DADI.org

Mother Accused of Contributing to Son's Suicide

By DIANE SCARPONI
Associated Press Writer

October 1, 2003, 3:27 PM EDT

MERIDEN, Conn. -- A jury began deliberating Wednesday in the case of a mother accused of contributing to the suicide of her 12-year-old son, who hanged himself with a necktie in his closet.

Judith Scruggs is accused of providing a home environment that was likely to cause injury and failing to get medical or psychological help for her son J. Daniel before he killed himself last year. Experts say they have never heard of a previous case in which a mother was charged with contributing to a child's suicide.

Daniel was bullied mercilessly at school and had problems with body odor and bad breath, and prosecutors said Scruggs turned a blind eye to his hygiene problems.

They also said his mental health had deteriorated to the point where he would hide in his bedroom closet with three knives and a spear that was made by taping a blade to a broomstick.

"Daniel was a boy who was out of control. He was spiraling, and no one was helping him," prosecutor James Dinnan said.

Defense lawyer M.H. Reese Norris said prosecutors did not present any evidence from doctors or other experts to say that Scruggs withheld treatment for Daniel for any specific illness.

Scruggs helped Daniel by keeping him out of school at the suggestion of school and child welfare workers because the school could not guarantee Daniel's safety, he said.

Witnesses testified that while at school, Daniel would be pushed, punched, and verbally abused. Students also would spit on his chair, witnesses said.

Scruggs worked as an aide at Daniel's school and part-time at Wal-Mart to support Daniel and his sister, Kara.

"This is a woman working two jobs -- 60 hours a week -- to care for two kids, but they want you to believe that she purposefully did it," Norris said.

Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press

Back to DA*DI's Home