No doubt in my mind she was bat-shit craxy, but that doesn't excuse her, and it sure as shit doesn't make her not guilty, even by reason of insanity.

I'm completely and unreasonably angry about this verdict, and I feel like the insanity plea should be completely done away with. There are plenty of bat-shit craxy people (here) that manage to NOT DROWN THEIR CHILDREN.

goes back to angry corner so as not to infect others with it.

But if she's in the hospital...a state mental ward, she's not getting away with anything. Seriously.

Her (now ex) husband put up the fight for the insanity ruling. From what I've read she'll be locked up forever in a hospital as opposed to a prison.

Well, FWIW, there are lots of people who don't fit any standard definition of insane who do awful things to their children, up to and including murder. Every day, and usually don't go to prison for it.

The whole point of an insanity plea is "if I had been in my right mind, I wouln'da done it." (The legal definition of insane is a lack of ability to discern right from wrong.) So, not really an excuse so much as a description of circumstances. Also, IIRC, the worst part of that whole story was that her husband knew she was coming apart at the seams and discouraged her from seeking help for it.

Not only that, she'd had post-partum psychosis with each of their kids. It got worse every time and they continued to have more children. She was on and off of medication and her husband left her alone with their children when he KNEW she was off her meds and batshit crazy.

She's not walking around free. Go visit a state mental hospital. It's worse than prison, seriously. She needs to be in a mental hospital because she's mentally ill.

But if she's in the hospital...a state mental ward, she's not getting away with anything. Seriously.

I know. But...it feels like she is. And I worry that one day, after awhile of being on her meds, that she'll be released.

Well, FWIW, there are lots of people who don't fit any standard definition of insane who do awful things to their children, up to and including murder. Every day, and usually don't go to prison for it.

And this makes me just as angry.

the worst part of that whole story was that her husband knew she was coming apart at the seams and discouraged her from seeking help for it.

He also encouraged her to have Mary, the youngest, after her shrink told them that if she had another child, she'd go back to being psychotic.

Personally, I think he should have been charged with 2nd degree murder because of gross negligence.

The legal definition of insane is a lack of ability to discern right from wrong.

Right, but still? Doesn't make it any better for me. If you couldn't tell once, who's to say you won't be able to tell the difference again?

Go visit a state mental hospital. It's worse than prison, seriously.

I know they are. I've been. But she could be released.

She needs to be in a mental hospital because she's mentally ill.

I agree, but she should not ever have the chance of leaving. Ever.

People also get out of prisons.

With her original verdict, she would have been eligible for parole in 35 years.

I don't think there's much chance of her ever getting out. She's been medicated in prison for a while now and is still pretty far gone.

And she's 42. Even if she did one day get out its unlikely she could have any more children.