“This was not about autism”
So says Michael McCarron of Indianapolis, and the paternal grandfather of Katherine McCarron, the three-year old autistic girl whose mother, Dr. Karen McCarron, allegedly suffocated her with a plastic bag.
Phil Luciano’s column at PJStar.com also quotes Michael McCarron as saying:
- “I am positively revolted when I read quotes that would imply any degree of understanding or hint at condoning the taking of my granddaughter’s life……. I’m dealing with a very straight-forward murder case.”
- “This was not about autism. This was not about a lack of support.”
- “This was our first granddaughter….. Autism or not, you don’t get any more special than that.”
- “An autistic child is a handful…….They are very difficult to train.”
- “When people say, ‘I can understand that,’ I just want to cover my head…….We’re not dealing with desperation here. We’re not dealing with ‘we have to end this child’s pain.’
“Having held that little girl in my arms and have her laugh with me or have her clutch me when I gave her raspberries, I can’t understand that.”
Mr. McCarron, I hope it is all right if I quote your words here because they have been running through my mind, especially yesterday’s Katherine McCarron Memorial on the Autism Hub. As an autism mother–whose own parents, like you, are autism grandparents–I feel a tremendous connection to your family right now. And it is because of autism.
That said, Mr. McCarron, I too do not understand it—I just can’t understand it.
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POSTED IN: Family
9 opinions for “This was not about autism”
Ballastexistenz
May 25, 2006 at 9:20 am
When he says “This was not about autism,” I read it as “Her being autistic does not justify this and people claiming to ‘understand’ why her mother killed her, on the basis of autism, are wrong”.
Kristina Chew, PhD
May 25, 2006 at 9:44 am
I read it that way, too.
I am wondering if he also meant that there might be some other reason the mother did it—that she had some kind of psychiatric issues and (terrible to write this) would have done it whether or not her daughter was autistic.
Ballastexistenz
May 25, 2006 at 11:23 am
I also thought he might have meant that, although I don’t think that only people with “psychiatric issues” murder their children. Most abusers and murderers are perfectly “sane”. I also think he might have meant there was some other motive that has not been addressed yet (such as revenge on a family member or something). I don’t think it’s any more terrible the concept she would have done this to any child, than that she would have done it to an autistic child. I think it’s fairly common that when someone murders a disabled child, everyone assumes the murder has something to do with the disability, and may be more quick to excuse it. (In fact that has happened before and the murderer has gone on to kill non-disabled people.)
Kristina Chew, PhD
May 25, 2006 at 11:43 am
I keep watching PJstar.com for updates.
“I think it’s fairly common that when someone murders a disabled child, everyone assumes the murder has something to do with the disability, and may be more quick to excuse it.”
Yes, I think so too and my mom keeps on going back to Andrea Yates.
Autism Vox » Autism Speaks, I’m waiting
May 25, 2006 at 1:00 pm
[…] Michael McCarron, Katherine’s paternal grandfather, has been quoted as saying that “This was not about autism. This was not about a lack of support.” […]
Autism Vox » Katherine McCarron’s mother indicted on murder charges
Jun 28, 2006 at 6:43 am
[…] Karen McCarron was charged with two counts of first-degree murder by a Tazewell County Grand Jury on Thursday, June 1, afternoon. If convicted, she could face a 100-year prison sentence. Police say McCarron has admitted to putting a garbage bag over her daughter Katherine’s head until she died. […]
Autism Vox » “A child is the greatest gift there is”
Jun 28, 2006 at 6:48 am
[…] Deborah Kendrick is a mother, though not an autism mother. In an article in today’s Columbus Dispatch, she responds to the deaths of Katherine McCarron and Christopher DeGroot. A child is the greatest gift there is. A parent who destroys that gift deserves no pity. […]
Autism Vox
Jun 28, 2006 at 6:51 am
[…] “This was not about autism”06/28/2006 06:48 am7 Comments […]
Autism Vox » Karen McCarron in court this morning
Jun 28, 2006 at 11:05 am
[…] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Related Posts: Illinois mother charged with attempted murder of disableddaughter…I don’t have a title for this post about Katherine McCarron’s mother…Katherine McCarron’s mother indicted on murder charges…“This was not about autism”…“How many more deaths have to happen in order to get things moving?”…Silence about Katherine McCarron…Katherine McCarron’s mother a flight risk?… […]
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