Iowa woman confessed to slashing sons' throats

It's so sad to listen to that poor little boy telling the detective what his own Mother did to he and his baby brother. I do believe this woman is sick and needs help,but I do not think she is insane. She put too much planning into this. I' ve had clinical depression since I was a child(diagnosed when I was a teen) but I never killed anybody and my children were perfectly safe w/ me. I was wondering if this woman has ever gone to a psychiatrist,if not, she sure needed to.

It is just wrong to have a child testify in open court. A child should not have to face their abuser at all it should be law that they are able to video tape their experience.

This is outrageous, their is no insanity claim here, you can't justify killing children, or anybody. I don't think the 8 year old should testify because not only will he be forced to relive the moment, he will be infront of his mother and kids have a hard time explaining things when parents are present, no kid wants to be displeasing to a parent for any reason so i think its in his best interest not to be there.

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.

In response to the question of the day, I would have to say that each case is different. In following other court cases, I've noticed that children make good witnesses because they are prone to be honest, whereas sometimes adults aren't so honest. In a case like Michelle Kehoe's, where the child in question is also the victim, certain factors have to considered. The most important issue would be the child's emotional state. If the child has been receiving counseling and is able to take the stand, then it should seriously be considered. However, if the child's emotional state is still fragile, then he should not be asked to take the stand. Putting a child on the witness stand who is not ready emotionally to face the accused could cause even more psychological damage, from which he may never recover. I think having the child testify is acceptable as long as it's not detrimental to the child's well being.

This lady obviously knew what she was doing! Starting with the purchase of the knife and ducttape a month prior-then with the attempted planned out (ridiculous) cover up she tryed to use. She is guilty-ad insanity is not an option in this case!

Depends on their age. Young & unstable children should be questioned by defense & prosecution via video or closed circuit TV and only displayed to the court & jury.

I don't think kids should have to testify in court bc they already lived the nightmare once they shouldn't have to relive the nightmare again. Its a shame of what kids go threw.

Whether this woman is legally insane or not she needs to be put away for the rest of her life ! To do this to your own flesh and blood is horendus, I hope they seal her somewhere for good.

She is crazy! She should spend the rest of her life suffering. Those boys should have never had to go through that. I live in Iowa and they had to have a mock jury to even see if they could find jurors! Hard to listen to the son talking about it. She don't even look like she is even sorry for what she did.

I have been an elementary school educator for more than 20 years, and I feel that NO young child should be subjected to testifying against their parent(s) in court. I see day in and day out what many children are exposed to at the hands of their egocentric, ignorant immoral parents. Children do not choose their parents, and it is our duty as adults to provide them with the emotional support they need to become responsible adults. Putting a child through anything this trumatic is not only sinful, but forever damaging!

Children should never testify in an open court – it may be too intimidating, even traumatic, and could scar the child for the rest of his life.

This woman's actions and characteristics seem to be level with those of a psychopathic person. Her lack of emotion and her lack of genuine remorse are the clinchers. She also appears to have lessions on her face that are potentially a result of drugs like crystal meth. Evil comes in so many forms and the last decade or two seem to be bringing so many women out of the woodwork, finally. Now people realize that being a parent, charm or looks from our gender doesn't always mean a good heart. Women "snap" probably more often than men in today's society. Hence, the media coverage on shows such as "Snapped" on Oxygen. This woman needs and deserves the death sentence. There is no hope for this woman; psychopathic people experience only false emotion and are not curable. The book, "Without Conscience", by Dr. Robert Hare, PhD is a leading source of information for people to understand just what this disease is all about.

Any possible thoughts on Munchausen or Munchausen's bi-proxy in this case? Are Kehoe driving into the river and the ultimate event on trial the only historical events of this nature in Kehoe's background?

My sister and I were raised by a mentally ill mother.
Her biggest fear was asking for help so we
learned "love for her" meant keeping secrets. My sister and I now have
severe anxiety, PST disorder and no significant others. I don't know
who was Michelle's "lucky" son...the one who lived or the one who died.
To be dead literally or figuratively... It's the same to us.

This story is just appalling! How could she do that to her own kids? My sister lost 3 babies to illness and you have these sicko's who kill their kids deliberately. I have no sympathy for her and her acts, or to any mother who would do this, for there are many!! Yes, she needs help and most of all she needs to have her tubes tied to make sure she brings no more innocent kids into this world to kill!!

This lady needs some serious help! I am not convinced that her actions are in any way attached to her husband, ala rusty yates, who knew the issues and forced her to continue.

I want to be sick watching this case. I just had me son sleeping on my chest and seeing how helpless he is and how much trust he has in me to close his eyes and know that he is safe without a thought. It hurts so bad the idea of the fear those babies felt that day and the insecurities of wondering what they did wrong, I just want to hold them and tell them they did nothing! I am so heartbroken, she needs to face the steepest punishment allowable by the state, crazy or not I don't care. I am pro death penalty when crimes are against children or the crime is premeditated, I and I think it is a shame that she does not live in a death penalty case.

I think that a child should be able to testify to have closer on the trama in his/her life. the testamony should be on a t.v.outside the court room so they donot have to see the person who did the crime.

I think this parent needs 2 be in jail for life just 2 kill her own son why would she kill her son like that that breaks my heart for me and if i was that child and see that happen to my little brother i would cry to death so see my brother die like that.

Does Michelle say why she did this? I am having a ahrd time understanding how she is eligible for the insanity plea.

I would guess one would have to be insane to do such stuff to her children I can't imagine this because I have three beautiful children that I could never do anything like this too. God forbid anyone try to hurt my children because they are who I live for.

This defense should not be able to use the insanity defense, Due to the fact that this defendant commited these crimes in a premeditated manner, with the planning and purchase of the murder weapon as well as the pre-written note. The insanity defense is to prove she did not know what she was doing or she could not fully understand the ramifications of the crime. Considering she planned this all out and when questioned by the police lied about a unknown person commiting these crimes, Would indicate she knew fully well what she did was wrong and what the ramifications of her actions were.

I have been watching the show and I must say that if Susan Smith didnt get away with killing her children , why should miss Kehoe. If these mothers dont want their children, for heaven sake give them up for adoption. Children dont have choices, parents do. I also think , that this is premediated, due to the fact that she knew exactally what she was doing this time and last years episode as well. What a brave little boy of the one who lived. Thankyou Brooking Weaver

Could anyone tell me****" how long it took for Sean to get medical treatment?? "***It seemed like a long time,after all the questioning of so many police & 1st responders! I know his wounds were not life threating but it seems he should have been helped sooner.

I want to know if you think that Michele Kehoe's attorneys have her drugged up to support their insanity defense? It seems to me that she is not displaying any emotions due to being drugged. Can the State insist that she not be drugged so that we can see her true demeanor as opposed to this zombie we are all seeing?

I think it would depend on the child's age on whether they should testify in court. The trauma the child suffered is bad enough and having them relive it in court in front of the person who hurt them can traumatize them even more. An older child, maybe by age 13, may be able to handle it, but younger than that is not good for the child, especially when it's the parent who hurt them.

Tracy

Fallon, Nv

With her making plans so far in advance, what if her "accident" in December was planned so that she could use it as part of her insanity defense in October. I don't for a minute think she is anything but a cold hearted killer.

The only thing that is insane in this trial is the notion that the 7 year old should be forced to testify against his mother in open court. In a child's mind his motheris the one person he should always be able to trust. Besides, she taped his eyes shut so that he couldn't actually see her do what she did.

Kehoe has to be crazy, unless she is some kind of depraved killer & she is not, since this is her only crime. No mother could slash her own childs throat & not be crazy. I hope that this child gets a lot of prof essional help & its going to take years. Could you just imagine trying to explain to a friend, that your mother tried to kill you. They better have a real good therapist ! Im sure they have looked into any other reason for this to have happened. Like the one that wanted to be with her boy friend, & he didnt want kids.

