Iowa mom tries insanity defense

In Grundy Center, Iowa, the trial of Michelle Kehoe continues. Kehoe allegedly drove her two sons into the woods, killed her 2-year-old and attempted to murder her 7-year-old before she slashed her own throat. Only, Kehoe and the older boy survived. Kehoe's attorneys are arguing that she can't be held responsible because of mental illness. (They're citing two previous suicide attempts, a major bout with depression and being the victim of child abuse.) From the Press-Citizen:

"She really couldn't think rationally about what she was doing," psychiatrist William Logan said. "She thought she was doing the right thing."

However, Logan told the jury Kehoe was well aware of the nature of her actions afterward.

"She certainly realized after that fact that she had done a horrible thing," Logan said.

Comments

[spicolli]

Anyone that can murder someone in cold blood (especially your own child) is some kind of insane for sure. BFD, fry her ass, there's no room for her on this planet.

[Pat-a-matic]

Obviously insane.

[spicolli]

Pat, did you forget to wake Searching up this morning?

[Wisdom]

sounds premeditated to me.... she was a victim of child abuse? Was this the 1st time she had done anything to harm the 7 yr old. Forgive me if the answer is in the article...I didn't read it.... Typed before I read...

[X]

She drove them into the woods. That sounds premeditated, and it obviously she knew what she was doing was wrong. Insanity defense won't work under those circumstances. She knew what she was doing, and she knew it was wrong.

[Lisa-Marie Lambuth]

When you buy your murder weapon and accessories 2 months before you commit a crime, its obviously well thought through and meticulously planned. The fact that she stabbed herself to make it look like someone else committed the crime also proves that she knew what she was doing and what the consequences would be. That would have been the time turn your kids over to social services and commit yourself. Sure she's a sick woman, no one is denying that, but does that mean all sick people run around killing innocent children? I hope that she gets the maximum sentencing for this crime! I'm glad that only 1% of murder crimes actually get by with the insanity plea. I don't think that insanity should ever be an option, you do the crime, you serve your time. Why should some people have different punishments than others for the same crime?

[kybo61]

Kehoe... d'ya think she's related to those white supremacist crazies Chevie, Cheyne, Kirby & Gloria Kehoe?

[gary]

I would'nt think so because they are not out to kill kids, just those adults they believe deserve to be eliminated. Go figure, someone wants to kill someone even though we are all in the same boat so to say.