Charges dropped against mother accused of letting children starve to death, Seattle Times, Jan. 31, 2007. The woman was judged incompetent to stand trial after a year at Western State Hospital. She has suffered from alcoholism, depression, and psychotic episodes. The state will now seek civil commitment.
"This is a sad, sad case," said King County Superior Court Judge Helen Halpert. "I know the result may be unsatisfactory to the family... but a basic tenet of the justice system is that a defendant must be able to understand the nature of the legal charges against her."
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