Since when is it considered insanity to meticulously plan out the brutal murder of your sons?

there is no defense for something like that....insane or not that was sick. if some big name movie star got his throat slashed the feds would go after them and put them in jail. her son means just as much as any movie star. i say throw her in jail for life. first degree murder

Insanity defense...no way! She continued with lies about being abducted, after leaving carefully written note about supposed abduction. God bless this little boy who had to say it was his own mother who had done this, such a scar on his future well being.

I feel she is being afforded to much leniency, in not facing the death penalty.

As a mother, I feel that it's so PATHETIC the way the show hosts seem to be rallying around this mother; they would NEVER support a father who is accused of doing the same thing like this. They are so convinced that no sane mother would ever do something like this; why can't the same argument could be used for fathers? Also, they seem to be blaming the father (where was he when this happened? why didn't he see that she was troubled?). It's enough to drive decent people insane! I think this is so indicative of the sad shape our society is in today. We must look at the crime and not the suspect like society tends to. If justice were truly blind, then she would be convicted, locked up, and the key thrown away like it needs to be.

I think that the evidence of malice aforethought is compelling and that it will be very hard to claim insanity. Although there is some information that explains her behavior; I think that the evidence to the contrary is stronger. I agree with Frances, that regardless of any of the evidence, a 7 year old being forced to testify about this incident will negatively effect him for years to come.

There has to be some missing or broken links inside this woman's brain, but insane she is/was not! She has no defense. Not only did she spend alot of time planning this tragedy and deserves what the American people give her, but her poor son needs more love , understanding, and counseling than all of America could provide. What are we doing to our children?

I feel that this is a sick and selfish act against her children. No matter her rhyme or reason, these are her children and she has failed as a parent. As a mother of two boys myself, there is nothing in this world that could cause me to commit such an act. I do nor feel that the insanity plea for her should be an option due to the fact that she has been planning this slaying for a few months; then the question remains had she attempted this before with running off into the river in 2007. I feel as though the "accident" was also an attempt to end their lives, but failed when the four men put a hand out in the rescue.

With all the cases that we hear about mothers killing their children, I will never understand how it is possible for anyone in their right mind to commit such a selfish act. As a parent our job is to protect our children at all cost, if that means laying down our own lives for our children then so be it, but we not inflect harm upon them. '

Amber in Calhoun, KY.

Karen ChevalierThis case is so horrific! All cases where children are harmed are heartwrenching, and this one in particular, was so maticulously planned and with at least a month of forethought- but she never changed her mind.

My God, what happens in some mother's minds that would make people want to harm/kill their children? All parents who harm their children ... Read Morecould claim insanity and have people believe that defense because we cannot imagine anyone doing this unless they were insane. But they do. And MUST be held accountable no matter how impossible it is for the rest of us to comprehend! We shouldn't call that insanity simply because we cannot comprehend such behavior!

I wonder if there were signs (besides the "accident" the previous year) that she was having such suicidal and homiciidal thoughts- and if there were, were they too subtle to have been taken seriously?

While watching this woman in court, it is obvious that she shows NO remorse or even any emotions for that matter. Does anyone else think that this may have been an insane act of aggression to get back at her husband or to make him suffer for some reason, surely after the loss of his son and the trama his other boy faced, this father has to be completely in shock over this whole situation.

This is a clear case of an eye for an eye....this woman should be out to death and not waste taxpayers time or money or out her surviving son through anymore pain.

As a teacher, I am incredibly proud of the bravery of the big brother. He did not know what else to do but be honest and because of his innocent honesty, he was able to be Seth's voice. Never underestimate the resilience of children. That's for sure. The mother makes me absolutely SICK giggling at the sound of her little boy's answers. She doesn't deserve any sweet memories.

I agree that this is a tragic sad event that this woman did to her two small children. I also agree that she is not insane she planned this to the last step. My only concern is for Sean he has suffered at the hand of his own mother and lost his little brother by the same means. I pray that he gets help for this now and not when it is too late. He is scared not only by the visible scares but that of the emotional ones placed upon his small young life. Being hurt by someone so close such as a parent is more traumatizing and harder to understand.

I am a Senior Criminal Justice major and I find this case very interesting. Is it thought that the mother did not want to live and in so, did not want to leave her children behind? Is this a thought in the insanity plea?

Mental illness does not equal dangerous, and dangerous does not equal mental illness. (Unless we're ready to "help" every serial killer and other murderer instead of putting them in prison.) I actually AM mentally ill and have been off and on for at least 30 years. We used to watch CourtTV in the hospital and I never met any fellow patient who thought these murdering mothers are truly as "insane" as they claim. Mental illness is real, and it is awful–but it's NOT an excuse to kill your children. The mental patients I've known (and I've known PLENTY) were often very disturbed, but also some of the kindest, most empathetic people I've ever met.

It is sad that those children had to suffer such a traumatic event under the care of their own mother. Mental illness is real! There should be programs in place to help those that are victims of the illness to combat these types of event from even happening. The problem with our society is that we are soooo reactive but never proactive. I think the mother is suffering from some type of mental disability but she needs to REAP the consequences of killing one her children and attempting to kill another one. The death penalty will put her out of her misery. Let the mental health professionals proactively help Little Sean cope with having a lunatic for a mother. How horrible!!!!

I don't understand these women who kill their children. My childhood was filled with mental physical and sexual abuse. I was brought with drug and alcohol abuse my entire childhood. I don't drink, I don't use anything stronger than Excedrin. I have five girls living with me. They are all healthy, happy, honor roll students. I was diagnosed with Psychophrenia, and PTSD three years ago. I have never duct taped or hurt my children in any way. I just can't understand.

I'm outraged, if she wanted to commit suicide, then do it, but leave these two defensless children out of it! This poor child (Sean) that survived this brutal and uncalled for attack will live with the the rest of his life, I just hope that the father, along with the courts get this little boy some psychological counseling. This mother (if you can call her that) needs to spend the rest of her life in a prison, she's NOT insane, she's just plain MEAN!! I believe that the Death Penalty in this case should be given, not Life!

this is so sad and horrific! this anger and violence is happening way too often, and it so unneccasary!! these mentally sick and disturbed people need to be seriously evaluated before deciding to have children. there is no reason why the children should suffer one's mental challenges or illnesses!!

The question of insanity is appalling to me. Any mother that would intentionally put her children in danger and even worse try to kill them has got to be insane. I have two boys, ages five months and five years and everyday I live to protect and care for them. This woman is insane but still responsible for her actions and deserves to be labeled nothing less than a murder.

First incident, the mother followed Susan Smith's actions and failed to drown her boys and possibly herself in a lake. And the act later using a knife to slash throats and blame a male attacker is straight from the case in Texas where a mother was convicted of slashing both sons and herself in the throat in their home. She got life. I feel the Iowa mother made these decisions and acted on them.

This case makes me cry. Those poor boys. My feelings fluctuate between feeling sorrow for the mother to wanting to jump through my T.V. screen and beat the hell out of her. I promote Kindness, so the later feelings are totally inappropriate. I realize that having such mixed feelings is OK, despite my efforts to promote kind acts. As defined in my dictionary insane is: not sane; mentally ill; deranged. What she did was deranged...so I guess that makes her insane. Regardless of the verdict, she should never walk the streets again.

ok , copycat of Susan Smith's actions with the car/drowning boys AND Darlie Routier of Texas slashing throats and blaming a male attacker. Darlie and Susan both survived.

I think she has been plan this for some time this is sad she didn't even cry when she heard her little boy in the court answer the question he was been asked.

i'm not buying her insanity, she knew exactly what she was doing when she took the life of her son and tried to take the life of her other son. i do not agree that someone can be that out of it to actually kill their own flesh and blood. she knew what she was doing was wrong. no tears as she sits there in court. she looks like she's more upset that she was caught. i also am deeply saddened by what the surviving son had to go through and what he will have to endure for the rest of his life. and after all, isnt this case about hr murdering and attempting to murder her children? not what "state" she was in at the time? i do not believe in the insanity defense, it is a mockery of the judicial system.

