Trial begins for mother charged in son's death

what was the verdict from yesterday

My understanding of the insanity defense is as follows: We're all a little crazy, to be legally insane you have to be so crazy that you don't realize what you've done is wrong. Blaming an act on another individual and or trying to cover it up means she knew what she did was wrong. End of story, and she needs to go to jail.

You know what I am sick and tired of are these women who have children that never wanted to have children in the first place and pretended to love have children.
Then when the become with child they hated the entire idea and as the child grew the hatred grew and grew so when they are left alone with this child or children she will carry through what she had already decided before she had any of her children.
When she carries through the death of the children or child if you notice 98 % of the time she never dies because she is free of the thing she hated the most the child or children and she happy for the first time in years she feels like she did before she had the children she never wanted in the first place.
The only reason she got caught was because one of her children didn't die and she couldn't stop him from talking.
It is about time these women get what they deserve and that is death.

P.S. I never wanted children because I knew I wasn't a mother or mother type so I stayed away from it and I think all women who feel the same as I do should do the same because there are so many ways to prevent it and there would be a lot less babies killed by the mothers that never wanted to be a mother in the first place.

Anyone who cuts their babies throats has to be insane! What is wrong with people these days? Are we hearing about these crimes against children more lately, or is this just happening more often?

"...legally insane at the time, and should therefore be acquitted." What a load. Of COURSE she was 10 miles past crazy-ville; she tried to kill her own babies!!! So what? The woman deserves to spend the rest of her life where she can't hurt anyone else. May God be with that little boy.

Having "written the whole script..as she killed her son and then play it down as if SHE were attacked".......Would that not be considered pre meditaion???? Tell Sean the whole world cares about him....

I believe she's not mentally ill, She planned this from the beginning. I believe she's guilty and need to be put in prison.
Jeff from Iowa

This isnt going too well for the defendant. I'd have to say Mama's crazy like a fox!!
Joyce KS

This is a horrific case. Sane or insane, she deserves death!

there's one thing I haven't heard about in this case yet and that is...motive. I know what Yates and Smith's motives were but I haven't heard anyone say anything about what her stated motive to this monstrosity was.

A real concern of mine is how skillfully this mother crafted the story of the events leading up to the attack as well as description of the attacker. The interview with her in the hospital by the police was concise. I am wondering about the insanity defense. I'm also watching her closely as she sits in the courtroom. Once in a while she forgets to look "glassed over".

I can only hope and pray that this women suffers every second of her remaining life and after life for her crimes. She knew what was right and wrong. If she was crazy at the time of the murder she would have been sucessful in killing herself. Not just her baby boy. What her 7-year-old has endured is indescribable and I will pray for that poor child. My God, he had a first aid kit to help his dying brother that his own mother had killed. This is inexcusable. Disgusting. This "mother" is an animal.

If found not guilty by reason of insanity what happens to her? Is she free to live in the outside world or would she be committed to a hospital of some kind?

Clearly this mother has mental health issues, but, she clearly knew what she was doing. This is demonstrated by her planning and fabrication of a man she says committed this horrible crime. I cannot believe a mother would get out of the van and leave her children inside
the van. This doesn't make sense. She even had an explaination why her child felt she had hurt them. Depression can be a real and horrible state, but, I don't feel that it is justification to kill your children.

Catch 22 for families with mental illness member. The hoops that families have to jump through to get an adult member treatment, if they stubbornly choose not to, is a major expensive trial, or, as often happens, is a run-in with the tazer- toting police and shell shock of the criminal justice system for the confused, exhausted family. Most of the extended families of the functioning psychotic are already an a Helter-Skelter, Alice in Wonderland world and probably at their wits end. Remember, the legal system is the one whom really benefits from the horror of it all. Accessing help for an adult with mental illness if really tough for the helpless bystanders (and don't forget that most of the families are being shunned, already, by the comminity as well. ) God help us all.

Someone found to be"clinically insane" is usually committed to a state-run psychiatrist hospital for life.

However, this woman will NEVER get away with that plea. Therefore, I pray she gets a speedy death sentence!

