OGDEN — A mother who said she chose which of her twins had to die pleaded guilty Thursday to murder.
Jewell Hendricks, 27, was charged with murder in the death of her 2-month-old son, Robert, on Jan. 24, 2010. She also was charged with class A misdemeanor child abuse for bruises found on the tot’s twin, since adopted out of the family through juvenile court proceedings.
That charge was dismissed in return for the guilty plea to murder Thursday in the plea negotiation aired before 2nd District Judge Michael DiReda. Under terms of the plea bargain, prosecutors agreed to recommend to the state Board of Pardons that she only serve 15 years, according to court records, if she is sentenced to the maximum, 15 years to life. DiReda set sentencing for Sept. 9.
Hendricks’ public defender Ryan Bushell has said his developmentally disabled client may not have understood what was happening in her admissions to police, though he didn’t find the problems were enough for a suppression motion to succeed.
But Hendricks’ confession was detailed. She told police she suffocated her child because of its crying, afraid it might wake her sleeping husband. She showed officers how she held the child and how she sat on the couch when she stopped his breathing. Her husband has never been suspected of any involvement, prosecutors have always said.
Hendricks also said she felt overwhelmed at having twins, deciding life would be better for the surviving child if the twin was “not around.” Police said she admitted choosing the child she loved less.
Despite her deficits, Hendricks was found competent to stand trial in May 2010 after psychological examinations by two mental health professionals. Two weeklong trial dates have been canceled as the defense explored mitigating the case because of Hendricks’ mental state.
A February trial was reset because of the psychological evaluations. An April date was canceled as Bushell argued with the Weber County Attorney’s Office over the cost of a forensic neurologist he hoped to employ from out of state. A local doctor was finally agreed upon after the county objected to the extra cost of Bushell’s first choice, who practices in Minnesota.
Despite the fact that they are opponents of public defenders, the county attorney’s office has a role in advising the county on its funding of public defenders.
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