Yeah Buddy it's Dr. Buzz in the house. It's not often that I diagree with him but I just have to this time. Michelle Kehoe planed out a vicious murder of her two children.
I raised six children of my own and I'm sure my neighbors could hear me scream "Calgon Take Me Away"! but not once did I ever consider taking the lives of my little monsters.
Hold Her Accountable!!!
Joyce KS

I listen to all the commentators saying that she should be allowed to see her son and husband. Saying its not right to have the protective order against her having contact with her son and relatives. That it assumes guilt. HEY, she admits killing the one son and trying to kill the other. So Jami feels it is more important that the killer should be allowed to see and talk to her son. How about the pyshcological impact it will have on the Victim.

I can NOT believe this woman's defense team is actually trying the insanity plea. She intended to kill BOTH of those poor babies then hide behind the made up abduction story. She didn't come clean until after being informed that Sean had survived and told the truth. She had this planned out......

I have no sympathy for this woman. She is a disgrace.

If Kehoe is medicated during her court proceedings it may be the reason for her demeanor in the court room. Even low doses of meds can/will cause a lack of emotions such as tears, crying, etc when viewers may think she SHOULD be showing remorse. Perhaps Dr. Buzz could help viewers understand this better.

I unfortunately had an encounter with Michelle Kehoe at the Buchanan County Courthouse after having to serve time for a 2nd OWI offense. I shared a cell with Michelle, not knowing who she was at first and I tell you being a mother and being around someone like that was horrible and terrifying. She asked me, "Please don't judge me" I said in return, "I wont judge you, God will do that in the end, but I do have my opinion of you." Later I asked her, "What do you regret most, doing what you did or not finishing it?" She replied, "both" then continued and said "I didn't want to be here anymore, and I didn't want my children growing up without a mother because what happened to me as a child." In my opinion, she is absolutely not crazy or insane or what ever she may claim. She knew exactly what she was doing and it is sickening. Any jury in their right mind will see this and I hope that she gets the worse possible punishment there is. For all of our children safety, I feel horrible for her survived son and wish him the best of luck.

There are things that I question and things I wish to comment on. Question: Is this a temporary insanity plea? In Texas, she would not be sitting in that courtroom if she were not clinically judged mentally competent to aid in her own defense.
As for her demeanor during the audio witness of her surviving son. She smiles, she shakes her head no; she is in the moment. She is connected to the testimony being given.

Should THIS child testify in open court? Absolutely NOT. His abuser, because of HER rights is sitting at a table in front of him if he testifies. The trauma is complete already.

As to the "contact" restrictions; have extended family members – grandparents, aunts, uncles, and the like been evaluated for purposes of providing comfort, etc. Even supervised visitation is better than no contact. Did I understand correctly that this boy remains in the unsupervised custody of his father???
That just floors me. Not due to danger of physical harm but because of the internal conflict this child has and cannot give a voice to.
Where are the guardians to help and protect this child?

Regarding the comments of others on this blog, as to sympathy for the defendant; do not project your own value system onto someone who by her actions does not share that value system. It does not indicate that she insane by any clinical definition. Sociopaths do what is convenient, and in their own best interest.
Not all sociopaths kill, but this one did.

I agree I am still crying after listening to the little boy's voice say what his mother had done to him and his brother.

her interview made me physically ill,For the first time I seen her dememer change it was not when the son she also tried to kill was having to relive the horror she put him in then and for the rest of his life! no they were for HER she may be depressed,who wouldn't be in her place she got caught! but that in noways mean she is insane.
B.J from S.C.

Umm, don`t you think you have to be insane not only to think about it for two months, but to acually do it to those poor kids. SHE`S NUTS!!!

Please email me as tp my feelings Brook weaver

Eugenics is not the answer! (As a previous poster seems to think.) There are plenty of people with mental illness who are able to raise their children without harming them. What is disgusting is people like Kehoe claiming mental illness as an excuse to kill her precious boys. I have been hospitalized many times with some seriously mental ill people. NONE condoned the killing of children or had any sympathy for these "mommy murderers". There's a difference between "insane" and evil.

Premeditated MURDER like this does NOT warrant an "insanity" plea! That is NOT mental illness.

I think that a child should have the right to decide for themselves weather they should or shouldn't sit and face there attacker. I also feel that they should be able to decide how they would like to face their attacker. For instance a visual barrier between the victim and accused with a monitor so only the victim could view accused if they choose to. I also think that the questions that have been created in the mind of the child from the incident should be asked by him or her and the accuser should be forced by the court to answer the questions. If this little boy is capable of saving himself after a vicious brutal attack! then surely he has earned the right to decide for himself weather he wants to chew her ... !!! Otherwise if we cant present the child in the courtroom without him or her feeling safe, then forget it! The child has been through enough!

Does anyone remember the Diane Downs case? She shot all three of her children, killing one and seriously wounding her other two. Her surviving daughter testified and she was convicted. The prosecuters waited a very long time before charging Ms. Downs, waiting for the daughter to be mentally able to get on the stand. If not for that child's testimony, that baby killer would have walked! Sometimes it is necessary, not ideal!

The name of the town is Jesup, not Jessop. I know this because part of my school years were spent in the small town.

just wanted to set the record correct.

thanks,,,

Bruce

This is the second time that we know of that this woman has attempted to kill herself and her two sons. If this woman had been in a clear mind, she would have gotten into the van after she woke up, not dragged herself down the road to the nearest house. This woman is sick/ill. She didn't even look to see if she had successfully pulled off her attempt and missed seeing the 7 year old on the ground outside the van. If this was premeditated or calculated, wouldn't she have looked for the child to finish the job? Come on, as sad as this is, it just doesn't make sense.

I just don't buy that this woman is insane. I think she's trying to dodge the bullet being the prison sentence to obtain a lesser penalty because she did not kill herself as first planned. Also, by Kehoe stating, "What I did was unforgivable..." just goes to show that her actions were fit for the mind of a true criminal–NOT a legally insane person.

She took them OUT of the VAN to attack them. Saves on cleaning the up later.

When she is told they know the truth because Sean survived does she say thank God at least one of my babies survived, nope.
She says 'just kill me' YET when the officer leaves the room she's getting all comfy attention from her nurse–get some tissues, prop me up etc etc.

How much attention did she get from their near drowning......and most likely expected from this?

Munchousan Syndrome by Proxy is NOT insanity.

And, why is it these mother's are only "psychotic" while they're killing their children yet not before nor after???

And most importantly, THEY survive while their kids DIE?

Sorry, that just doesn't cut it for me and it shouldn't for our justice system. Depressed people even suicidal people are not necessarily "crazy". I think the proof is in the planning–too much of it and as for her demeaner–it's all about HER.

I don't believe this woman is insane. She had put to much planning into her mission to murder her sons and herself. I do believe she needs mental help but is not insane. I would like to know if Sean feels his mother should be allowed to claim insanity. What are Sean's thoughts in all?

Once the defense presents its case, maybe we'll have some insight into this defendent. So far there is very little that we know. Her son's behavior under such adversity was amazing and indirectly shows that perhaps she had been an exceptional parent. I couldn't believe his responses that were so clear. I am waiting to hear the defense!
Also the husband seem to be missing from most of the discussion and I find this confusing.

I'm sorry ,but any Mother or Father that would kill there own children deserve to be locked up forever or given the death plenty. I think She knew what she was doing! she is just upset that her 7 year old son lived to tell the tale.....

Watching Michelle Kehoe listen to her son's interview disgusts me. The lack of emotion is very disturbing. I too understand what its like to fight mental illness, and I couldn't fathom hurting any child, let alone my own. I understand that society doesn't want to believe that a mother could be capable of committing such a horrific crime, "so she must be mentally ill", but the fact of the matter is that there are just cold hearted souls walking the earth. To give her a slap on the wrists would be unjust. If her son had not survived I'm positive she would be sticking to her story. I pray that the jury and judge see threw her fa-sod, and sentence her to life in prison. To allow her to go to a mental institution would send the wrong message to mothers across America and I feel more mothers would try and take the "mentally ill" way out!!