PEACE!

this is a horrible case so many women in the united states suffer from undiagnosed depression. ove rthe 18 yrs of being a wife a mother , someones daughter, and an employee. a mother so often gives and gives to evreyone in her life taking little time out to care for herself. this unfortunately leads to a breaking point where they crash, either depression, a sense of inadequancy , low self esteem like they are not doing enough for everyone they love takes over and they feel it they need to end it and often times take love ones with them. leading to situations like we have in this casee. a mother wanting to spare her children of a life of misery. like they feel they had. of course this is disease and depression taking and causing these actions. they healthy mother would never think of these ideations. I hope she is comitted to a pych intitution and gets the help she needs to realize she is okay and does not need to he responisble for everyone just herself ...and her child who survived. and my god bless this aily in these trying times. she is not a monster people she as extremely depressed and ill.

is it ture there are not going to be any more court trials after nov. 7?

If this women was so depressed, how is it no one knew? By her own adimission, she's been feeling like this for 10 years, why did no one see?? She had to have exhibited some irrational behaviours before this, perhaps the 'accident' prior to the incident?

Regardless, its not fair that she gets to plead insanity. Like that changes anything. She needs to just go to jail FOREVER, without ever the possibility of parole and be punished like all the other monsters just like her.

This is different than the Yates case. She called 911 after drowning her kids. I believe she knew it was wrong but that she needed to do it for "them." This woman tried to cover it all up....not a sign of a severe, not caring depression.

I also heard her say (writing to detective) that she felt this way for 10 years..which is longer than her children are old...can't be post-partum psychosis then.

I really hope they get this lady some help. She is insane. When you read the letter that she wrote, at the end she wrote I'll love you forever, I will like you always, all of that was part of a book written by Robert Munsch. A kiddie story about a mom who no matter how big her son get she will rock and love him forever. I have family members that suffer from mental issues and some of the traits include thiniking that you are a part of a story.

Just like Michelle stated after the events took place- no one will understand. From the above comments you can see why. There is litle or no compassion/ understanding for those suffering from mental illness. I have been diagnosed by many mental health professionals as Bipolar, Borderline personality, PTSD and Agoraphobia... needless to say I know firsthand the callousness of public opinion against mental illness. We always fear and discredit what we do not understand. It is very possible to be insane and still have the capability of forming a plan, isn't that what suicide requires? We think suicide is an insane act. The law needs to catch up with the world of mental health. I am in no way saying what she did was ok, but she needs the correct meds and a lot of therapy, not jail or death.

the quote that she had wriiten at the end of the letter came from the book, LOVE YOU FOREVER Written by Robert Munsch, the last page of the book.. I think that she knew what she was doing

this woman should not be able to claim that she is crimminally insane...as some one with bi-polar disorder, and very severe depression and extreme anxiety for most of my life, including seclusion, cutting, self harm, suicidal, not being able to function in the real world, i KNOW the difference between right and wrong...and always have... even during my most ill, depressed and manic moments...and so does this woman...and the fact she tried to cover up her crime says so... and i believe she is putting on a great act in the courtroom... that flat effect would not be that severe for her disorder....i believe she has been coached as to what to say and how to act.... as someone who has truly had mental health issues all my life, depression does not make someone crimminally insane and not know right from wrong, regardless of depth of depression, as say, perhaps someone with hallucinogenic or paranoid schizophrenia would....and if she had that it would have been apparent before now... she derserves life in prison with no parole.....

It is very clear that in order to commit a crime such as devastating and heartbreaking as this you would most definitely need to be considered insane at the time. I am not an expert in this area so it is hard to determine if she did understand if it was wrong or not at the time. I don't know if even an expert would truly know, THERE ARE SOME REALLY GOOD LIARS in this world, and she has demonstrated that she lies beyond what a normal person does.

The problem with this is that once you lie and try to cover the wrong you have done, that without a doubt is an ADMISSION of GUILT. If she did NOT understand then she would admit her wrongdoings and maybe not understand why it is bad. But if you know enough to cover up your actions then you know what you do is bad. That is my opinion.
I suffer from severe anxiety and depression my whole life, but never have I raise a hand to my daughter or had violent thoughts toward her. Whatever the verdict is I just hope she can go to a place so that no one will suffer at her hands again due to whatever is causing these horrible acts toward such innocent victims. I hope that this child can one day live somewhat in peace and overcome this tragedy but most likely he will suffer forever from this!

I think alot of people in the world today are depress and need help but people are to busy in the world today to stop what they are doing to help any body else.thats what wrong with the world today. this women need help but people are to blind to see it.i feel sorry for her and her kids .them poor kids dieing that way. i pray for her and her family. may-be she will get the help she needs now....

