I don’t have a title for this post about Katherine McCarron’s mother
June 8, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
“Not guilty” was the plea entered by Dr. Karen McCarron, who is charged with killing Katherine McCarron, her autistic three-year-old daughter. Dr. McCarron was charged with first degree murder, obstructing justice and concealing a homicide, and kept in hand and leg shackles as she approached the bench, as reported by WMBD today.
When questioned, her attorney`s only comment was that he would do whatever is in the best interest of his client. When asked how McCarron was holding up, her father said “not so good.”
It is almost too hard to read about Dr. McCarron and about her daughter.
But I think we have to.
Read the more detailed coverage about this case, Chicago Tribune: Daughter’s murder puts focus on toll of autism. An excerpt:
On May 13, McCarron drove her to daughter to her parents’ house, knowing they were not home, and smothered her, police say. She then drove home and carried Katie’s lifeless body into the house, past visiting family members and up to bed, as if the child were asleep.
She then went to the grocery store to buy ice cream, a trip captured on the store’s security cameras. A couple of hours later, police say, McCarron went upstairs, told relatives Katie wasn’t breathing, and began performing CPR.
Paramedics didn’t suspect foul play immediately, but at 1 a.m. the next morning, a relative called police and said McCarron was trying to overdose on over-the-counter medication.
When police arrived, the woman was embracing her husband, who had just arrived home from a business trip. Police say Paul McCarron was crying, but his wife was subdued. He asked her to tell the authorities what she had told him.
At first, she declined, telling police, “Nothing is going to help, and it’s not going to make any difference.”
I cannot even begin to sort out the mess here.
As an autistic person, reading about Katie made me upset. (I’m not the best with words when writing about something very emotional to me, in a short time). Even if I wasn’t autistic I’d be thoroughly disgusted with what befell her. Dr. Chew, I am glad for Charlie’s sake that you are his mother.
Someone Who Cares: fragile or not, that is still NOT AN EXCUSE FOR MURDER! For all we know she could have not made an effort to seek proper help. A lot of doctors deny their own health issues.
Mr. McCarron: God bless you and your family. I know this is repetitive of others but my own words are chasing each other in my mind at high speeds, so I can’t bring them out.
I feel there should be some sort of Safety Network in place….kinda like CPS but specifically for disabled children….to act on suspicion of a disabled child being abused, so it’s stopped before the child’s life gets to be in danger.
AI
AI, thanks so much for your words. As an autism mother, reading about Katie also makes me feel upset. I second your suggestion of a Safety Network——and then there’s the comments by Thierry about the Autism Every Day video.
I really do not understand how anyone can say such things, let alone do them.
what were her comments about it?
I just had an idea. Charlie is a bit young if I remember correctly, but do you know any older children with autism? Perhaps you and them and their parents can craft a letter to whomever authorized the production of this film? (sorry brain is almost on empty in terms of thought fuel, it’s 1:30 am and I don’t want to forget this idea of mine) telling the person (Thierry?) about your/their feelings about the video (their meaning children and other parents)
Not sure if that’s a good idea or not. But somehow the people in that video, those mothers, have to be told, especially the mother of Jodie and Lauren, that what she/they said was very upsetting. Maybe that would help them think differently, or am I being too idealistic? I wouldn’t know, but I would trust the opinions of Dr. Chew and Mr. Kev and Mr. McCarron and others who have posted here also.
AI
I know plenty of older kids with autism. A few 11yo boys, a 14yo girl, a 12yo boy, an 11yo girl… and more, I’m sure, if I thought really hard about it.
Of course, they’re all Canadian…
Have you known these kids for a while, Jannalou—-seen them grow? (Canadian, American, ASD knows no national boundaries….)
AI,
Some of us parents—–like Mom-NOS and myself here have responded on our blogs. I feel like we are so many needles in the haystack, though, but I guess I hope that if we keep speaking up as we have too, The Powers That Be will not be able to avoid hearing us. (Yes, I am optimistic.)
I’ve known the 11yo girl since she was 7 (she’ll be 12 in September); the 11yo boys I’ve known since they were 9 and 10 (they’ll be 12 in November and February, respectively). The 12yo boy I’ve known since he was 10, and the 13yo girl I’ve known for about a year.
Dr. Chew:
Dr. Chew:
I meant more of a response directly to the mothers who were featured in that film. Is there any way to send something directly addressed to them? Especially the mother of Jodie.