I think the first accident was truly and accident. I think she liked the attention she received and staged a second situation to garner more attention for herself. I don't buy the "post partum" insanity angle. She demonstrated so very few of the traditional symptoms. She deserves the death penalty.

I think rapist should have their genitalia removed and murderers should be tortured in prison for the rest of their lives as a reminder to themselves of what they did.

I feel she knew what she was doing? I also feel when she went into the Iowa River, she also new what she was doing? she also had to think about what she was going to do. What woman carriers a knife around. She killed her little boy and almost killed her other boy. I don't feel sorry for her. She needs to pay for what she did and forget insaned plea. I feel sorry for the little boy. I watch her on tv and feel she is acting. Watch how she acts when her little boy talks on audio tape. Why didnt she just take her own life. Why hurt the boys.

Brenda from S.C- She's not depressed, or ill, she's crazy. All she did was think about herself and what she wanted. But hey it seems to be " the next big thing" in our messed up society.

Her note about the attacker was merely to show what a devoted mother, caring and loving IN HER OWN MIND. Poor me note, my kids are gone. She probably knew she would be caught in the end.

I dont know how any mother could do what she did. She must be insane. If she didnt want to live, she should have taken her own life, and left the children with their father! If she knew they would go to heaven and her to hell, why is she saying that she would be with them?

I will tell you exactly what her letter meant.I believe she was clearly in a normal frame of mind and quite aware of what she was doing.The comment she ended the letter with is from a song ,I believe,so it tells me that she was clearly sane while writing it.I have a beautiful 1 year old little girl and the idea that a human being sane or not can do that sickens me and is incomprehensible.

the note proves she knew what she was doing. there is no question she committed this horrible act towards her children but she then tried to cover it up with a note. GUILTY

There's no way she was insane, if she wanted to end her life she had every opportunity to do so, she wouldn't have gone for help and lied to save herself.

A insanity plea should not remove being held criminally accountable for your actions that is such a lame and bs way out. If i was the father she wouldnt be breathing now. INSANITY is bogus and any lawyer that would even defend her on such has no morals or ethics and is doing it for the money only. Its sad when a job in our society is compromised by money in our legal system and our values and moral ethics dont play a part. You cant do anything in court anymore without a lawyer this or a lawyer that SAD society we live in.

I live in Iowa and many of us thought she should get life in prison before the trial. We now see just how sick she really is. I've heard many say that seeing her at the trial makes us thing she needs to be in a mental institution fer the rest of her life.

What does Kehoe's note tell us about the case? It tells us that she is conscious of the fact that what she did was wrong. The note is her attempt to cover her tracks and the fact that she wrote it immediately after the incident demonstrates the fact that she was, in fact, sane when she committed this crime.

Well as a woman, you are born with maternal instincts. So why is Kehoe different? The only thing that is different with her is that she KNEW people would immediatley go for the "insanity" plea. This woman is not mentally unstable. Nor is she insane. She can recall every moment of the incident, and she barely looks like she is sad..and when she does look sad I feel no sympathy. She might feel bad..that she got caught! She tried to lie about it...therefore she knew what was happening. The woman felt trapped by her children, and she knew people would look into mental issues. This woman deserves not the death penalty, but to rot in prison for what she has done. To be trapped by the constant thoughts of that day...and to sit the rest of her life dealing with the concequences of her actions. A man doing the same thing wouldnt be looked at nearly as closely for this crime..just because she is a woman we reconsider?

My opinion and mine only I don't believe she is insane as i believe someone mentally not with it could not cook up such a scheme to make it look like someone else did it and if Sean had not lived she may have gotten away with it. The boys were in her way, she went into the wrong business instead of having kids she should have gone to Hollywood whe would have gotten an oscar.

I think the fact that she fabricated such a detailed account of the events shows that she was capable of rational thinking. She was trying to cover up what she had done and therefore I am convinced that she knew right from wrong. For that reason I do not believe that she was insane at the time of the crime.

What amazes me is kehoe and other sick and twisted women take the time to plan and buy things to... Kill there on children! Why don't they save the childrens life by just dropping them off at familys house or church! Just because your ready to die or not have kids! Doesn't give you the right to take a innocent childs life.people like this make me sick!! P.s. If you take the time to plan it your not insane! You do need help but your not off in the head. Your just sick!! My blessing go out to every family something like this has happened to.

I just dont understand how all these women can kill their children and then say they have a mental illness. The reason i say that is because all of them i have seen either confess to it or make up a story about someone else doing it. How can they claim insane,but make up a pretty reasonable story before the cops arrive. Poor little sean seen his mother do this and i cant imagine what he will go through after seeing everything he seen. I have two little boys and every child gets ill and gets into trouble. I just dont understand how these women can do it and then plead insane, praying they dont go to jail. I just hope the LORD will forgive all these women before they die.

I have personally snapped before, I remember most of what happend, but I could not control any of it that was the result of being abused as a child & I never got any help,for along time I fel the blame for what happend to me. I still suffer the mind is intresting but i pray every day. I totally understand these cases, I was blessed that all of my actions weren't carried out. for people who don't believe nor understand, please know that,Angel's exist as well as evil spirits do. My prayer is to never relive what I experienced in 2003.

Re: Question "What is the mother trying to tell us in her note?"

The book "I'll Love You Forever I'll Like You for Always," is about a mother dying in old age after a lifetime of taking caring for her child. In return, the child takes care of the mother in old age. However, I believe that she planned to kill herself and her children. I don't believe that she expected to be alive right now. I, also, think this coincides with her mother being in an elderly home. On the way to see her mother, if she was thinking about that book for some reason she wanted to stop the cycle of caretaking. Maybe we will find some trauma come out from her childhood. Although, let me be very clear that there is NO excuse for what she did!!

It start at the moment of conception, you will do anything to protect your child, even animals in the wild , the mother will do anything ! anything, to protect the cubs, or the babies

This woman is an aspiring writer, who used her boys as a method of "killing two birds with one stone/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

I think Michele Kehoe kne exactly what she as doing and the fact that she tried to kill her son Sean and failed and he is a living witness and she knew she wasnt going to get away with it she tried to kill herself but did not accomplish her task..I pray that she doesnt get the death penalty i hope she gets life in jail without parole and has to sit in a cell and stare at pictures of her 2 yr old son with his little eyes open and he throat slashed...there is no excuse for what she did!

Just by watching that woman and the fact of the note she knew exactly what she was doing. I'm sick of mental deffect being a defense for killing your children.

It is sicking to see this mother sitting there looking at her dead sons pictures an not be crying uncontrolling. She is claiming insanity I think not. She planned this. The note, the tape the knife.

If she had time to write a note then her life was not in threat then just her kids. I don't see how a mother can do this to thier on child she really needs the death senctens then be just lock up because when we goes to prosion they oing to get her because that's one thing hey don't go for.

She finally shows emotions! Now does she realize what she had done to her child. She looks at the photo and then closes her eyes, are you seeing his little face in your mind? Michelle you knew what you were doing the first time when you went into the Iowa river and what you did in the park. You have no case of insanity. Stop trying to pretend you were tired of your children and wanted to be free. You should have killed yourself because there is no way in hell that you will be found not gulity for the reason of insanity. My heart aches for your lost son and the son that is still alive.

The boys' mother is not "insane". She was not psychotic or delusional while writing her "note" and planning the brutal murder of her children. She was premeditated, thougtful, and determined. While she may be clinically depressed, she knew exactly what she was doing. I wonder if she ever truly 'attached' or bonded with her children which occurs at birth and during the first few months of life. That might explain her actions. She didn't really feel close to the children and felt they were a burden.

In watching the testimony last week from the detective that interviewed Michelle Kehoe in the hospital, after he confronted her that they knew she killed the 2 yr old – he asked her "when did you write the note?" She answered, " a month ago, and I rewrote it again on Sunday". Does this not prove pre-meditation? Can a person with what they claim was insane at the time of the killings, plan out their crime?