Why do they even take ANYONE to trial. All they have to do is say self defense, Mentally Insane and they go free. Why bother? I am sick to death of these excuses. This monster planned the murder of both of her sons. Look at her face...no emotion. Just the face of a monster. I can get that look to looking soooooooo sad. FAKE. It is a face of a monster who got caught because she blotched the death of one of her sons. But hey, she is a woman and she "LOOKS" so sad. Forget she wrote out how her plans for the murder. She bought the knife, duck tape etc, loaded the boys into the car and headed out. She took one boy out of the car, cut his throat and left him to die while she next went to get the other son. She accomplished his death, then procedes to take the knife to herself and saying someone attacked them. This is someone that didn't know what she was doing???? If you believe this, then why try anyone? Stamp each death certificate SET FREED. NOT RESPONSIBLE. CLAIMED MENTAL ILLNESS.
I pray to God that these that defend the cold blooded killers, never have to loose a child or wife, mother, sister, brother to a monster.

It amazes me that jury's today do not recognize the battered women syndrome in regards to the Hill case.
If but for 1 person who has the sensibility to take all the facts and voted
correctly, Ms Hill could have been sent to life or death.

i watch your show everyday and being a mother of 7 there is no way i could see killing any of them. now thay stay she was sick when she kill these boys well let me tell you that she was not sick when she plan how to kill them she but tape on the eyes and handsi donot belive in killing anyone with that being said she should be in jail for the rest of her life. that way she will have to think about what she did

insane? she knew exactly what she was doing, please spare me the excuses...

It is heartbreaking to hear the audio recording of the surviving son. When this case first came to my attention, I thought that maybe this woman slit her own throat to set herself up for an insanity defense; however, seeing her in the courtroom and seeing the evidence of her slitting her throat makes believe this woman is sick and was not in her right mind. I am afraid if she is sent to prison, the risk is extremely high of her being found hanging her cell. That is not justice in my mind.

I have to wonder how the poor children suffered previously. I would imagine that they have lived their whole lives in fear of the one they called mother. God only knows what she has done to them in the past. Bring back the gillotine and kill the bitch!

Jami
Boy were you missed last week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IF the mother was intubated, being a nurse I know she was sedated or given pain medication. Under those conditions is it appropriate to question, obtain a confession from her.

SIgning a legal document under those circumstancnes is illegal.

TALLY

As the mother of 5 and a psychiatric patient of more than 20 years, i can relate to women in the same situation perhaps even to those that have gone as far as to hurt or kill their own children. People that are not affected by mental illness can NOT understand it. so when judgement is being passed, it is impossible to know whether the defendants are actually "insane", whatever that means.

What i do know is there have been times i was scared that i might hurt my children. yes i knew it was wrong. That is why i was scared and that's why i would immediately leave their presence. it isn't something i wanted to do, but perhaps compelled to do; i'm not sure. i do know that being psychotic has lead me to do many things i was not able to control whether i knew it was wrong or right. i am so thankful it never came to that.

my overall thought being that all women that kill their own children must have some degree of mental issues. that does not mean that they shouldn't be held responsible – they should. but the most important thing is to get them the medical care they so desperately should have received before things had gone so horribly wrong. lack of access to proper care leads to most of these situations. Mothers killing children will continue at alarming rates until our society takes measures to identify and treat psychotic illnesses.

It is immensely difficult to get adequate care even when you beg for it. it took me way over a decade to get anyone to understand how ill i really was and many years after that to get my medication and situation under control. Perhaps this all could have been avoided.

it is just unfathomable to hear about this mother hurting her little babies at all let alone the way she did. what i cannot understand is why didnt she just to this horrific action to herself alone? i believe it may be possible i.e. but i cant believe it after hearing what she did, possibly taped them because she didnt want to hear the screams...!?
she looks in court as though she is possessed by something, extremely blank, but, when the tape plays of her son talking she shows some 'feeling' if you want to call it that, perhaps guilt? i wonder if she was going thru a bad relationship w/children's father and therefore was jealous and wanted him not to have them either?

part 2 of my comment...
read further and she taped their eyes? wow! she realized what she was doing and was NOT hoping for any witnesses...i cant imagine what this little man not only went thru w/seeing his bro. tortured, but, what was she doing/saying/portraying while he was in her care for 7 years!!!!!!!???? where were the relatives? school???