Jannalou: how do those kids feel about their autism? I am thinking perhaps with their parents’ permission and their own consent, you could create your own film project, as a counter-reaction to the Autism Every Day film. This is just an idea I had 2 minutes ago, literally, when I was reading your message. What do people think of this idea? I’m trying to figure out what things are practical and what are not. I’m not sure how this project would be done, but it shouldn’t be directly portrayed as a combative reaction against the AED (Thierry) film. I like to read what others have to say about this idea.
AI
Alison Tepper Singer—who made the comment about driving herself and her daughter off the bridge—-is a Senior Vice President for Autism Speaks with contact information here. Mom-NOS’s compelling post on alternate view of Autism Every Day appeals to Lauren Thierry, the autism mother who made the film, to come into her own house for the “sequel.”
thank you, Dr. Chew, for that contact information. Would it be too forward of me to ask for some assistance in constructing an email to Ms. Singer? It’s gonna take me a while to get stuff out so I won’t be ready for a while yet. I will draft it in my own blog, as a draft, and then I’ll figure out where to send it to be reviewed before sending it. Or should I even do that? I’m not sure…but thanks for that contact information.
AI
I created this design today in memory of Katie. It is the one of her in a field of grass. Her quote is above her, and her picture is placed on a page from the calendar, May 2006.
I was inspired to do this design after reading thorugh all of these wonderful posts, especially after reading yours, Mr. McCarron. Saying “you are an inspiration” just doesn’t even come close to how I am feeling right now, but I can’t put what I’m trying to say into words that do not sound scripted.
Here is the link to the design (completely nonprofit):
http://www.cafepress.com/katie_mccarron
AI, I\’d be glad to read a letter you draft. My is autismland AT gmail DOT com—-
Lisa, thank you. Don\’t mean to intrude here but have you contacted the McCarron family about using Katie\’s image?—-if you have, please disregard this comment!
Letter to the Editor writer Sabrina Nixon wants to know:
“How many more deaths have to happen in order to get things moving?”
This sounds like a threat.
***
Kristina,
You are more than welcome. Your efforts and Kev’s have lit a fire under me about this terrible tragedy. Now I’m learning about even more recent news stories, other deaths of autistic people. The stories are piling up so fast that I can’t even deal with the enormity of it. So far and at this moment, I am only able to let the death of Katie McCarron soak into me. Maybe soon I will be able to broaden my focus to the other stories.
I hope that Mr. McCarron will return and see the design I made in Katie’s memory. If not, please let him know about them, if you can. Thanks.
Hi Kristina,
If I could contact them I would. I have been trying to find a way to contact them but came up with nothing.
I created the design operating on this principle:
““”The McCarron family invites people who want to keep Katie’s memory alive to download these images and post them on their own websites and blogs. They (and we)only ask they be used in remembering Katie as a beautiful, precious
and happy little girl. They do not approve of the use of these pictures as part of a message suggesting in any way that she was in pain or that she was a burden. They also don’t want them used in any that suggests her death in any way is associated with a “problem” with lack of services. Using Katie’s pictures in these ways would be an insult to Katie’s memory and cause more pain to an already grieving family.”
It’s not legally enforceable, but hopefully will discourage *misuse* of the pictures of Katie.”
Secondly, I created the design because there was some interest in finding a way to publically display something that would show that she was remembered. An arm band was suggested. So I decided to take the image, which was already granted for appropriate use, and put it on articles while at the same time setting it so that I would not receive a single penny. There is a way to set it on Cafepress so that you will receive a 0% markup. I set all the products to “0% markup” so that way I benefit in no personal way from the sale of any product.
If I can be any clearer, please let me know. If you are in contact with Mr. McCarron, please by all means give him my contact information so that I can be sure that the shirts meet with his approval. Thanks.
Lisa, My apologies for not responding earlier. I’ll mention the CafePress design to Katherine’s grandfather—–just always trying to think of what is best.
Thanks and thanks!
This just angers me to no end. I am an adult with Aspergers and this kind of intolerance is acceptable among certain groups. Autism Speaks and Cure Autism now advocate eugenics against autistic people. Can you imagine if Katie had never been born? THAT is what these groups support.
We must take a stand against these murderers!
I have 2 sons with autism, one relatively high functioning. Patience is at a premium in my house. Have I ever thought of killing my children? Absolutely not, there is no excuse for this behavior! The fact that this sweet little girl had autism, does not at all justify or explain this hideous murder. Poor sweet girl. Probably thinking in her mind, why is “momma trying to hurt me?” If I were the judge/jury I would post pictures of this little girl up all around the jail cell.