As for Michelle Kehoe's demeanor in court: I think that she is trying to look "crazy". She looks like she hasn't washed her hair in many weeks, no make-up, that ugly pout, etc. Clearly a tactic. Remember Carla Hughes? She came to court looking like a supermodel when they were trying to make her look like an upright, outstanding citizen. It's all about attempting to manipulate the jury.

when doctors see mentally ill patients, whom they know have children, or are pregnant, shouldn't they have a moral and legal responsibility to see that the children aren't in grave or imminent danger?

Did Michelle Kehoe's husband know of her long standing history of mental illnesss and if so, doe that make him culpable in this horrific incident? He would have intimate knowledge that his wife could be dangerous and therefor could harm the children. If she cannot watch out for her children, SOMEONE has to.

interesting how NOW all of her "mental illness" comes out in the open (when Michelle is wanting to spare her own life) but she didn't feel it was important enough to divulge it to a doctor (before this) so that she could save her sons' lives. Crazy like a fox?

I would like to know what the home life was for her and the kids. She is sick but , her marriage,her life in general might have played a role in the event. Was she an abused wife? We need to know more info about the husband , family , or what could have led to this. I am on meds for depression and I can tell you from experience it is not a pleasant life. things will get in your head that can drive you to do many things to yourself and others. i really think her husband could have seen some signs and could have intervined. There is no doubt that she killed her child and tried to kill the other child , and herself, but there was signs. Anyone could have looked at her and seen she needed help, my God, please question her husband , I know he knew she needed help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dr. Kijewski (sp) should also be held responsible for the death of her son since Michelle did disclose to him back on October 29, 2008 that the river incident was actually a suicide attempt! That doctor should have at least made an anonymous call to child welfare services.

she should be made to look at the autopsy photos!! To see what she has done!! I have a 17 month old son and it sickens me to think about what this woman, as a mother, has done to her babies!!

I think anyone who kills their child is mentally insane. Should they ever be a free member of society...no way!!

If she did not know what she was doing when she killed her little son and tried to kill other one, why the duct tape. I would think that the tape was to support a third party killer story. That would also mean she intended to live not die and would need a story/ And if she intended to die why would she make up a story about a third party everyone would know she did it. If she is dead why would it matter to her?

i think she knew what she did and she should pay the consiquenses i have 4 kids and i get stressed out but it never has crossed my mind to do somthing that i dont understand what she is thinking and i dont have any sympathy for her

I am watching this case in pure amazement! This woman tried committing suicide on several occasions and the many years of so-called professional treatment; why didn't the pros/doctors see this happening? I know with such a history this woman (Kehoe) should in no reasonable fashion should have had her children in her care! I in no way condone what this woman did, but these pros/doctors should be sitting right along side of her at the defense table!

I do believe that Kehoe is sick but I dont at all believe she thought what she did was right. If she really wanted to kill herself and children why did she go to someone's home and knock on the door....why didn't she let herself lay and die. That can't possibly be someone who wanted to die. She planned this and should pay for it.

I have been through much in my life. Many chapters included self loathing and suicide attempts. This began at age nine and finally ended at 36. When I was a mother and needed to die, the first thing I did was, get my child cared for by loving hands. NEVER did I ever feel I needed to take my child with me. Quite the contrary, each time I would rationalize that my son would be better off with out me around and down.

I am proud to say I fought hard and long with a top quality counselor who really helped me save my life. & I have been on celexa since the age of 36. I have no thoughts of wanting to die.

I was VERY dark, Just trying to say I was each time calculated. I knew just what I was doing each moment and why.

This mother wanted to die. The cruelest thing we can do is give her life in prison. If she is put to death she wins. If she is medicated and left to remember what she did.

I feel that the history of this woman is so sad, she has all her life been mistreated and if not born into mental illness made that way by her horrible up bringing. If we could get rid of child molesters perhaps we wouldn't keep creating mentally ill people. I think her history with past attempts of suicide and all the medication she has been on speaks volumes as to where this woman should be. She will have to be medicated the rest of her life. How many times have we known or heard of someone that was ok when they were on the meds, but they start feeling like they don't need them anymore. I just feel with her history, this case is a waste of every one's time and money. She needs to be in a mental facility. What a horrible life, but her life must have been unbearable anyway to have done what she's done. I'm curious as to what her husband has to say.

Jamie, she said she thought she would go to hell, by the expression on her face, she's already there!

i have suffered for 30 years with manic depression very severe that has caused great disability in life leave unable to work and other server problems so i can relate mental illness i have a 23 year old and let me tell you on my worst day I NEVER THOUGHT OF DOING HARM TO HIM but many times i tried to hurt myself but if this lady was so depressed why didnt she do us all a favor and drive that van in river alone thats what real depression is not premeditated murder of your children shes a cold bloody MURDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She's so guilty. She is wasting time. Life in prison and maybe even death!!!!! She shows "NO" emotion at all, maybe she's sorry her lies didnt pan out..

In order to do such a crime you have to be insane, What " SANE" person would kill period !!!

Hi Jamie, I've been keeping track of your coverage of the trial in Grundy County. Don,t know which way to lean here as I was hospitalized years ago for some of the same things she's facing. For me, Depression, Anxiety, and wanting to die have entered into my life. Will continue to keep a close eye on this case.

Going along with the current topic and the post that was just read from Paul... If there is such an extensive history of mental illness with this woman, then why in the world did she still have her 2 sons in her sole custody? I do not believe that this woman was insane, mentally ill maybe, but NOT insane. There is a very distinct difference between the 2, and the jurors and people paying attention to this trial need to keep that in mind. What is that old saying? Crazy people don't know they're crazy? She knew enough to claim that she was insane, at least at the time of the murder. No one that is legally insane has that kind of forethought.

I watch this trial and can't believe, this so called mother, sits with with no remorse on what she has done. Insane? not a bit, she knew what she was doing as she knew what she was doing when she drove into the water, she smiles when she hears her dead sons voice? my goodness why wouldn't she cry, I'll cry for her, but I can honestly say that I won't pray for her !!

Jamie, I have been following this trial for a few days now, and I am appalled that we are wasting taxpayers money to try this case. It is evident that Ms. Kehoe is mentally insane and should be hospitalized and not be inprisoned for life. Her history of abuse from her stepfather, cousin and her inflicted abuse are clear signs that she is mentally insane. The defense has proven a clear cut case and if I were a juror, I would acquit her on the grounds of insanity.

The note that this so called mother left tells me that she planned to kill her childred. The fact that she even entertained the idea, let alone carried it out, tells me she is either very sick or so self-centered, that she can never be aloud out of a jail cell. She never planned to kill herself, I don't believe that for one minute! She belongs behind bars for the rest of her life to contimplate her horrific actions day-by-day, month-by-month and year-by-year, until she at last slips into hell where she belongs.

In watching this case like I do with several of them, I guess I don't understand.....Her issue's have been going on for a VERY LONG time, Where is ANY family member's? The husband? Why would they even entrust her to take her son's anywhere alone knowing that she is the way she is??? I understand it is hard to get a babysitter for an adult, But knowing her history and background if I was in that family in ANY WAY she would not be going anywhere alone with them boy's. And why didn't any of the doctor's suggest this as well?? This is so unbelievabley sad. When are these things going to STOP.

Kehoe cant be sick if she is Insane why would she confesse to slashing sons throats. I mean come on if your crazy or insane why would you want help if you want to die. I think she should have life without parole she can think about what she did everyday.. If she wants to die she will never get help. Its pretty much pointless.

I think if she was as mentaly ill as they say she should have been institutionalized a long time ago and this would have never happend!! put her away, don't send her on vacation!!!

I have no sympathy for this woman. She should be punished. I hope she never is able to lay eyes on her child again. She even asks for this herself. Put her in prison where she belongs.

When are we going to stop having murders claim insanity for crimes that they have committed. I have NO sympathy for this woman. If she never going to get out of the insane asylum why waste our tax dollars on her. Anyone ever think of her son that lived. I'd rather spend my tax dollars on getting him prefessional help. Isn't it funny she didn't kill herself. Hum, did she actually not know what she was doing or not.