comment #3 and last one
my mother raised 4 girls on her own--worked and supported us on her own as my father was an alcoholic....i remember her crying at night downstairs and we realized how sad she was and tired and depressed!!!! if she ever knew that we heard her she would have been so sad even more so. that was back in the 60's to early 70's. it was difficult from what i can remember for a woman to admit she needs a divorce let alone get a good job! she did it!!!! it is possible!!!we have sooooo many resources now! all you have to do is pick up the phone and call 211 or 911! or just drop the children off at a hospital or a school or a police station-come on people!!!! just call 911 and say im depressed and guess what? you get help magically! no excuse what so ever to harm a child, animal or not be able to get assistance w/depression.

as for all the other 'depressed and lost', yes I understand its hard to get help ( meaning not as easy as they make it sound) but one- don't have the kids in the first place, there are other options ( I don't agree with them but abortion, adoption, etc), 2nd show up at a mental institute and show them.... can' t refuse you help then. Going to your Dr and just saying I don't feel well, well that is a fine line between wether or not you are a drug addict. The laws these days make those things hard to acquire for good reason. A reason that does, like all other laws, make it difficult for the ones that really need them to get them, but a good law none the less.
Realize that no matter how much you hate your life and possibly everything in it....you made it, no one else!!

this to me was echoing susan smith, make-believe thug, attacked her and the kids..only difference is one of the kids survived, and thank god he was able to do so/pin this on mommy dearest...

I have a problem with people trying to excuse her behaviour with the "mental illness" excuse. A person that mentally ill wouldn't try to cover it up. She would has at least finished the job of killing herself and she would not have written a letter trying to blame someone else. Yes, she may have been depressed, as a mother she had a responsiblity to get herself some help!!! She should have told someone "I can't handle it anymore." She should have simply walked away. I can't imagine that child having to live with the fact that his own mother tried to kill him. She is still showing her uncaring attitude by putting her family through this farse of a not guilty plea. I just finished reading about the killer of little Elizabeth Olten and then read this. I am heartsick! There is so much evil in the world.

If anyone has dealt with POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, one would have a little more compassion for the hell this mom is and has been living in. If she would have gotten help, which is very sad that she didn't, I have to wonder if it would have even gotten this far and those babies would not have gotten hurt.

I don't believe a person has to be insane or mentally unstable in order to commit murder. I believe a person can be mentally unstable and STILL understand the difference between right and wrong. In our society we are so unwilling to believe that a person, mother or father, is willing and capable of killing her/her children. For some reason we have to think our society is 'better' than that, which is untrue. I believe these criminals should be convicted and serve prison sentences. Of course, this comes with the pledge that we provide QUALITY care for those found guilty, and do not throw them into the morass of our criminal justice system. Also, even though the mom on trial looks completely drugged, she is showing absolutely no emotion, which really seems sociopathic rather than 'unstable'.

Look at her face. I can make the same face. It is the Sympathy look. She is saying "Look at this face, look how sad I am for what I did." that is the most fake look I have ever seen. That face will work. Listen to the conversations going on about this case. Yep, it is working. She has convinced them, what makes us think she hasn't hooked the jury.

No one has mentioned that Michelle Kehoe's original plan was that she – along with Sean and Seth – was supposed to die during the botched murder/ suicide. It sounds like she carefully crafted that note so that – in her mind – when her and the boys' bodies were found the authorities would believe her story and blame this attacker and they boys could go to heaven and she to hell without anyone knowing what she had done. I think her "insanity" defense would have been barely questioned had she dropped the "mysterious attacker" story once she and Sean survived the event and were rescued.

Jami Floyd you are great...I'm so disgusted by this case, come on a real insane person couldn't make up some false story, a real insane person wouldn't be able to stay still and stand trail. I'm apploygize but I'm going to say this system is build for one race.. had this been a black woman she would have been guilty on all charges and would be facing death or life... when it comes to white people there is always some type of excuse. It's always how can we help them, “oh lets get them some type of treatment maybe they would get better”. Theres no treatment for this, she needs to be lock-up just like everyone else.. Listening to her son is so sad.. i'm crying as I write this...why do bad people have children. It's a true gift from God to have a child, and somepeople don't kno how lucky they are.. =...(

Can you say Munchousan Syndrome by Proxy???

