Public Safety
Psychiatrist: Kehoe depressed, suicidal
Posted on Nov 03, 2009 by Trish Mehaffey.
UPDATE: A psychiatrist testified today Michelle Kehoe suffered from major depression and post traumatic stress disorder, was obsessive compulsive and had suicidal tendencies.
Dr. William Logan said in his opinion, Kehoe didn’t understand right and wrong when she killed son Seth, 2, and injured her other son Sean, 7, on Oct. 26, 2008.
Logan, a defense witness, also admitted under cross-examination that Kehoe told other doctors that when her car went into the Iowa River in December 2007, it was an accident, not a suicide attempt.
Testimony wrapped up early today because the last defense witness couldn’t testify until Wednesday. The trial will continue at 9 a.m., and closing arguments may be Wednesday afternoon. The jury may have the case by Thursday. Gazette reporter Trish Mehaffey will continue her liveblog Wednesday.
Kehoe, charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and child endangerment causing serious injury, is accused of slashing the throats of her sons Seth and Sean. Seth died from his injuries and Sean was injured but survived.
Logan said Kehoe has suffered from depression since 1996. She was molested by her stepfather and stepbrother and felt betrayed by her mother for the assaults, Logan said.
Kehoe attempted to kill herself more than once over the last 10 years, Logan said. She drank Heet in one attempt and cut her leg artery in another attempt. During that time, doctors tried different anti-depressants with her and even tried electrical shock treatments, Logan said. She had about 44 shock treatments, he said.
Kehoe then tried light therapy and yoga to help her depression after she gave birth to Seth, Logan said.
Logan said the post traumatic stress disorder developed after she drove her car off the road into the Iowa River with Seth and Sean. She told police and doctors she reached down to get a pacifier and went off the road, but admitted to Logan it was a suicide attempt, according to testimony.
Kehoe felt guilty for almost killing the boys and putting the men who rescued them in danger, Logan said.
iowacityia
03. Nov, 2009
She does not deserve to even have a trail. She admitteted to the crime so she should pay the price full force. Why should we even pay for her trial and jail time she is not worth it. Preplained and she never even thought of the people she was hurting only herselve.
OwenHarper
03. Nov, 2009
Well, she might not deserve to have a trail, heck does she even want a trail? She does however have a right and deserves a trial even though she preplanned the crime, didn't think of others and was only hurting herself.
ctiger
03. Nov, 2009
What you see here is called the right to due process. That lets us know we live in the United States, not China, Myanmar, or Iran.
NomerBull
03. Nov, 2009
Even the worst criminals get trials. We don't have presumption of guilt with summary executions in America. We have due process to separate the guilty from the innocent.
Dudie
03. Nov, 2009
Only hurting herself?
OwenHarper
03. Nov, 2009
Simply repeating what was said in the previous post. You'll have to ask iowacityia.
NomerBull
03. Nov, 2009
Regardless of what school administrators say their "policy" is, they are there to educate, not strip search or fondle teenage girls. "It's our policy" does not excuse unlawful behavior at all.
ctiger
03. Nov, 2009
As well as with her family, my thoughts right now are with the jury members who have to be traumatized from hearing the details of what happened.
I hope that those who need it, will be debriefed after the trial.
Baum
04. Nov, 2009
How sad. Mental illness continues to be swept under the rug in this country. We need to step up to the plate. Start putting our resources into research and providing treatment for those who need it.
ctiger
04. Nov, 2009
She evidently was in bad shape. Electro-Shock Therapy is used only as a last resort, when other treatments have been ineffective and the patient is sure to be suicidal.
lobosolo
04. Nov, 2009
i hate to agree with this, but i do. she was sexually assaulted as a child and that is something that affects you for the rest of your life. its no excuse for killing her child, but clearly something is wrong with her and she should be put away. we should use this lesson the next time a child predator gets a light sentence.