Every time I look at her I want the authorities to take her off the meds and let her deal with this,then we'll see if she looks insane or not! Take her off her meds and then ask her if it was right or wrong,might even get a bit of emotion out of her too!

What I don't understand is how was she able to keep her children around after her first break down or attemp to harm herself? I think the system is so screwed up! I have children services trying to threaten me because my kids and I don't have our own place, knowing the economy is terrible. But my kids are fed, never have been abused, they are in school, have been on honor roll. But they want to take my kids???? This is just crazy!!! I live for my children, they are the ones who keep me strong & going. But this sick woman was allowed to have her children & no one did anything & now they want to charge her!! I think those doctors who diagnosed her with whatever, the family of this woman, & anyone else who knew of this illness all should be charged!

I notice that you comment a lot on the emotional reactions of defendents to gauge how much they may or may not seem to care. It was mentioned that she actually looked at the photos of her son, which seemed unusual. In the Kehoe's case, I would remind you that she is likely on medication. Many antidepressants numb your emotions and it is difficult to conclude what the individual may actually be feeling, while taking them.

I believe any woman who kills her child(ren) and has a long history of mental health issues and treatment should be considered not-responsible by reason of insanity, but I have my doubts that a mental health incarceration is the answer to keeping the streets safe. Yes, she will get treatment there, because she has to. So she improves to the point that the doctors say she is cured and she gets released. At which point she stops getting regular treatment, stops taking her meds, stops being closely watched, and whoops, there she is back to being a danger to society again! Mental illness sufferers can rarely cope when they are on their own, that's part of the disease.
There needs to be some other answer.

For those of you who think they should lock her up and throw away the key, I think you should consider this. Regardless of whether it may have seemed that Michelle knew the difference between right and wrong, doesn't mean that she thought this was wrong and did it regardless. She may have known what society considers is right or wrong, and know how to cover things up, but her own perception of what is right or wrong could have been very different. After all, it was this very society that had not brought justice for her in her early years. Her family covered it up. She learned from the best.

In her mind she thought she was doing the right thing for her children -saving them from a life like hers and sending them straight to heaven before they could become as damaged as she was (either because she was there as their mother or because she had committed suicide). In her state of insanity she was doing it out of love for her children, even thought she knew the rest of the world would view it as wrong (thus the deception). Her definition of right and wrong was corrupted and distorted by her insanity – she thought she was doing the right thing for her children.

Of course she knew right from wrong! You didn't hear her going around telling the world what she was planning on doing did you? No! – because she knew it was wrong to do and she would be in very big trouble if she came out with that!

Why would anyone who will be either in prison or in a prison mental hospital for the rest of their life want to get well? What do they have to look forward too?

I don't understand how we can be such a justice seaking and vindictive people that we can't stop for a second and try to see through our simple minds and try to understand from a point of view that we normally don't try to look at. This woman has a very long history of mental illness and tramas throughout her life that it would desstroy any one of our minds! Tha fact that her own mother would choose a sexually abusive father over her and send her away would destroy any of our minds! I am very much for justice, but would putting her away really be justice, or just a satisfaction for simple minded people?

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

I have been watching the trial and the comments of the experts in this case. I cannot find the insanity portion of the case? This appears to be a pre-meditated murder with a letter being written to throw investigators on a different lead. The taping of the mouths and eyes proves she knew what she was doing. She did not want to look into the eyes of the childern as she was "purposely without remorse" killed and attempted to kill the children. She also did not want to hear the boys crying and scream so the tape was used again to quiet them. I am sorry she has had so many problems, but she knew what she was doing at the time was wrong by her other actions. I feel sorry for the husband because he saw this behavior for so long and couldn't even help his own children! As a father myself, I would do anything I could to protect my children!!

i thing she know exactully knew what she was doing she tape there eye shut tape there mouth because she did't want to look in there eye or here there screams

not guilty.........

If someone is pleading insanity and claims she is not responsible for attempts at killing her children and herself, how is it that she is able to seek help for herself so that she doesn't die? If she was so hellbent on dying, wouldn't she have laid there with her sons and let death come? Based on what I've seen and heard, I believe this woman clearly knew what she was doing and was hoping to rid herself of her children but ensure she was saved! Not buying it.

Normally I would not comment on a case such as this, however, I feel compelled to do so now.
I too suffer from depression. I have Major Depressive Disorder. I too have had ECT (electro-convulsive therapy). And I too am a mother.
Never, never would I ever consider harming my child. I am his protector, his nurturer, his mommy. I love him more than my own life.
If for some uninmaginable reason, I decided to hurt my son, I would expect to be treated as nothing more that a murderer. There is NO excuse, depression or not, to kill your children.
I do understand the hopelessness and despair that a person with such a mental illness experiences. But it does not impair your ability to understand the concept of right and wrong.
I do not believe in the insanity plea in a case such as this.

This case is so amazing to me.....we wonder if this mother is insane, if she knew what she did and understood the consequences etc......when the incident occurred where she drove herself and children into the lake, why did no one investigate her sanity then? I mean come on...the woman said she was distracted when she drove them into the lake!!! Real mothers do not get distracted and put their children in harms way!!! I blame those investigators. They dropped the ball by not looking into this incident further and by allowing her to take her children back home. One thing Ive learned about the justice system is that it is not always just!

I think she shoul be punished to the max. It doesnt matter if she was trying to kill herself or not. She should have never brought her kids into it. I have a three year old boy, he is the reason I live and breathe every day. He is my everythang. To hear that a mother would do that to her children breaks my heart and makes me sick. I do feel bad for what happened to her when she was little but that is no excuse she should have learned from it and made a better life for her and the kids. I had a bad life and was around alcholics and abused, the same with my husband and never would we once think about hurting our son. There is no reason or excuse to hurt or kill a child.

She used the duct tape so she didn't have to look them in the eyes and see the terrified look as their mother slashed them to death and the tape on their mouths was to muffel the screams. You tape your mouth and you can scream but it isn't the ear breaking screams they could have and would have made if they were able to open their mouths. The surviving son said his mommy even taped their noses. This so they couldn't take that breath to make any noises that she would have to remember. If she was insane, she wouldn't have done the taping. She would have just done it. But now I hear there is a shrink on the jury. That seals it. She will go to a mental hospital and she will allow her true sane nature come out and she will go free. I would be surprised if she serves 2 years at the Hospital. She fooled the Drs and her family and now the jury. It will be a peice of cake for her to fool the Drs at the Hospital. What a shame. This tiny soul did not get his justice and the brother who survived will have that memory for the rest of his life.

For those of you asking why her psychiatrists and/or therapists didn't warn others about her suicidality and/or homicidality, there is both a legal and ethical "duty to warn" based on the Tarasoff case out of CA. Different states have different laws as to whether those providing treatment MUST warn others that their lives are in danger. You can google Tarasoff for additional info. Also, she probably didn't tell her therapist that she was homicidal. There are very stringent laws protecting a person's confidentiality. If Kehoe did not tell her therapist/psychiatrist that she was making plans to murder her sons, they had nothing to report. Finally, as one who has dealt wtih Child Protective Services professionally, they very often will NOT act on this type of info even if a therapist calls. I used to work with emotionally disturbed children. A nine year old girl who was being physically and emotionally abused by her mother, was often suicidal. Calls to CPS were ignored repeatedly. If we as loving parents, teachers, and citizens truly care about our children, we need to insist that there be more accountability from CPS and other institutions that are supposed to be protecting them from human monsters.

Feel bad for everyone involved in this case. Life is a gift given freely to each one of us. To take something so precious is immoral and the ruling in this case should reflect this.

This lady is ridiculous. Who slashes a child's throat? I wish people like this were tortured to the extreme for killing something innocent. She deserves no pity, nor a trial. Stuff like this makes me sick.

They should leave insanity pleas for the real insane and stop trying to convince everyone that Kehoe is insane.. after all she planned this, she tried to cover it up so obviously she was and is not insane.

