Should being stupid be criminalized?

[NineOhOne]

Why I agree this lady is the chief-dumbass, I find it hard to believe she's being prosecuted...(she wasn't drunk or on drugs at the time):


Mom charged with manslaughter in girls' carbon monoxide deaths

Deputies say Loretta Wilson, 45, left her SUV running in the garage of her home in the Logger's Run community west of Boca Raton on May 30 after a shopping trip. (PBSO / December 17, 2009)

• Related
• Caitlin Brondolo
• Amber Sue Wilson
• • X
    Justice System
    
    Car Engine Repair
    
    Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
    
    Crimes

By Erika Pesantes, Sun Sentinel 11:42 a.m. EST, December 18, 2009


Amber Wilson, 11, told her mother that her car engine was still running in the enclosed garage when they got out of the SUV and walked inside their West Boca home after a shopping trip in May, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

Loretta Wilson dismissed her daughter's concerns and said it was just the hum of the car's cooling fans.

But throughout the night on May 30, carbon monoxide fumes built up in the house, killing Amber and her friend Caitlin Brondolo, 12, who was at the Wilsons for a sleepover.

Wilson was charged Thursday with two counts of manslaughter by culpable negligence for the death of the Loggers Run Middle sixth-graders.

According to an arrest report, deputies said Wilson, 45, left her 2006 Ford Escape running in the garage of her home in the Loggers Run community west of Boca Raton before watching a movie and going to bed that night.

Wilson woke up the next day to find the two girls dead. The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office determined the girls died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

"It is more careless than it is on purpose," said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera, of Wilson's second-degree felony charges. "Working with the State Attorney's Office, it was determined she should be charged."

Detectives tested the SUV and said they found no apparent defects. The car was "in good condition and the vehicle was operating as it was designed," according to the arrest report.

During the tests, the cooling fans did not remain running after the ignition was turned off, as Wilson claimed.

She told investigators that she would regularly turn off the car's engine, leave the keys in the ignition and then close the garage door.

Wilson, too, was affected by the odorless, colorless fumes. She was hospitalized briefly but made a full recovery.

The Brondolo family could not be reached Thursday despite a message left on their home phone.

[Westy]

Most states have a law regarding negligent homocide. Basically it's an act, not amounting to a criminal act, that results in the death of another. I understand ur point,,,I mean,,,she lost her daughter and I don't see what good prosecuting her would be. Highly unlikely that she'll serve any time in jail, but I guess that's not the point. Sad story.

[sammyg2]

If a person's gross stupidity harms someone else, then yes. That person should be prosecuted.

[Westy]

To what degree? Should she serve jail time for this act. Or prison? To what extent would that serve our justice system? If it's prosecution just to make a point, then put her on probation for a few years, then what a royal waste of court time and expenses. She's gonna suffer for a long time regardless.

[teenerted1]

what about the other child not hers that died...how do you think her family feels?

criminal negligence does carry a penalty and should be charged as such.

[vash]

i consider this a definitive answer to my thread question: my wife's chem teacher is apparently wrong.

can someone still kill themselves with running car in garage w/modern catalytic?

[Westy]

I would honestly like your opinions. If you disagree with my stance, the what should her punishment be if she is charged and convicted?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Westy

I would honestly like your opinions. If you disagree with my stance, the what should her punishment be if she is charged and convicted?

At the very least, locking her up would protect the public from her future negligent behavior. There's some upside to that.

[NineOhOne]

Originally Posted by teenerted1

what about the other child not hers that died...how do you think her family feels?

criminal negligence does carry a penalty and should be charged as such.

But, is stupidity criminal? That's my question. She wasn't robbing a bank or molesting children or shoplifting. She brought the girls home for a sleepover after a trip to the mall/movies.

The civil courts will give her the butt-reaming she deserves from the other girls family.

[NineOhOne]

Update:

West Boca mom pleads guilty in carbon monoxide deaths

By Erika Pesantes, Sun Sentinel
2:11 PM EST, December 18, 2009

Loretta Wilson, the west Boca mom arrested Thursday on two counts of manslaughter by culpable negligence in the deaths of her daughter and her daughter's friend, pleaded guilty on Friday to the charges.

A judge placed Loretta Wilson, 45, on five years of probation and she must undergo psychological counseling, meet with Caitlin's parents and Kenneth Wilson, Amber's father, and "discuss the facts and surrounding circumstances of this incident with them," according to a news release from the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office.

"Ultimately, this difficult case is about an assignment of responsibility," State Attorney Michael McAuliffe said in a written statement. "While no evidence exists that Ms. Wilson intended to harm the children, this tragic event reinforces the unwavering principle that parents and guardians of children have the paramount responsibility to protect their children and those in their custody. There should be, and is now, a public recognition of the preventable nature of these deaths and a renewed call for vigilance in safeguarding our children."

"It is more careless than it is on purpose," said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera, of Wilson's second-degree felony charges. "Working with the State Attorney's Office, it was determined she should be charged."

