Melissa O'Connor charged with murder of her 20-month-old

[Whisper]

KILLINGLY, Conn. -- A mother was charged with murder in connection with the death of her 20-month-old baby in Killingly on Thursday, state police said.
Melissa O'Connor, 23, was charged with murder, first-degree assault and strangulation in the death of her son, Bryce O'Connor, police said.
Officers were called to an apartment building on Route 101 in the Dayville section of town at about 11 a.m. Thursday after receiving a 911 call about a child who wasn't breathing.

Police said Bryce was rushed to Day Kimball Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Neighbor Ken Freelove said, “It’s really unbelievable that something like that can happen in the world today.”

Freelove said he sometimes saw children playing outside of the building where the child was found dead.
[...]
Police said they tried everything they could to revive Bryce.
Vance said in a case like this, officers need to push their emotions aside and focus on the case.
[...]
O'Connor was being held on $1 million bond at a local hospital and will be arraigned in Superior Court when she is medically cleared, police said. Police said O'Connor recently gave birth to another child and that the infant is now in protective custody.

http://www.wfsb.com/news/23162725/detail.html

[LestYeBeJudged]

Neighbor Ken Freelove said, “It’s really unbelievable that something like that can happen in the world today.”

1) Is he living under a rock?
and 2) What do you expect in a place named "Killingly"?

[TwiztidAngel]

A mother was charged with murder in connection with the death of her 20-month-old baby in Killingly

horrid bitch took the name of her city a bit too serious

[Tundratot]

Postpartum psychosis?

[Silvahalo]

Postpartum psychosis?

I'm sure the defense will say just that.

Seriously though, some woman are just fuckn' bad to the bone. I hope in this case, for baby Bryce's sake, he wasn't simply killed for being a baby.

So sorry baby Bryce, rest in peace little one.

[Rockin Ma]

A Superior Court judge Friday ordered a Dayville woman, charged with murder in the beating death of her 20-month-old son, held on $1 million bond and placed under a suicide watch.

Melissa O’Connor, 23, of 826E Hartford Pike, was arrested Thursday night at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, where she was taken for evaluation and treatment after an undisclosed incident claimed the life of her son, Bryce O’Connor.

Details of the child’s death are not yet available, but an autopsy by the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Friday ruled it a homicide caused by blunt force head trauma.

O’Connor, dressed in red sweatpants and sweatshirt with shackles at her ankles and wrists, made a brief appearance Friday in Danielson Superior Court. She stood before Judge Antonio Robaina and answered “yes,” when asked if she understood her rights.

O’Connor is charged with murder, risk of injury to a minor, first-degree assault and first-degree strangulation.

Prosecutor: Strong case

State prosecutor Matthew Crockett recommended the $1 million bond based on “the nature and circumstances” of the crime and what he said was a strong case against O’Connor.

Windham County State’s Attorney Patricia Froehlich said O’Connor also is considered a risk to the community, specifically to children. The case was continued to June 10 and O’Connor will have the right to a probable cause

hearing — an opportunity to present a defense and for state prosecutors to reveal evidence. O’Connor is represented by a public defender.

A bail commissioner said O’Connor has no criminal history and originally is from New Hampshire. O’Connor is collecting Social Security benefits for mental health-related issues.

Police reports associated with the case remained sealed under court order because of an ongoing investigation and the fact a child was involved, Froehlich said.

“The next step is to determine additional charges, if necessary,” Froehlich said.

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/...t-at-1-million

[Rockin Ma]

Killingly, Conn. — The state medical examiner’s officer has determined a 20-month-old Dayville boy who police said was killed by his mother died of blunt traumatic head injuries.

An autopsy at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Farmington has labeled the April 15 death of Bryce O’Connor a homicide.

The announcement comes just hours after the child’s mother, Melissa O’Connor, 23, of 826E Hartford Pike in Dayville, was arraigned in court on charges of murder, first-degree strangulation, first-degree assault and risk of injury to a child.

O’Connor was ordered held on $1 million bond under a suicide watch and expected for a court appearance on June 10.

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/...-examiner-says

[Rockin Ma]

Wow, I didn't realize this happened so long ago.


From today's paper, I can't copy and paste any of the article for some reason


http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/...in-son-s-death

She waived the probable cause hearing and the details remained sealed. Which is odd to me this much time later.

[Tundratot]

They assigned an attorney to represent the interests of the deceased child! I've never heard of a court doing that before. I think I like it.

[Rockin Ma]

That is a good idea. I wish they did that for Caylee.

[Silvahalo]

From Rockin's link.

A Dayville mother charged with murder in the death of her infant son waived her right to a probable cause hearing Thursday at her appearance in Danielson Superior Court.

Melissa O’Connor, 23, sat in handcuffs and ankle shackles wiping tears from her cheeks before Judge Antonio Robaina.

With a social worker by her side, O’Connor answered several questions from Robaina in a barely audible whisper. She agreed to forego a hearing in which state prosecutors would present evidence to convince a judge of the merits of the case against her.

[...]
An autopsy revealed the child died from blunt force head trauma. The death was ruled a homicide by the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

O’Connor is charged with murder, first-degree assault, risk of injury to a minor and first-degree strangulation. Held on $1 million bond at York Correctional Institution in Niantic, O’Connor is due back in court Aug. 20. Represented by defense attorney Ernest Greene, she has not yet entered a plea.

At the request of state prosecutor Matthew Crockett, Judge Robaina on Thursday appointed attorney Traci Molinaro as legal guardian to represent the interests of the deceased child.

Thank you Matthew Crockett and Judge Robaina.