1) The "accident" the year before

2) The pre-planning of this in the woods

3) She wants to die but YET she makes sure she lives while leaving the children to die

4) After telling the detective she just wants to die, as soon as he left the room she's getting all comfy by the nurse–getting her tissues and her head all propped up

This is does NOT rise to the level of "insanity" or she'd have been dead right there in those woods rather than having the "mind" to go for help for herself.........
Nor would she have been able to stop in the midst of her crime to write a false statement to cover for herself.
Thank God Sean lived to tell the truth because had he not she'd have denied it to the end of time, despite the evidence at the scene!

If this defense works it will be another lesson well learned from Andrea Yates case, a woman who has helped to give women basically a license to kill their kid's then claim "insanity" so they never have to pay the consequences with a single day behind bars where they truly belong.
And, isn't it so strange how these women are only insane for the flash of time it takes to harm their own children yet never before nor after???

I agree that the lady is insane.

She is guilty and needs to be put away for the rest of her life. It is a shame that Iowa does not have the death penalty, because this would be a case that is deserving of the death penalty. Killing a defenseless child is by far one of the worst crimes one can commit. This was nothing but a cold premeditated murder that she tried to cover up after the fact. I suppose anyone would have to be a little insane to commit such a crime, but she knew what she was doing before during and after the crime was committed.

I am sick and tired of people being able to take lives and get away with it because they want to claim being "crazy" Crazy or not, you decided to take a life(s) and you should spend the rest of your life rotting in prison.

Now in this case. This woman knew what she was doing and she planned every part of it. What she didn't plan is that one of her son's would live through it. Thank god he did because now he can put her in prison where she belongs.

She deserves to be done to her what she did to her boys. But, of course, that won't happen so the next thing is to send her to prison for the rest of her life and let her be someone's btch in prison.

I couldn't imagine what this litle boy is going through. I hope this little boy gets the help that he needs so that he can live his life, not only for himself but for his little brother that never got the chance. They are in my thoughts and prayers.

Mary from Mesa, Az

Lavoisier Johnson

The jury hung on the previous trial. I googled and came up with it, as I didn't watch the trial. I only watch live trials.

WOW. Our world is messed up. Trying to argue that this women was insane at the time is just a cop out. That's what everyone seems to be arguing in order to get out of their crimes. Anyone on the jury would also be insane to let this ' mother " get away with the murder on her youngest son and attempt on her other.

That is very sad. She is guilty

She needs to go to jail

It is so sad how parents mistreat there kids. What is more sad is how some State and Federal agencies who are paid by tax dollars to investigate claims of child abuse, they do such poor job. In the State of Illinois nearly every day a kid is killed at the hands of their parents. This is pure madness and must stop. I urge CNN to do a day long program that focus on child abuse, how child abuse can be stop, and the failure of Government to stop child abuse from occuring even once they have been notified by family, friends, and the community.

Mark A. Clements-Chicago, Illinois
Rogers Park

it's people like this that make it difficult for the actual persons with mental illness to get the respect and help that they need and deserve.
She did it. let her own it. Hopefully the little boy is getting the help he needs and is being looked after by loving non judgemental people.
It's pretty sad that the killer has more rights than the victims.

No death penalty in Iowa. She tried to drown her sons before when she drove into a cold river in Iowa City, but 2 men dove in the icy waters to rescue them. I am from Iowa, and this is getting more legal news on here than in Iowa. I feel her husband should be held accountable for some of this as he had to know what she was planning.

This women I think is suffering from depression. Although I believe this women was not insane at the time of this crime. We would all be able to understanding the nature if we could think this women is insane. Most people suffering from temporary insanity have no memory of their actions or do not plan crimes in advance. I do not think in this case the child should testify due to he would have to relive this crime and he is needing time to heal with proper steps.

how would the mother feel if she was put in that position if she was a young still. putting her sons' life in danger , she would have to have a mental disorder if there isnt a reason why she did that.

Insanity? I think not. She made up a story to cover what she had did. Only a sane person does that. There is no excuse for this. This boy has been through enough and he was brave to let authorities know what happened in as much detail as he could during this awful time for him. Can we get an update on how the boy is doing now? As far as the mother goes...i think insanity is out of the question. The process was thought out too much by her. She literally bought the knife and tape a week earlier to do this act.

Michelle Kehoe is not INSANE, she is putting on a show to save her own behind. Look at her face stone cold killer that is what she is. She has shown no emotion what so ever. I dont care if the lawyers tell you not to show any emotion. If you are human and love your children you will show emotion regardless. Her not doing so just plays apart of acting like she is menatlly ill (INSANE). She should be put to death or life in prison, not a mental hospital. I can not believe that Iowa does not have the death penalty. I think that she knew she would be exempt from death penalty. Who left this women with these kids. She should have taken her own life if she could not handle being a mother. This jury is going to see through this women and find her GUILTY. Please do, do not let this women go she has to pay for what she has done to her children.