Initially, Wilson told detectives she routinely left the keys in the SUV's ignition and had heard the fan run even after shutting off the engine. But mechanics tested the SUV and said they found no apparent defects and that the fan did not run when the ignition was shut off. The car was "in good condition and the vehicle was operating as it was designed," according to the arrest report.

Wilson, too, was affected by the odorless, colorless fumes. She was hospitalized briefly but made a full recovery.

[Mo_Gearhead]

Quote: ""It is more careless than it is on purpose," said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera,.."
________________________

I can't explain it ...but it happens.

Last summer, my brother-in-law is visiting us. Tells me this sobering story;

His college age daughter and two of her friends arrive at their home (he and the wife are away). Daughter pulls into the semi-attached garage, pushes the lever up in Park. All three young women, exit the vehicle; talking, texting, getting out clothing bags for their over-nighter, (who knows what else may distract three
19-20 year olds?). None of the three realize the car...is still running! One even goes to the back - to close the garage door - by hand.

Next morning, one of them steps outside, near the garage, "Whats that noise?"

Semi-attached garage ...or it could have been lights out.

Scary - how people can be so unobservant of their surroundings.

[lukeh]

My guess is we've all done something unintentional that could have caused a death that would lead to others calling us stupid. I was roofing my house and set a tool down. A few minutes later I set a pack of shingles down and the impact caused the tool to slide down and off the roof. My 6 year old son was playing in the yard and if he'd have been in the wrong place at the wrong time that tool hits him in the head and kills him. We all make mistakes and unfortunately if the stars align themselves just right it can lead to a death. Starting to jail people when stuff like this happens won't solve or change anything.

[mikester]

Stupid kills but not nearly enough.

[NineOhOne]

Originally Posted by Mo_Gearhead

None of the three realize the car...is still running!

I see more than a few of these stories each year. A San Diego couple died when they came home from the airport late and left their Honda minivan running in the garage overnight. An elderly couple in Boca Raton died when the wife left the minivan running in the garage to power her husbands wheelchair lift. Some cars are very quiet these days.

I guess it's true what the Harley-Poseurs say: Loud pipes save lives!

[widgeon13]

Guess auto makers need to put those auto shutoffs in the seat so when the a$$ gets out the car shuts off.

[Por_sha911]

"Should being stupid be criminalized?" (I apologize in advance but this is too wide open to not respond with some humor) The answer is: Yes, you have the right to remain silent....

On a more serious note, I think that this woman will suffer far worse in her regret than she ever will by being in jail. Here's a case where the Panamera auto shut-off feature might come in handy. Sort of like if Teddy Kennedy drove a VW then Mary-Jo would still be alive...

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by NineOhOne

Loretta Wilson dismissed her daughter's concerns and said it was just the hum of the car's cooling fans.

But throughout the night on May 30, carbon monoxide fumes built up in the house, killing Amber and her friend Caitlin Brondolo, 12, who was at the Wilsons for a sleepover.

Wilson was charged Thursday with two counts of manslaughter by culpable negligence for the death of the Loggers Run Middle sixth-graders.

According to an arrest report, deputies said Wilson, 45, left her 2006 Ford Escape running in the garage of her home in the Loggers Run community west of Boca Raton before watching a movie and going to bed that night.

Wilson woke up the next day to find the two girls dead. The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office determined the girls died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

"It is more careless than it is on purpose," said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera, of Wilson's second-degree felony charges. "Working with the State Attorney's Office, it was determined she should be charged."

Detectives tested the SUV and said they found no apparent defects. The car was "in good condition and the vehicle was operating as it was designed," according to the arrest report.

During the tests, the cooling fans did not remain running after the ignition was turned off, as Wilson claimed.

She told investigators that she would regularly turn off the car's engine, leave the keys in the ignition and then close the garage door.

Wilson, too, was affected by the odorless, colorless fumes. She was hospitalized briefly but made a full recovery.

The Brondolo family could not be reached Thursday despite a message left on their home phone.

Cooling fans do go on after a car is turned off when the engine is hot. Are these investigators stupid, or is this just an idiotic reporter?

I think both.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by vash

i consider this a definitive answer to my thread question: my wife's chem teacher is apparently wrong.

can someone still kill themselves with running car in garage w/modern catalytic?

I kind of thought the people that seem to be of the opinion that a new car won't kill you were on dope...

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by lukeh

my guess is we've all done something unintentional that could have caused a death that would lead to others calling us stupid. I was roofing my house and set a tool down. A few minutes later i set a pack of shingles down and the impact caused the tool to slide down and off the roof. My 6 year old son was playing in the yard and if he'd have been in the wrong place at the wrong time that tool hits him in the head and kills him. We all make mistakes and unfortunately if the stars align themselves just right it can lead to a death. Starting to jail people when stuff like this happens won't solve or change anything.

+1000000

[tcar]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Cooling fans do go on after a car is turned off when the engine is hot.

Some fans do, some don't.

On some cars, the fans do NOT go on after the ignition is turned off.