"Mother of boy who starved to death is charged with murder" by Kevin Burbach | Associated Press March 26, 2014
BISMARCK, N.D. — A North Dakota woman whose 13-year-old son weighed 21 pounds when he died in January has been charged with murder, authorities said Tuesday.
State Medical Examiner William Massello said Jessica Lee Jensen’s son died from chronic starvation due to untreated juvenile appetite disorder. He listed the manner of death as homicide.
Aidan Edward Bossingham’s weight was about the same as that of a young toddler when he died. His mother told investigators that Aidan had a hormonal growth problem and that his pituitary gland did not function properly, according to court documents.
Jensen, 35, of Kenmare, in northern North Dakota near the Canadian border, said her son would eat and then throw up. She said he had not seen a doctor for several years, the documents say.
She also has been charged with neglect for allegedly failing to provide proper care for her two other children — a 14-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.
The investigation began the night of Jan. 12 when authorities received a call from Jessica Jensen who, according to court documents, told the dispatcher her son had ‘‘passed on.’’
Kenmare police officer Jason Cartier arrived at the family’s house and reported that Jensen was sitting on a couch with a small child in her arms and told him, ‘‘He’s dead.’’
A nurse practitioner at Trinity Kenmare Community Hospital reported that the child looked to be 2 or 3 years old, the documents say.
Jensen told investigators that she could not recall the last time the boy had seen a doctor.
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"Treatment for mom accused of driving kids in ocean" by Kyle Hightower | Associated Press March 26, 2014
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A pregnant South Carolina woman charged with attempted murder after she drove her car into the ocean with her three children inside will be allowed to receive in-hospital psychiatric care until a doctor says she is fit to return to jail, according to an agreement announced Tuesday.
Ebony Wilkerson, 32, earlier this month drove her minivan into the surf off Daytona Beach, Fla., and bystanders and officers helped pull her and her children — ages 3, 9, and 10 — from inside as it was almost submerged. According to a charging affidavit, one of her children told detectives that ‘‘Mom tried to kill us.’’
Wilkerson’s hospital treatment started about two weeks ago and includes group therapy sessions, said her public defender, Jim Purdy. She had been in isolation, but now will be allowed the recreational exercise time. ‘‘Now she can at least have some contact with other people,’’ Purdy said....
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Related: Exorcising These Florida Clippings
Also see: Just Another Minich Monday