Mr. McCarron, Sir ~ I cannot express how sorry I am for the loss of your grandchild. To have such a young, beloved grandchild, needlesslly stolen from your life must have been unbearable. I hope that I am not adding to your pain by mentioning your loss, yet again.
For your grandaughter’s life to be taken, and then for you to hear such horrible things by this Autism group is impermissible. I cannot image the depth of pain that it has caused.
Thank-you for standing up, and speaking about your beloved grandchild. It takes people like you to force other’s to change, and I applaud you for your strength.
If it were not for you, I would never have even known about this heinous, abominable, evil murder. It saddens me that it wasn’t on my local news, a year ago. Makes me want to cry that I didn’t know about your grandaughter until today.
May your family continue the fight for people to accept people with autism as people first. I’ll be praying to the Goddess that you have the continued comfort that you need to allow your heart to heal from this deep, abiding wound. Thank-you for sharing yor soul. Thank-you for allowing us to see your grandaughter as she was, not as her murderer would try to make her be. Thank-you in short for coming forward.
Who says there are no refrigerator moms. It turns out that they are legion:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/25/nyregion/25shock.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=education
On NOT one of her Mermorial Sites does it post her DOB Does anyone know what her Birthday was??? Just Month and Date Year optional
July 22, 2002, is her birthday.
Thank you Dr. Chew, I don’t know if it has any bearing but I have noticed that a lot of Autistic children seem to be born in the spring/summer months I also recently heard that DNA (too much, too little) has a bearing on whether or not a child will be born with Autisum. My son was just recently diagnosied with Autisum about 3 years ago. I had the feeling he had it from birth and the Doctors he had been seeing at a young age 2 to 3yrs old that he was ADHD and NOT at all Autistic, but I kept seeing patterns the way he would stack and line toys up and his slight but constant swaying back and forth (Dr. told me he was hyper that’s why he swayed) He only really likes to socialize with YOUNGER children, his outbursts when he though he did something wrong, even his clothing had to be a certain fabric or he couldn’t tollerate even having them on. Now we have a very good pshycologist and a Parent of Autistic children’s work group I attened, but I travel 2 hours to the closest Dr. for his condition, I have been doing this for 7years and will continue to do it in the hopes that he can be a productive adult with autisum in the future. I don’t see his condition as a death sentance or limiting his abilities permenantly or actually at all.When he was diagnosied my Mother cried and I didn’t. She saw it as a horrible condition I saw it as a challange but with possibilities, and most autistic children have an up side to the condition, he has a VERY creative side I was NOT an artist at all only stick people but my son can make something out of nothing on paper, I was normal actually I had a very high IQ at an early age, but I could NEVER draw like he can. So it is give and take. I love his abilities and I see progress and regression on all levels I just try to keep thing constant and routine and if something happens we start to work on the solutions together I like to include him even if he dosen’t grasp it I just don’t want him to think I saw him as different I see him as my baby boy nothing else. I also have a full functioning child too age 2, and Justin age 10 (my son) adores his sister he would NEVER let anyone hurt her and he plays with her even when he wants to do other things to help me out. He is a blessing and it’s an honor to call him my son, he is very compassionate and if that is all I could say about him (but it is not) I would be glad to have raised such a loving child. When I read Katie’s story after seeing her mother on trial these past few days I became heart broken for Her Father and Grandparents. I too live in NC and in the CITY their are lots of resources, but I live near the coast and have to travel to a quality care facility, I am also a single mother I spend almost every waking minute taking care of my babies (other then the 9hrs. @ work) I couldn’t imagine living life without them let alone taking one of their lives to make mine easier that to me would be a waste, all the time and energy invested and the simple fact that I adore them, this is my legacy this is what will remain and live on in my name and that to me is reward enough. My deepest condolances to her Family members especially her Daddy and Grandpa, you can tell from Katie’s pictures she knew she was loved even if her Mommy failed her I agree there is NO excuse in ending a childs life None what so ever. Sincerely, Angie
Mr McCarron,
I am weeping as I read what you have written about your beautiful granddaughter.I can not begin to imagine the pain you, your wife and son are enduring. Thank you so much for sharing some of Katie’s light with us. It is so important that everyone understand what a beautiful, loving and happy child she was.
As the wife of an autistic and the mother of two amazing autistic little , I can’t begin to tell you how much Katie’s story has touched our family. I can not commrehend how anyone can harn a child. My children are my world and everyday I thank god for them. I know that you, your wife and son felt this way for Katie. My prayers are with you, and Now that many of us are telling katie’s story. Her beautiful smile lives on in all of our hearts!