There is no way we will or can fully understand the world Michelle Kehoe lives in, nor until we walk in someone else's shoes should we cast the first stone. Michelle Kehoe has a documented history of mental illness. Individuals who suffer from this deep of an illness don't feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel, they suffer so deeply and live in a world all their own. They have no concept of circumstances or can look beyond how their actions will affect others. I have a family member who suffers from similar illness, and I have to hold insurance companies and the state responsible to some degree because these people do not get the help they really need, they are bounced around the system like a ball. The end result is they are sent home before they should be with drugs to keep them happy, but many times only cause more issues, especially when these people have to perform above what their capabilities are... i.e.: raising children, etc. These types of pressures only cause the illness to worsen. These people cannot take care of themselves more less anyone else. Until insurance companies get a handle on the severity of this disease, I truly believe we will only hear more and more of these types of horrendous crimes. Very sad!

Unfortunately, getting good care even for those with access to mental help, is not easy. I have an ex-husband & two children with mental illnesses. I had to fight to see a phsyciatrist. I had to fight to get them care. And even when they attempted & talked & attempting suicide, they were admitted & released within days. I had to leave my home & most of what I owned just a few months ago, to go to another state to get my son in a good facility. The state I am in was willing to work with my state, but my state refused, wanting him placed in a facility with sex offenders!

I have been watching the trial. With all of her education an her treatments that she had there is no good defense of saying she is insane. She was never shy about seeking treatment prior to October an if this woman was so mentally ill why did her family friends co-workers not get her help, an or keep a watch on her an the kids. More so after she went into the Iowa River. Saying someone has no mental grasp on right an wrong can an does happen But she made up a story that someone else did this she had planned this for weeks that is not someone who is insane She knew it was wrong or she would not have lied about it .
I so feel for her son he has to live with this for the rest of his life. If you want to talk about having mental issues lets think of the life long hell he is going to have because of what his mother did.
I feel she needs to go to jail so she has no way of getting out. If she is placed in a mental hospital then there is a chance why put her son thur that. The possiblity that he may have her in the community or near him. I would not wish that on him or any other person who is a victim of such a horrible crime.

First of all, how in the world was this woman allowed to walk the streets if she was this SERIOUSLY mentally ill? Shouldn't someone have checked her in to a hospital for help? Also, i was under the impression that the insanity plea is now much harder to prove, but whether it is or not the psychologist Marilyn Hutchinson for the defense is really helping her case. Lastly, i wanted to comment on someones statement that Kehoe could have been lying this whole time to her psychologist to make her think she was insane.. that is an insult to Hutchinson! She is a doctor who is QUALIFIED and has much experience with liars i am sure... it is not that easy!

How much help can you give a person before they except it and want to help themselves. The Relious thing try thou shall not KILL!!!!

This wacko planned all of this out so strategically that there is no way in hell that she is insane!!! The only thing that this monster is sorry for is the fact that Sean didn't die because he did in fact testify that his mother did this to him. If if weren't for Sean's testimony maybe she would have gotten away with the whole thing!!!. And that psychologist is a wack job also!!!!. the whole thing makes me sick.

she is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

guilty she looks like she is sick mom and she should be placed in prison for life or the death

She should have been committed years ago. I also think that she should have never married or been allowed to bear children. If her husband was aware of all these problems and illness in her past life he should have seen this coming! Maybe he had something to do with sending her over the edge!!! is he sick to ? He does have the other child now, right? H e needs to answer a lot of questions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This case is truly horrific, and I agree with what some of the other contributors here have said about her lying to the police about the"bad man" until they told her that Sean identified HER, not a phantom bad man.

I'm just wondering, after hearing all the horrifying testimony about her severely disturbed mental state, WHY she even had children at all. Was she told she was "supposed to" have children by some hard-line religious order? I doubt that question will even be answered, but I think it's a question that needs to be asked more often.

About the Insanity question.. I think you have to be some-what insane to take a life or your own life... So my answer is... Yes, the insanity defense is used to much... Also about the Kehoe case.. Clearly in evidence it states a troubled childhood, sexual abuse and sever depression... Being a mother of two sometimes comes with depression, being she already suffers from this illness maybe should have thought about becoming a parent... With the help that is out there and she did seek some medical help, this never should have happened... I do feel she had a very troubled childhood which should be considered.. But she should be held responsiable...

This women needs to be executed, no mercy to a child killer . Why should our tax money pay for her to go to prison or mental facility. Lets hope she gets whats coming to her. I hope her son that is alive can get the help he needs. This monster sure left scars for life ont his little boy and knowing what she did to him and his brother.

Just listening to the amount of attempts at suicide. She was even a failure at that.

I predicted this since Yates got insanity, you better believe there will be more... if this woman gets it too. More women, maybe even men down the line....claiming insanity, depression made me do it....or wait 'voices'.

I have no doubt this woman is very sick with depression, but sooooo many others are out there are sick as well..some far worse. Many people out there are untreated as well. Many people with or even without the sickness of depression are overwhelmed as a parent, feeling they are not doing their job well, or are very tired, not thinking strait..........none of these people kill their kids, she did. She became judge and jury of her own kids, of these two humans, DECIDING them to death because of her own fears and paranoid reasons that they would be better off this way. All that mattered to her..was her own pain...( depression is very selfish in that way, you don't see or feel others pain, because you yourself is in so much pain).....she wasn't insane, she was selfish (relieving her own pain)....

doesn't put you above law because you hurt, she should do time as well as receive treatment. This is really sad.

Paula Cook wrote:
"Being a mother of two sometimes comes with depression, being she already suffers from this illness maybe should have thought about becoming a parent..."
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That's part of the problem, IMO. Too often women are pressured into having children by family, friends, or religious community. Not enough people take into account the fact that not every woman is meant to be a mother, and that some women definitely should never go that route.

I don't know if that was the case for Ms. Kehoe or not, but this is one of several women that I believe should never have had children, including Andrea Yates, Susan Smith and Diane Downs.

If she's that depressed, I see why she'd want to kill herself, but what makes her want to kill her children?

I am a divorced father of a 9 year old little girl and I couldn't possibly ever in a million years of harming her in anyway but I would like to ask where was the father? Has anyone interviewed him at all? I mean I am sure that she was walking around the house looking crazy or i am sure there had to be some signs of sickness.If i even though that my wife would be capable of doing something like this i would have never left my kids with this woman

this lady is sick, she is not insane. I dont care how depressed you are i would never think about salashing my childrens throught. She deserves to be in prison and thats it. If she really was insane she would have went through with killing herself and her other child, she either wants attention or no longer wanted her kids and at that point she should have asked for help

And to add to think she tried and made it seem like there was an abdutcor clearly shows that she knew it was wrong she didnt want anyone to know it was her

Ms. Kehoe chose a method of death that caused that poor little boy immense pain. I find it suspect that she wanted to spare them from this world and the possibility of inheriting her mental illness when she chose such a horrific manner of death. Where was her compassion? Unless, she is so sick that she linked their deaths with the the fate her father suffered with his neck being slashed in the automobile accident. She's medicated now, but she didn't offer her boys the same for the horror they endured.

Based on your anchors comments, you have a misunderstanding of what it is like to have a major mental illness. Just because major depression is "treatable", it is not "curable". It is akin to having cancer and going through chemotherapy. Sometomes mental illnesses do not respond to treatment, and the quality of treatment depends upon your financial resources. Yes, community mental health centers are available, but they are too often stretched too thin to provide effective treatment if you are lucky enough to have a mental illness that does respond to treatment.

people have this notion that depressed people are not really mentally ill.
One could be totally depressed and hide it from the best of their friends and relatives and even doctors because it is just a front that is being put on by the depressed. I know because I suffer from a mental illness and I often mask it from others because I don't want to be pitied. She is perfectly capable of her actions yet in her depressed mind she thinks she's doing the "right thing for her family" in her eyes.
New York.

this woman is GUILTY period. I am from Iowa city and know this story from the river incident since one of my friends was one of the heros whom saved her family from the freezing Iowa River in Dec. She made the statement she could relate to another family tragedy. Iowa City woke up to a murder suicide of a husband, and two children. The husband killed his wife and two children with a baseball bat claiming he did not want them to live with the humiliation of his crime. He stole over a half million $$$ from the bank where he was employed as vice-president. The ENTIRE community was saddened by this tragedy and Michele stated she could relate to this way of thinking. LOCK HER UP FOREVER!!!!!!!