Watching and hearing about this makes me feel sick, that poor little guy had to go though so much, my heart breaks for him. I pray he gets the help he needs. As far as the "mother" she should rot in hell, if she wants to die let her die, she is a waste of space on this earth. I feel such rage listening to the little one talk about what happened and i look at her with her head down. What is going on in this world????

Any mother or father that kills there kids, should be put away for life

there is no excuse for the mothers actions what so ever the woman in sick but not in the way where anybody should feel sarrow or even think of aquital.

The tape of the little boy is the most heart wrenching thing I have ever heard. The mother is sitting there with no expression. However, she occasionally nods or shakes her head. She actually smiled at one point. Hearing the scene described didn't even bring a tear.
I am an intelligent person and I understand that insanity brings people to do horrible things. I have some experience with mental illness in my family. However, the mother in me wants justice for these little boys. This murder and attempted murder was planned and took such follow through. To be able to do such a thing to anyone, especially your own children must be punished.

As for Marion...

You seem honest and educated about what you say. However, i guess you were too "psychotic" to stop yourself from having the children in the first place.

Just to let you know....I never once thought of harming my children or have thought about walking away because i felt like i was going too. It scares me to think there are people like you out there. That is not normal.

I'm sure you didn't purposely do this(have children). But maybe this is natures way of "weeding out" people that are psychotic from passing the gene down to their offspring.

Don't get angry at me for suggesting this. I have no compassion or excuses for people who harm children or kill other people and i too, am entitled to my opinion.

I totally disagree having LKB on as a guest.She is a lawyer for the Casey Anthony case,promoting her new book on this show.How low can she get.?L.K.B. has lost any respect I had for her.Bottom feeder in my opinion,making money off the death of a murdered child.

I can not believe that the insanity plea was even thrown in there, this woman intentionaly did this and deserves to spend the rest of her life suffering for it.

Kids should never be put on the stand.Its bad enough they have gone through something tragic.

If the mother had really wanted to kill herself, she still had access to the knife. She seems to have meticulously planned every aspect of these murders. The only thing that didn't go as planned is that the older child lived to identify his attacker – his MOM!

no parents especially a mother would harm their children if they are in the right stage of thinking. i believe that she was in a stage of dillusion or having a mental illness

I really agree with dr. buzz, because I could tell how she's like "Well, g-d told me to kill my son because g-d wants my son." She needs a supervisor to make sure she takes her daily pills.

I believe anyone who kills another person has to be somewhat mentally ill. In this day and age if you don't go seek help for yourself or a family member then you should be put away forever if you kill someone. She can lie and try to cover up, she is sane enough for me to go to jail for the rest of her life. Why is jail such a bad option for her? I think her son would feel much safer with her in jail as opposed to a "hospital".

I have to say that i think that we are wasting alot of peoples money and time, even having cases like this in our courtrooms. Whether she is deemed sane or insane she has no place in society. Put her away and let her stay there until the doctors can diagnos her. The courts are putting the kids through even more hell by just making them remember this over and over again. She has no rights, quit trying to give her the benefit of the doubt. Put her away or put her to sleep.

Why do we even want to give her the chance to get better. Come on.. she killed and injured her kids !!!!!!! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that. Quit being easy on these people that commit violent crimes against our children. If she killed one of your kids...you wouldn't be sitting here wondering if she is innocent or sane. Wow, what has this safe country we call the US became. Kill somebody or create a violent crime and you get 3 hots and a cot and a little place to rest for a while where you can watch TV, play cards and never have to make a decision for yourself again. Man....what a punishment.

I think she knew full well what she was doing because #1 she took those poor little ones to a secluded area. Why? Because she knew what she was about to do was wrong! Note! about to do! (planning). She blamed it on a stranger at first! Why! To attempt blame on a fictitious person for the "wrongdoing'!

Michelle planned everthing ,for someone who had worked for a mental help institute, she learned how to act in taking care of patients. How sick are some criminals, this is obvious I hope justice is served, she neads LIFE BEHIND BARS no acting awards!!!

