Qwikshot
05-23-2007, 09:25 AM
So it's a syndrome now, anyone think that this sets a terrible precident if it's used as a defense?
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_top/20070522_Drexel_student_arraigned_on_murder_charge.html
Drexel student arraigned on murder chargeBy Kathy Brady Shea
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
A 19-year-old Drexel Hill woman turned herself in to police this morning and was arraigned on first-degree charges in connection with the death of her newborn son, whose body was found in a car trunk in January.
Charges against Mia Sardella, a Drexel University student, include first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse.
Sardella appeared with her attorney, Arthur T. Donato Jr., at the Upper Darby public safety building, where she was arraigned in Delaware County District Court. Judge Kelly A. Micozzie-Aguirre ordered her held without bail.
Sardella appeared in court with her parents and grandparents. Dressed in a black T-shirt and black slacks and sandals, she stood silently and drummed her fingers nervously as the judge read the list of 11 charges.
After she was ordered to jail, she turned and looked at her parents with visible alarm.
Later, her attorney said there is no evidence in the case to support a charge of homicide. Donato said he would be able to "to refute any indication of any type of murder."
Sardella is the granddaughter of Albert E. Piscopo, chief executive of the Glenmede Trust Co., an investment firm that manages the assets of the Pew Charitable Trusts and other high-end clients. He did not to speak to reporters at the hearing. Sardella's parents, Stephanie Leone and Daniel Sardella, also did not comment.
The baby's cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation, according to the Delaware County medical examiner, Fredric N. Hellman.
The dead infant was discovered Jan. 22 by Sardella's mother in the trunk of her car.
"The child was born alive, viable and healthy," said Deputy District Attorney Michael Gallantino, "He was prevented from breathing, which caused death."
There has been extensive coverage of and public interest in the case, which Chitwood said stemmed in part from the prominence of Piscopo. He serves on a variety of boards, including those of the Opera Company of Philadelphia and Community College of Philadelphia.
None of Sardella's friends, relatives or associates knew she was pregnant, Chitwood said. The baby's father, an unidentified former boyfriend of Sardella's, told police he asked Sardella about an apparent weight gain during a chance meeting with her in the fall. He said she blamed it on an adverse reaction to a birth-control patch, police said.
In a search of the Drexel Hill home where Sardella lived before attending college, police confiscated an article on the "denial of pregnancy" syndrome, which typically affects young girls who convince themselves they cannot be pregnant.
Yesterday, Donato said, "That appears to be what happened here."
Doris C. Vallone, an associate professor at Widener University who has studied pregnancy denial, said, "Teenagers have magical thinking; they believe, if they don't deal with it, it will go away."
Early on, Chitwood accused defense attorneys of delaying interviews with family members, and last week he expressed concern that his investigators were excluded from a meeting with Hellman and representatives of the District Attorney's Office.
The investigation began after police received a phone call from Donato, who said Leone, found the body, with the umbilical cord still attached, underneath some bloody towels in a tote bag in her car trunk. Police later said that Sardella gave birth to a 5- to 6-pound infant while she was home for the holiday break.
Donato said he called authorities after being contacted by Piscopo, Leone's father. Donato said Piscopo suspected the baby's mother was his granddaughter.
Contact staff writer Kathleen Brady Shea at 610-701-7625 or [email protected].
Updated 9:00 AM EDTMOST VIEWED ON PHILLY.COM
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http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_top/20070522_Drexel_student_arraigned_on_murder_charge.html
Drexel student arraigned on murder chargeBy Kathy Brady Shea
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
A 19-year-old Drexel Hill woman turned herself in to police this morning and was arraigned on first-degree charges in connection with the death of her newborn son, whose body was found in a car trunk in January.
Charges against Mia Sardella, a Drexel University student, include first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse.
Sardella appeared with her attorney, Arthur T. Donato Jr., at the Upper Darby public safety building, where she was arraigned in Delaware County District Court. Judge Kelly A. Micozzie-Aguirre ordered her held without bail.
