

Police arrested Karen McCarron for murder.

n June 2006, a five-count indictment was filed against McCarron, charging her with first degree murder, obstruction of justice and concealment of a homicidal death.

Since the charges were filed, the case has been through three defense attorneys and two judges. In September of 2006, McCarron told Judge J. Peter Ault she wanted to hire a new attorney in place of her two public defenders.

At Friday's pre-trial hearing, Kouri pressed Wolfe for a date he expects the trial can begin. “I would suspect,” Wolfe said, “that we would be able to commence the trial for sure, the first week of December (2007).”

Kouri - who at one point held his head in his hands as he listened to the defense attorney's arguments for a continuance, told the attorneys that the case will remain on schedule.

McCarron was accompanied in court by her mother and father. McCarron's jury trial is set to take place on Oct. 1.

http://www.pekintimes.com/articles/2...news/news2.txt

Mornin' Odette,

Your a GEM. Thanks for the article.

[odette]

Looking at these dates it appears that little Katherine really didn't see all that much of her mother at all. IMO

Timeline - (WIKIPEDIA)

Karen and Paul McCarron had their first child, Katherine, on July 22, 2002, at Saint Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois.

She was diagnosed with autism in May 2004. In September of that year, Paul and Katie moved to North Carolina to live with her paternal grandmother.

This move was made in order for Katie to attend Mariposa School in Cary, North Carolina, a special school for autistic children.

Paul and Katie returned home to Ilinois on holidays. Karen, who was a pathologist with the Peoria-Tazewell Pathology Group, stayed in Peoria with their younger daughter Emily, and visited North Carolina occasionally.

After 20 months, the family decided to return full-time to Illinois.

Paul McCarron took Katie to their home in Illinois on May 3, 2006.

On May 7, 2006, Paul returned to North Carolina to fulfill the last three weeks of his work commitment. Katie remained in Illinois under the care of her mother and maternal grandparents, along with her younger sister.

On the afternoon of May 13, 2006, Karen allegedly killed Katie by suffocating her in a plastic bag.

In the very early hours of Sunday morning, Karen McCarron took Tylenol in what she described as an unsuccessful suicide attempt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_McCarron

[odette]

Morton mom's murder trial delayed again

-- Karen McCarron is accused of killing her autistic daughter --

BY KEVIN SAMPIER - of the Journal Star - Saturday, September 22, 2007

PEKIN - The trial of a Morton mother accused of killing her daughter has been postponed again, annoying a Tazewell County judge who threatened to move the case along himself if he has to.

"I don't know what's so hard about getting a trial date and having people honor it," Judge Stephen Kouri told defense attorney Marc Wolfe during a hearing Friday in Tazewell County Circuit Court.

Wolfe represents Karen McCarron, who is accused of suffocating her 3-year-old autistic daughter with a garbage bag in 2006.

Wolfe asked to postpone the Oct. 1 trial date because he said his expert medical witness has yet to examine McCarron for a mental evaluation.

Kouri berated Wolfe for not having the exam done in the more than one-year time period the case has been open.

Kouri further expressed his frustrations with Wolfe after Wolfe said his medical expert has yet to even meet McCarron in person. Kouri recalled Wolfe's comment in June that the exam and a report of its findings would be done in September. On Friday, when Wolfe said he didn't remember making that statement, Kouri offered to bring out the court record.

"Do you want me to get the transcript?" he asked Wolfe.

Wolfe said Friday the exam will take several weeks to complete. .....

continued
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/092207...E6J1VH.007.php

[odette]

Judge agrees to postpone Morton mother's murder trial

Associated Press - September 22, 2007 10:24 AM ET

PEKIN, Ill. (AP) - The trial of a former pathologist accused of killing her 3-year-old daughter has been postponed.

Thirty-8-year-old Karen McCarron of Morton is accused of suffocating her autistic daughter with a garbage bag in 2006. She allegedly told police during a videotaped interview that she "wanted a life without autism."

Defense attorney Marc Wolfe had asked to postpone the October First trial date. He says an expert medical witness has yet to conduct a mental evaluation of his client.

Tazewell (TAZ'-well) County Judge Stephen Kouri criticized the attorney for the delay before setting a new trial date for December Third.

http://www.wandtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7113583

[odette]

McCarron back in court

pekintimes.com - By Nick Vogel - October 10, 2007 2:14 PM CDT

PEKIN - Judge Stephen A. Kouri granted a motion Tuesday to allow state prosecutors to subpoena Karen McCarron's mental health records. The Morton woman is accused of killing her daughter.

