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Karen McCarron
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Karen McCarron is an Illinois physician who has admitted to smothering her autistic daughter Katherine 'Katie' McCarron to death.[1] A grand jury indicted her on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of obstructing justice and one count of concealment of a homicidal death.[2] The trial is scheduled for December 2007.[3]
Karen and Paul McCarron's first child was Katherine, diagnosed with autism in 2004. In September of that year, Paul and Katie moved to North Carolina to live with her paternal grandmother. This move was made so Katie could attend Mariposa School in Cary, North Carolina, a special school for autistic children.[4] Paul and Katie returned home to Illinois 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.[1]
After 20 months, the family decided to return full-time to Illinois.[4] 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 tried to overdose on over-the-counter medication.[4]
News articles and weblogs have emphasized the difficulties in raising a child with autism, and some suggested that McCarron may have been stressed by lack of support and dealing with Katie's autism. Katie's grandfather, Michael McCarron, said:[5]
| “ | This was not about autism. This was not about a lack of support. | ” |
Some autistics have rallied in favor of a conviction of McCarron and Katie's death garnered intense scrutiny within the autism rights movement and among disability advocates.[4][6] Autism Hub held a memorial on May 24 and the disability rights group Not Dead Yet led the charge to reveal the facts of the case.[4] The local media is responding to advocates who criticize them for sympathic reporting towards alleged perpetrators.[7]
- ^ a b Brogadir, Josh (May 17, 2006). Police: Mother confesses to suffocating daughter: Autism has impact on families. HOI 19. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
- ^ Reynolds, Dave (January 9, 2007). Board Suspends Dr. McCarron's License Indefinitely. Inclusion Daily Express. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
- ^ Sampier, Kevin. "McCarron trial date will stand: Judge denies postponement request for mother accused of killing daughter", November 7, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-08. "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."
- ^ a b c d e Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois (July–August 2006)." Katie McCarron". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
- ^ Reynolds, Dave (May 24, 2006). Grandfather Says Girl's Murder Had Nothing To Do With Autism. Inclusion Daily Express. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
- ^ Liss, Jennifer (July 11, 2006). Autism: the Art of Compassionate Living. Wiretap Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
- ^ Reynolds, Dave (June 30, 2006). Police Accuse Mother Of Trying To Poison Daughter; Media Softens Approach Toward Victims. Inclusion Daily Express. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.