Mother Kills Infant With Methadone-Laced Formula And Gets 1 Year in Prison

[Skunk]

Unbelievable. The infant was born addicted, then the mother finishes the baby off 3 months later with a fatal dose of methadone in the formula. Now the mother wonders how going to jail for that long year will adversely affect her other kid.

Mother Who Killed Infant With Methadone Sentenced To Year In Prison

By Bruce Vielmetti of the Journal Sentinel

http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/59752542.html

Posted: Sept. 18, 2009 1:02 p.m.

A 27-year-old West Allis woman who killed her infant daughter by feeding her methadone-laced formula was sentenced Friday to a year in state prison and eight years of extended supervision.

Andrea Zalewski, described by her parents and attorney as severely troubled and mentally challenged, was charged in March with the death of Lola Lieb, who died in October, three months after she was born addicted to the same drug her mother had been fighting.

Zalewski, who has been out on bail and living with her parents, pleaded guilty in June to child neglect resulting in death, punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey A. Conen said he wasn't sure he could legally require Zalewski not to get pregnant in the next nine years, but said it would be a wise move. He made his comment after learning that she had become pregnant for a third time while the neglect case was pending.

Her attorney, Steve Kohn, said he would not object to such a condition. He had explained to Conen that after an emotional meeting with his client and her mother a few days ago, Zalewski had decided to end that pregnancy.

"That, too, is to a large degree an offshoot of this tragedy that she'll have to deal with the rest of her life," Kohn said.

Zalewski told Conen she loved her daughter, and would never have done anything to harm her intentionally. She also said she feared how going to prison would affect her 7-year-old son, who has been raised by her parents.

James and Lois Zalewski each tearfully told Conen how their daughter had struggled with anorexia, depression, fibromyalgia, stunted maturity, addictions and other psychological problems.

Zalewski said she is now weaned off methadone, and that all addiction problems stemmed from prescribed medications. She said that she never used street drugs.

Before he imposed the sentence, Conen talked about the dangers of doctors recklessly prescribing opiate painkillers, and how the pharmaceutical industry's sales pressures on doctors was partly to blame.

While Zalewski admitted her responsibility, she never specified exactly what happened. Conen said he believes she was on several drugs herself and just thought a little methadone would calm her restless baby.

Conen said he hoped that Zalewski could be placed at a facility where she could get the extensive treatment and therapy she needs and could possibly become a safer, more productive person when she began her extended supervision. He required her initial contacts with her son upon her release to be supervised until state officials felt she could see him alone.

Zalewski was led handcuffed and crying from the courtroom.

[Oldshooter]

Best thing to happen to the other kid is separation from its mom! Permanently would be best!