Kouri also granted a motion which modifies McCarron's bond so that pre-trial services will no longer transport her to court hearings. McCarron is free on$1 million bond and is receiving treatment at a Springfield mental health facility.

On Sept. 23, McCarron's attorney, Marc Wolfe, asked for more time to allow a psychiatric evaluation from an expert.

Kouri told McCarron Tuesday that her psychiatric expert may not be able to testify if his report is not available by Nov. 2. .....

Article continues
http://www.pekintimes.com/articles/2...news/news3.txt

[odette]

Karen McCarron

http://www.hoinews.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=8878

[charmaine]

Originally Posted by odette

Karen McCarron

http://www.hoinews.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=8878

I'm sorry but... that is God Damned Freakin' Scary!!

[Seashell]

Originally Posted by charmaine

I'm sorry but... that is God Damned Freakin' Scary!!

The unmistakeable look of evil exists for sure

that poor baby

my daughter is in her 3rd. year at uni. studying special needs, she was disgusted when i told her about this case

[odette]

McCarron trial may be postponed

Delay would be second in slaying case against Morton mother

pjstar.com - Kevin Sampier - November 3, 2007

PEKIN - The trial date of a Morton mother accused of suffocating her autistic daughter may again be postponed, but a judge who's determined to get the case tried will have the final say.

Karen McCarron appeared Friday in Tazewell County Circuit Court, where both the prosecution and defense requested the Dec. 3 trial date be moved to Jan. 28 to allow for a mental fitness examination of McCarron. — continued

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/110307...QM2J3S.007.php

[Bluefox]

Wow soon as i saw that pic, this woman scares me!! What's she been hiding all her life, is the feeling i get. She's plainly guilty of all charges.

[odette]

McCarron trial may be postponed

Delay would be second in slaying case against Morton mother

pjstar.com - Kevin Sampier - November 3, 2007

PEKIN - The trial date of a Morton mother accused of suffocating her autistic daughter may again be postponed, but a judge who's determined to get the case tried will have the final say.

Karen McCarron appeared Friday in Tazewell County Circuit Court, where both the prosecution and defense requested the Dec. 3 trial date be moved to Jan. 28 to allow for a mental fitness examination of McCarron.

McCarron, who is accused of suffocating her 3-year-old autistic daughter with a garbage bag in 2006, had been scheduled for trial on Oct. 1.

In September that date was postponed to Dec. 3 after McCarron's attorney Marc Wolfe requested more time.

Judge Stephen Kouri berated Wolfe in September for not having the exam done in the more than one-year time period the case has been open. Kouri pushed the trial date to Dec. 3, threatening to move the case along himself if he had to. — continued

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/110307...QM2J3S.007.php

[odette]

McCarron trial date will stand

Judge denies postponement request for mother accused of killing daughter

pjstar.com - KEVIN SAMPIER - November 7, 2007

PEKIN - A Morton mother accused of suffocating her autistic daughter will not be given a sixth new trial date; she still is scheduled to go before a jury next month.

Judge Stephen Kouri denied a request by both the defense and prosecution to postpone Karen McCarron's trial from Dec. 3 to Jan. 28.

McCarron and her attorney appeared in Tazewell County Circuit Court last week and requested the postponement to allow a mental health exam to be conducted.

In a seven-page decision, Kouri cited stall tactics by the defense and five previous postponements as reasons for the denial. — continued

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/110707...RU36AD.007.php

[odette]

Judge denies trial postponement for mother charged in daughter's death

abclocal.go.com - AP

November 7, 2007 (PEKIN, Ill.) - A judge has ruled that a former Morton pathologist accused of suffocating her 3-year-old autistic daughter with a garbage bag will go to trial next month. — continued

Excerpt: Judge Stephen Kouri ruled that McCarron should not receive a sixth new trial date. Kouri denied requests from both prosecutors and the defense to put off McCarron's current Dec. 3 trial date to Jan. 28.

Kouri wrote in a decision that his reasons for denial were stall tactics from the defense and five postponements.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sec...cal&id=5747767

[odette]

[dallasvic]

Originally Posted by odette

What mother could KILL this BEAUTIFUL CHILD ??

[Joe Public]

Originally Posted by odette

Instant Death Penalty is all she deserves!!! A for this baby. Rest in Peace and God Bless her!!