There is no way she can be found not guilty by reason of insanity because she was not. ie: she let little Sean go because he was fighting her and it was to hard, much easier to kill a little baby, Zeth. That tells me she knew exactly what she was doing.

Send her away, either to prision or locked up the rest of her life. She sure deserves it. But never never let her see her older son who lived through that horrific time as he heard his little brother cry and then saw him lying dead or dying on the ground.
Mrs. Kehoe is a danger to society. She should have just killed herself and stopped living in our world.

If this women was so mental and emotional and was gonna kill her self and her 2 children then why write a letter of a man that was there doing this.To me she must have know that she would survive this and the children would not, other wise she would not have wrote the letter and pointed the finger at someone else.

It is a terribly sad case. This woman will no doubt be sent to prison where she will not receive the help and medication that she obviously needs. Yes, she did kill her little boy. She had no motive of greed or any other obvious reason. Even her family did nothing to help her or her children. Now in prison, she will only become another victim of the system. It always seems to me that each jury feels that they need to make someone pay for this awful act. The mentally ill woman is the poor thing that will be the receipient of this again. I find it really disturbing that most of the people that post here want their pound of flesh.

It is amazing that most people commenting here say that they know what this woman had in her mind. You scare the heck out of me.

I don't care how scientific the experts get. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT ANOTHER PERSON IS THINKING!!!! She knew what she was doing and defense is sugarcoating it really well. and then again they are getting paid really well regardless of what they think of this monster!!!!

How? i dont understand...how? killing her own son, how could you do something like that. Dont you love him. is'nt that enough. you just threw away the only thing worth living for. if you dont have that you might as well be something worst than a monster. you might as well not even exist.

I just dont understand how you could go through that. it would destroy me if i did something like that. its like taking a piece of you away.
i feel bad for you lady, because this is going to haunt you for the rest of your life, because a piece of your heart is torn out.

Why haven't we heard anything from the husband? There are expert witnesses on both sides pulling in opposite directions and I think that his testimony about how she was in the home could shed a lot of light on the question of her sanity.

I am not for sure about this case, it is hard to believe anyone could kill their children, however we see it almost everyday. I would like to know why these killers can't just kill themselves and let the children live with someone who will love them and take care of them.
I sometimes get the feeling that Jamie Floyd or any defense lawyer just don't get the fact that some people are just plain "EVIL".

Living in the state of Ia. and reading of this case off and on and now getting to hear it in court room facts i fell that the jury will not give the verdict of insanity. Most of Iowan are down to earth and tend to take this type of behavior very seriously and tend to be hard on the perpetrator's.

This woman is obviously deeply disturbed and needs care, however, it is too little too late. Even if you believe she was criminally insane, it is hard to feel any compassion for someone that could take the life of their child. I can't understand why this woman was not committed after her three previous suicide attempts or why her children were not taken away by the state. Anyone who makes ongoing attempts to end their life is clearly an unfit parent and not capable of caring for small children.

If this mother felt that she was saving her children from the tragic life that she lived, then why did she have, not only one but two, children in the first place?

Jami,
This woman had no chance at a insanity defense. People from the midwest just don't go for that sort of thing. Maybe if this were tried in a larger non midwest city she would have gotten the help she needs.

Wow!! it's really amazing that this is the most emotion that I've seen since this case started. I think that she knows that she is just done for this time.

Well it's finally over for her. And for those who think that she just needs help...... You'll be just fine

I have a great idea!!! Lets do the right thing for these two little boys and bring justice to them. HANG THIS MOTHER FROM THE TALLEST TREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Betty

YAAAAYYY!!! GUILTY! I hope she never sees the light of day again! Shameful...trying to play the crazy card after what she did to those kids! So now she will be in prison until she meets the devil....hahahahaha!

This is a horrifying case, and I wasn't surprised at the verdict. However, this woman should have gotten help for her seriously disturbed condition a LONG time ago, long before she could have become a parent.

I'm still wondering how many of these terrible cases we all have to see before people begin to realize that the phrase "be fruitful and multiply" does NOT necessarily apply to everyone. I feel strongly that this is one woman who should never have become a parent. Had more people in her family picked up on the signs, she might not have been one, thus sparing two innocent children from a horrible fate.

Tragic all the way around. And, as awful are all of the so-called "mothers' out there tonight who routinely neglect and abuse their children. For those so inclined, we need to pray for all of those children.

She did it. If she has a medical condition doesn't matter really, she's still a danger to society either way.

This case was quite curious in all respects, for instance the father had nothing to say to the public as to why she had done this to their children, after all they had been married so many years, you would think he knew what she was going through. There's also the question if she had ever told him of her terrible past, her parents abuse and being raped. I would think any normal husband would notice a wife's weird behavior and get some kind of therapy for her, instead of avoiding the situation to escalate to killing the kids or even himself while asleep......It is so mind boggling to fathom all this tragedy, what was he thinking, he wasn't even asked to speak in court???????.., after all these were his kids or were they???

sorry, but I watched this trial everyday it was on, but my question to you other viewers, if you don't mind, is, did anyone on her side of the family testify at all on her behalf? , cause I really don't remember if anyone did. [or any of her friends for that matter, if she had any.] Those boys were so adorable, it's just sooooo sad, especially for the older one.My heart goes out for the surving boy but NOT the father!!!!!

I missed what happened Did she get prison or a mental institution?

This was obviously premeditated, why isn't the death penalty being pursued in this case against this mother? She purchased the knife and duct tape ~a month prior, then attempted to write an "abduction note". These are not the acts of one insane but was in fact a 'planned out' event. I'm not sure if the death penalty applies in Iowa, but am curious why the death penalty isn't being pursued in this case. Life imprisonment doesn't fit this 'premeditated murder' and attempted 'premeditated murder' of her other son, who luckily survived. My prayers go out to the father n his loss of his youngest son.

Thanx for reading.

It's called "insanity", not "stupidity". You think just cause somebody is mentally ill, they can't make plans? Lot's and lot's of suicides are planned out well in advance. They are not usually on impulse unless the person is under the influence of drugs/alcohol at the time (drugs/alcohol act as a depressant, BTW). Women who murder their kids generally do it because they are suicidal. They can't bear the idea of leaving their kids alone when they're dead. They think the children are better off dead (with them) than being left to other people, because nobody could be as good a parent as them. They aren't stupid. They are illogical. Most *sane* people, if they knew that some time in the next 6 months they were going to die for whatever reason (not necessarily suicide), would realize their kids needed foster/adoptive parents. Generally they'd find a relative to take them in or go see an adoption lawyer or talk to social services. Only a total loon thinks their kids are better off dead with them than alive with somebody else.

That being said I hope they keep her locked up for the rest of her life....in a mental institution.

I'm sooo glad everyone can get off the hook by pleading insanity. ANY type of crime requires some level of "insanity." There's no room for dangerous people and I don't believe they'll be fully recovered someday. The mind holds so many things... it's not like she'll ever lose that "insane" part of it, psychiatric help can only mask it.

This woman was not insane she knew what she was doing no matter what but she didn't die as she thought she would so she didn't want to suffer anymore so she had no other choice but to ask for help never ever thinking about her babies.

I say the same thing: What do we do with rabbit dogs? Put them down.

Seems to me that she planned this whole thing out, the buying of the items, the note everything. Doesnt sound like a sudden act of a woman who is insane!!!!

this woman needs help. she should have just taken off and left the kids with their dad or a family member. just soo beyond wrong to hurt a child.

This woman isnt insane. She planned to kill her own children, and for that she should face the death penalty, she doesnt want to live, so be it, but those innocent young children will be scarred for life and this evil woman doesnt deserve the gift of children. My heart goes out to both the children.

y do plp assume death is always the answer???