Sardella appeared in court with her parents and grandparents. Dressed in a black T-shirt and black slacks and sandals, she stood silently and drummed her fingers nervously as the judge read the list of 11 charges.
After she was ordered to jail, she turned and looked at her parents with visible alarm.
Later, her attorney said there is no evidence in the case to support a charge of homicide. Donato said he would be able to "to refute any indication of any type of murder."
Sardella is the granddaughter of Albert E. Piscopo, chief executive of the Glenmede Trust Co., an investment firm that manages the assets of the Pew Charitable Trusts and other high-end clients. He did not to speak to reporters at the hearing. Sardella's parents, Stephanie Leone and Daniel Sardella, also did not comment.
The baby's cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation, according to the Delaware County medical examiner, Fredric N. Hellman.
The dead infant was discovered Jan. 22 by Sardella's mother in the trunk of her car.
"The child was born alive, viable and healthy," said Deputy District Attorney Michael Gallantino, "He was prevented from breathing, which caused death."
There has been extensive coverage of and public interest in the case, which Chitwood said stemmed in part from the prominence of Piscopo. He serves on a variety of boards, including those of the Opera Company of Philadelphia and Community College of Philadelphia.
None of Sardella's friends, relatives or associates knew she was pregnant, Chitwood said. The baby's father, an unidentified former boyfriend of Sardella's, told police he asked Sardella about an apparent weight gain during a chance meeting with her in the fall. He said she blamed it on an adverse reaction to a birth-control patch, police said.
In a search of the Drexel Hill home where Sardella lived before attending college, police confiscated an article on the "denial of pregnancy" syndrome, which typically affects young girls who convince themselves they cannot be pregnant.
Yesterday, Donato said, "That appears to be what happened here."
Doris C. Vallone, an associate professor at Widener University who has studied pregnancy denial, said, "Teenagers have magical thinking; they believe, if they don't deal with it, it will go away."
Early on, Chitwood accused defense attorneys of delaying interviews with family members, and last week he expressed concern that his investigators were excluded from a meeting with Hellman and representatives of the District Attorney's Office.
The investigation began after police received a phone call from Donato, who said Leone, found the body, with the umbilical cord still attached, underneath some bloody towels in a tote bag in her car trunk. Police later said that Sardella gave birth to a 5- to 6-pound infant while she was home for the holiday break.
Donato said he called authorities after being contacted by Piscopo, Leone's father. Donato said Piscopo suspected the baby's mother was his granddaughter.
Contact staff writer Kathleen Brady Shea at 610-701-7625 or [email protected].
Updated 9:00 AM EDTMOST VIEWED ON PHILLY.COM
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Updated 9:00 AM EDTMOST EMAILED ON PHILLY.COM
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OZZY DOOMED 02:17 AM EDT
By DAN GERINGER
Obama gets star greeting at Phila. fund-raising trip 05/22/2007 09:42 PM EDT
By Thomas Fitzgerald
Obama's presidential tour makes stop at Philly concert venue 05/22/2007 08:27 PM EDT
PATRICK WALTERS
Fed up by recent fire, Corzine calls for closing of Pinelands training area 05/22/2007 04:56 PM EDT
By Jennifer Moroz
Drexel student arraigned on murder charges 05/22/2007 09:21 AM EDT
By Kathleen Brady Shea
Baby dead in trunk was alive at birth 05/22/2007 02:27 AM EDT
By Kathleen Brady Shea
Delco autopsy: Baby was killed 05/22/2007 02:16 AM EDT
By STEPHANIE FARR & WILLIAM BENDER
Former Camden school employees plead not guilty to theft, other charges 05/21/2007 06:45 PM EDT
By Melanie Burney
Former Independence Seaport Museum director charged 05/21/2007 04:33 PM EDT
By John Shiffman
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By Mark Fazlollah and John Shiffman