I understand the mother this did this unforgivable act, this was well thought out an planned. BUT/I have a big problem with this farther/husband of this woman. What?is this guy blind that he did not see what was going on. Something is just bothering me about this guy!

She knew exactly what she was doing the whole time. Yes, there are some people who are "legally insane" but there are others that are just plain evil. This woman is just plain evil. The only reason she "owned" what she did was because the older boy fooled her and lived!

This woman is an aspiring writer, who used her boys as a method of "killing two birds with one knife" sorry.. She is a classic narcissist, who though she found a way to START OVER, having a story line to kick off her new life, first as a classic victim, endlessly sought after interview subject, then as a writer, with her NOTE as a highly fantasized treatment outline, for her movie of the week screenplay..
She takes "Munchausen by proxy" to a new level... Carlo

Is she high on drugs in court? She looks like she is in outter space and not even tuned into what is going on around her! Could this be an act to convince the jury she is insane? Who has her onther son that survived?

This woman had it together to lie about this astraged man being there. So, there she knows what she's done! This is in the news daily,did she really think this would fly...come on!!! I think the death penatly is in order here although they ( other inmates ) dont take kindly to woman killing there own children. Maybe she should suffer like that precious baby. She doesn't look to upset to me. Those poor angels...GOD BLESS!!!

Rhonda
Ohio

The current trial of the wo man who killed her little boy and injured her other son. If as they say she had so so many mental and health issues, why in gods name did'nt the rest of the family know and protect these little angels

My problem is this; IF she was so depressed, so suicidal, so dangerous, then why was she not committed BEFORE she did this? I don't buy for a minute that she was "insane" when she did the deeds! She knew exactly what she was doing and why she was doing it! She is hardly the only person who had a bad childhood with evils done to us. I for one, had a terrible childhood at the hands of my mother! But I hardly killed my children or anyone else!

The problem to me in this case,when her sucide attempt failed,she seeked help for herself,but no help for her children.That shows me that she really did not want to die.But she did want her kids to die!!!!

There is no doubt this insane lady is guilty. It seems the courts take way too long to punish these creepy people. These maniacs need no mercy in my book!

Only in america were you can kill your kids as long as you claim insanity. Why the hell was she allowed to have kids if everyone knew she was crazy insane? This is crazy, the justice system is basically saying that it's okay to hurt people just as long as you claim insanity, "It's okay, just as long as you take this pill," bull. Way to go justice system, you continue to be full of crap.

i think people who try to kill theirselves as many times as this woman need to be sterilized. they can kill theirselves if they want , but there won't be any innocent babies to suffer because of them...

The one I feel sorry for is the boy who survied this horrible attact from someone is is suppose to always love and protect them. This evil woman is to rot in prison and really that is to good for anyone who could do such an evil act. There are plenty of women who would love to have children and can't and here she is KILLING what God has gave to her, she should have KILLED her stupid self and left the boys alone . That way they both would still be here today and this evil woman would be gone so that the boys could have lived a normal life.

this is a very hard case and in my opinion... she should be found guilty... yes she may be insane but she new what she was doing... how could you cut yourself and your two sons then realize your not going to die then decide to go to someones home and say a man tried to kill me and my two sons... she knew when she didnt die that she was screwed, and made up a story... i fell for this little boy and his brother and dad... may god be with you.... GUILTY.....
Emily

Unless you have suffered from Major Depressive Illness, you cannot understand the pain. To reach the point where you believe that death is the only relief, even believing you will go to hell, should tell people something. She sees heaven for her boys. Perhaps her life of pain motivated her to the action, knowing she wouldn't be there to care for or protect her children from the pain she had experienced. Now, if this is the thinking that goes along with her major depression after trying all that psychiatry, counseling , and interventions have to offer, I want to know who thinks she's sane. The attorneys need to get inside the head of those who have suffered from this major illness in order to attempt to portray it to a jury and the public. Some people are fortunate and recover, or find relief in treatment while others do not. Some people with a lot of money will try and use this to cover up crimes. This was a horrific crime, a sad sad situation, and a woman who will probably end up in jail for the rest of her life. I don't believe she cares about that, but she needs to be in a secure place (probably for life) where there will be some attempt of treatment. I don't think society cares enough about the impact of mental illness, only prosecution for the crimes that are committed due to its impact on a human life. I believe this child is in heaven, and I believe his mother has been and is already in hell. Where they lock her up won't matter much.

