PLANO, Texas — With a calm and dispassionate voice and a hymn playing in the background, Dena Schlosser (search) confessed to the unthinkable, telling a 911 operator she'd cut off the arms of her baby girl.
The woman was sitting in her living room covered with blood when police arrived Monday. Her nearly 11-month-old daughter lay fatally injured in a crib in a bedroom of the family's apartment in Plano. The child died shortly afterward at a nearby hospital.
Police have charged the 35-year-old mother with capital murder, but declined to reveal where she is being held.
Schlosser, who had a history of postpartum depression, had been investigated on child neglect allegations earlier this year, but Texas Child Protective Services (search) had recently closed a seven-month investigation, concluding that Schlosser did not pose a risk to her children. Neighbors said she seemed to be a loving, attentive mother.
"There were never any indications of violence with this family," agency spokeswoman Marissa Gonzales said. "The children had always been healthy, happy and cared for."
But, on Monday, authorities discovered a grisly scene at the family's apartment after the child's father called a day-care center, and asked them to check on his wife and daughter
Day-care workers called 911 after talking to the mother; an operator then called Schlosser.
Asked if there was an emergency, Schlosser calmly responded "Yes," according to 911 tapes released by police.
"Exactly what happened?" the 911 operator asked.
"I cut her arms off," Schlosser replied, as the hymn "He Touched Me" played in the background.
"You cut her arms off?" he repeated.
"Uh huh," she answered.
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No doubt there are many sick, twisted people in this world. Every single day you hear and read about the horrible things they do. But can anyone claim insanity and get off? I know some are actually insane but MANY are not. It is starting to seem like anyone can claim it and get away when the most grossly crimes!!!
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Is it time to revamp our insanity laws?
Does every country have them?
Are they an open invitation to crime?
Does it seem that more people are claiming insanity?
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Hmm41% Voted for by Weydon, Makessenseright, ThisEndUp, eternalsol, RuthArabellaTrasher.
I'd have to research it myself, but is there any evidence that "MANY" are not insane? I'd imagine to get off on insanity on vicious crimes you'd have to have some extensive testing done from well-established professionals, but I could be wrong.
PS That was depressing....
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Hmmmm33% Voted for by verses on flesh, DryIce808, RuthArabellaTrasher, Muriel.
Postpartum depression is an illness that occurs directly after child birth and it is documented. If not on anti-depressants mothers often seriously injure their children due to this chemical imbalance. They do the unspeakable because they are in a poor mindset when they do these things. Are they insane? Of course. Should they go to jail? Possibly. She should go to jail if she was prescribed anti-depressants/anti-psychotics and did not take them. If she refused to take her meds and as a result performed a vicious crime, she should be forced to take responsibility.
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how worng16% Voted for by eternalsol, The Blind Bandit.
this kind of thing is all over the news, its depressing to hear that she cut her babys arms off. Now I dont know what drove her to do that know one knows. But I don't think she insane, I think she knew what she was doing she just has a cold heart. Who could do such a thing to kill chiled or there chiled. Its emoral I feel she should get the deth penalty, but in this world now adays people get off easy by proving insanaty. A good excample is one mother drounded her chiled in the tub when she was doing that she made the other chiled sit there and watch while his she was droning other now in my opinon thats not insane thats just eveilness, but she got away with it by proving insanaty. The world today is not the same, and with every day that goes by its getting more and more eveil.
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insanity...Voted for by Dienush.
A sane person wouldn't kill in the first place. Has anyone else considered that, rather than all sorts of punishments, murderers should get professional help and counseling?
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February 21, 2007
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