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Felonious housekeeping?(Insider Report)
Nearly two years ago, Judith Scruggs of Meriden, Connecticut, suffered a devastating loss when her 12-year-old son Daniel hanged himself in his bedroom closet with a necktie. On October 5, a jury compounded the tragedy by finding Scruggs guilty of "one felony count of putting her child at risk by creating a home environment that was unhealthy and unsafe," reported the New York Times. Scheduled for sentencing on November 20, Scruggs faces up to 10 years in prison. Her crime, contends defense attorney M.H. Reese Norris, was "having a messy house."
"In convicting Ms. Scruggs, the jury decided that the defense's claim that Daniel's death was largely the result of bullying at school did not outweigh Ms. Scruggs's duty as a mother to provide a decent home environment," continues the Times account. "After Daniel hanged himself, the case gained national attention because of the school's failure to deal with the bullying. Witnesses at the trial testified that Daniel was punched, kicked and spit on as teachers failed to come to his ...
- The bad mother: Judith Scruggs says she loved her 12-year-old son and would...
- Magazine article from: Good Housekeeping Jervey, Gay August 1, 2004 700+ words
...around 2:30 P.M., Judith Scruggs came home from the...kids, Kara, 17, and Daniel, 12, before heading...Judith said she had told Daniel to stop, but that...nearly four months after Daniel died, Judith Scruggs, then 51, was charged...
- EDITORIAL: Judith Scruggs' Vindication.(Editorial)
- Newspaper article from: Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) September 1, 2006 700+ words
Sep. 1--Judith Scruggs won a measure of justice recently...suicide of her 12-year-old son, Daniel. Daniel hanged himself in his family's Meriden...level of neglect that contributed to Daniel's death. They said she didn't...
- Court Ends Scruggs' 'Hell'.
- Newspaper article from: Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) August 29, 2006 700+ words
...felony conviction of Judith Scruggs in the high-profile...year-old son, J. Daniel Scruggs. In its unanimous...Only days before Daniel's death, the agency...a clear message to [Judith Scruggs] that the department...for concern regarding Daniel's health and welfare...
- Who is to blame when bullying ends in death?(Connecticut)
- Magazine article from: Trial Sileo, Carmel June 1, 2004 700+ words
...the conviction. Judith Scruggs, a single mother...with her son J. Daniel: Although intellectually...January 2, 2002, J. Daniel hanged himself in his closet. Judith Scruggs filed a federal...defendants violated J. Daniel's civil rights...
- Protecting children from the harmful behavior of adults.
- Magazine article from: Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Shedlosky, Eric C. September 22, 2007 700+ words
...Brandl concluded that Judith Scruggs's home was well cared...year-old son, Joseph Daniel, was found hanging by...conditions were caused by Judith Scruggs's failure to implement...investigating Joseph Daniel's suicide, state officials...
- Judge suspends sentence of woman convicted in son's suicide.(The Hartford...
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Griffin, Alaine May 14, 2004 700+ words
...metal nameplate marking J. Daniel Scruggs' grave was easy to...courthouse in Meriden, his mother, Judith Scruggs, was again in the spotlight...connection with 12-year-old J. Daniel's suicide. Scruggs, 53...they were troubled that J. Daniel slept in his closet with knives...
- Judge suspends sentence of woman convicted in son's suicide.
- Newspaper article from: Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) May 14, 2004 700+ words
...metal nameplate marking J. Daniel Scruggs' grave was easy to...courthouse in Meriden, his mother, Judith Scruggs, was again in the spotlight...connection with 12-year-old J. Daniel's suicide. Scruggs, 53...they were troubled that J. Daniel slept in his closet with knives...
- Did Squalor Matter?
- Newspaper article from: Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) April 19, 2006 700+ words
...to persuade jurors to acquit Judith Scruggs, saying no psychologist or...environment for her son, J. Daniel, who hanged himself with a...torment that prompted J. Daniel to soil his pants in class...filthy there was no room for J. Daniel to wash, sleep or eat. Police...