If this women was found 2 B A danger 2 herself. Then Why in the wolrd did she still have custody of her children? If anyone paid attention 2 this and put her kids in a stable home then I think her son would still B alive 2day.

I live in south florida and there are hundreds of petifiles that have been let out of prison because of not enough room to house them to keep them in prison. At this time they have taken up housing under bridges near our children and nothing is being done. How do we know if she is put in a mental institution there wouldn't be the same case where they don't have enough room and let her out early. She is a dangerous woman to herself and to society, she needs to be locked up forever. It's unfortunate Iowa does not have the death penalty.....

Anyone noticed the odd way Mrs Kehoe looks like Molly Shannon:)

I think she should be punished to the max. It does not matter if she was trying to kill herself or not she should have not brought her kids into it. I have a three year boy, he is the reason I live and breathe every day. He is my everythang. I do feel bad for what happened to her when she was little but that is no excuse she should have learned from and made a better life for her and her boys. I had a bad life, I was around alcoholics and i was abused, The same with my husband. We would never once think about hurting our son for what happened to us. There is no reason or excuse to hurt or kill a child.

It time to execute this monster , no mercy for child killers.
When is the laws going to change in all states? No place for her in society .

Mrs Kehoe appears to be very sedated on antidepressant meds. She should not be found guilty of murder. She is very ill. She needs to be in mental hospital under close supervision. it appears she has had mental issues for many years. The state of Ia. knew about her issues. and did not follow up on her appointments. The state needs to be liable for her actions because she was not properly taken care. you can tell she has been asking for help. the sad thing was she killed one son and injured the other

What a pleasure to listen to the calm, dispassionate, professional Mr Ford. (As opposed to the emotional, sometimes irrational anchor in the afternoon).

Professional practice of psychotherapy requires that one who would presume to try to help others, be non-judgmental. For many, that is the most difficult part of training: learning not to judge others. The problem is that courts require that judgments be made. This is neither in our training or our focus. Psychological disciplines practice from different theories and perspectives so the obvious contradictions introduced by an adversarial process make the judgments offered seem silly or irrelevant. There is no real relationship between mental health forensics and the mental health disciplines they try to represent. Therapists don't belong in courtrooms! We need better public education concerning relevant mental health issues and some attention to an archaic system that could use some updating.

So I just watched the verdict..........al I hear is "that poor woman" "what a sad verdict" I will tell you what is sad...........the child she killed and the child she scarred! Who is feeling "sad" for them?? This woman should go straight to the chair!

Way to go jurrors and lawyers I think you all did a GREAT job and she got what she deserves just as long as they put her away FOR LIFE without a chance of getting out. I hope her son can some day have
a normal life because now he will not have to think about her or see her and fear for his life again. She even owned up herself she wasn't insanse when she told the doctor "I knew what I was doing and I knew it was bad". Maybe she will meet her match in prison .God have mercy on her.

I think the jurrors made the right decision.If she only wanted the boys to go to heaven, and herself to hell, she sure could have done it in a much more humane way. She was a pharmacy tech,for goodness sake.She would know what drugs to put them to sleep,never to awaken.She was well aware of overdose by insulin .But then she would also have known that she would really die .With her failed attempts ,she never really wanted to kill herself, just for her kids to be gone!!

The verdict was GUILTY of ALL charges.

These women deserve death .Kill them in the same manner they use to kill

Look, she needs death. A tooth for a tooth Right? Maybe, if we do to her. what she did to her boys, then justice would be served.

Justice will never be serve..the violation of a trust from a mom..that poor little boy

It's obvious to me that this woman knew that what she was doing was wrong for two reasons: 1- she took the boys to a secluded place – she didnt want anyone to see what she was about to do; and 2 – she put tape over their eyes – she didnt want to look into their eyes while she killed them. Now, i am not a professional, and most of my knowledge about crime solving and anylization comes from tv, but to me, those two actions speak volumes about her alleged "insanity". I think she is guilty of murder, not craziness.

And what will happen to her even if she is found competant to stand trial? She will sit in a nice cozy prison cell, get fed three meals a day and live off taxpayers money. And if she is sentenced to death, she will wait years and years before anythign ever comes of it, and then when it is time to execute her, they will just put her to sleep... WTF!!!??? In cases like this, they shoudl bring back the electric chair... gas chamber... guillotein... Make her hurt like she made her children hurt... The same goes for all child molesters/rapists/killers... Fry them all!!!!!!

What was the sentencing for Michelle Kohoe?