Aug 22, 2022 07:00 PM
(This post was last modified: Aug 22, 2022 07:00 PM by C C.)
https://www.iflscience.com/the-woman-who...mist-64986
EXCERPT: In 1989, a toddler died of a rare condition. As a result, his mother would be convicted of his murder, and only released after an episode of Unsolved Mysteries brought the case to the attention of a biochemist at Saint Louis University.
[...] Adding to the tragedy of the situation, Patricia Stallings was pregnant. She gave birth to her second son while still awaiting trial, and the second boy – David Jr – was placed into foster care. A month after his birth, you guessed it, he began to experience symptoms similar to his deceased brother, despite having zero contact with his mother. He was quickly diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder – methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) – which would explain not only his symptoms, but his brother's death as well.
[...] It all sounds quite open and shut at this point. A boy died of apparent poisoning by anti-freeze, before his brother was diagnosed with a genetic condition that can mimic the effects of antifreeze poisoning. However, it wasn't over yet...
[...] When the lawyer suggested that natural causes could have been at play, the prosecution responded that "you might as well speculate that some little man from mars came down and shot him full of some mysterious bacteria.”
She was convicted of first degree murder, and assault, and sentenced to life in prison. The following year, an episode on the case appeared on Unsolved Mysteries.
[...] Biochemist William Sly of Saint Louis University was watching the episode, and he and the Director of the Metabolic Screening Lab at St Louis University, Dr James Shoemaker, were able to test Ryan's blood, which confirmed that he had had the disease.
[...] Shortly after this evidence was presented to the prosecutor, in July 1991, Stallings was released and reunited with her second son, while awaiting a new trial on the grounds of inadequate legal defense. Soon after that, the charges against her were dismissed... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPT: In 1989, a toddler died of a rare condition. As a result, his mother would be convicted of his murder, and only released after an episode of Unsolved Mysteries brought the case to the attention of a biochemist at Saint Louis University.
[...] Adding to the tragedy of the situation, Patricia Stallings was pregnant. She gave birth to her second son while still awaiting trial, and the second boy – David Jr – was placed into foster care. A month after his birth, you guessed it, he began to experience symptoms similar to his deceased brother, despite having zero contact with his mother. He was quickly diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder – methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) – which would explain not only his symptoms, but his brother's death as well.
[...] It all sounds quite open and shut at this point. A boy died of apparent poisoning by anti-freeze, before his brother was diagnosed with a genetic condition that can mimic the effects of antifreeze poisoning. However, it wasn't over yet...
[...] When the lawyer suggested that natural causes could have been at play, the prosecution responded that "you might as well speculate that some little man from mars came down and shot him full of some mysterious bacteria.”
She was convicted of first degree murder, and assault, and sentenced to life in prison. The following year, an episode on the case appeared on Unsolved Mysteries.
[...] Biochemist William Sly of Saint Louis University was watching the episode, and he and the Director of the Metabolic Screening Lab at St Louis University, Dr James Shoemaker, were able to test Ryan's blood, which confirmed that he had had the disease.
[...] Shortly after this evidence was presented to the prosecutor, in July 1991, Stallings was released and reunited with her second son, while awaiting a new trial on the grounds of inadequate legal defense. Soon after that, the charges against her were dismissed... (MORE - missing details)