Autism

Too Much Sad News

by Kristina Chew

categories: acceptance, Legal

Published July 09, 2009 @ 02:25PM PT

This is turning into a very sad week for news about autism. Tuesday I wrote about the terribly sad and unnecessary death of 9-year-old Jeremy Fraser in March of this year. And then came reports about 10-year-old Michael Becht, Jr.: As reported in the July 7th Pioneer Press, Michael was found dead in his home in South St. Paul on Monday, July 6th. His mother, Patricia Becht, is the "only suspect" according to authorities. Becht and her 11-year-old daughter are both in the hospital with injuries but are expected to survive. Another daughter, 16-year-old Cara Freeman, has not been able to speak to either her mother or sister since Monday. In an interview with KAALtv said "'"No way in a million years I’d imagine she'd do this. She loved us too much.'" A relative noted that Becht, a single mother, had had "depression for years and has been on medication and in therapy for as long as she can remember."

Both Jeremy Fraser and Michael Becht, Jr., were autistic. The mothers of both boys have been accused in their deaths. Kristen LaBrie is accused of withholding cancer treatment and Patricia Becht is suspected in her son's death.

Me being the mother of an autistic son, hearing about stories like these cuts close to the bone, and I remember Katherine McCarron, who was three years old when she was killed by her mother, Karen McCarron. Katie's birthday is July 22nd; she would have been 7 years old this year.

And I think that all I can say is, after reading all these stories, I get up and go to wherever Charlie is and sit beside him, and am just glad for every moment, difficult and peaceful-easy, I have with him.