A 27 year old Florida mom, Kristen De
Pasquale, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of her
1-year-old daughter, who police say was found with Halloween lights wrapped
around her neck.
De Pasquale called 911 Thursday evening, claiming
her 2-year-old son, Michael, choked his infant sister Mia Rice, to death with
the string of Halloween lights while she was taking a shower in the master
bathroom. She said:
"I was taking a
shower and my kids were out here playing and I came out and her like, I have
the Halloween lights and it was wrapped around her neck. I was gone for two
seconds!”
De Pasquale said she desperately
tried to revive the child but couldn't.
Police say the child was discovered in a crouched
position but with her feet on the floor.
Police
Sgt. Matthew DePanicis also tried to revive the infant with CPR but she
was pronounced dead an hour later at the Emergency Room.
Oviedo
Police detective Christopher said their suspicions began when they checked
the shower floor and it was dry. The towels she claimed to have used after she
got out of the bathroom was also dry, indicating she was not in the
shower when baby Mia was strangled. She also had full make up on, jewelry and
her feet were dirty.
In addition, the Volunsia county medical
examiner in Orlando, Marie Herrman said a toddler like Michael does
not have the physical strength to strangle his baby sister.
The accused mom looked dazed when she appeared in
court Monday.
She said only a single word.
She said only a single word.
The judge asked her: “Do you have any questions
about your appearance here today?”
“No,” she replied.
The shocked judge said: “No? Gook luck, Ma'am. I feel for you.”
De
Pasquale was held without bail.
Her attorney, Tim Caudill, refused to comment on
whether she was innocent or guilty.
He said:
"This is a
terrible tragedy for everyone involved," Caudill told the Orlando
Sentinel. "She's very upset. She lost a child, a child she loved very
much."
Michael was placed in the custody of a family
member. The father of the children is currently serving time in prison on
unrelated charges.
Source: Orlando Sentinel.
Source: Orlando Sentinel.
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