Download the AOL News Toolbar
Our new toolbar integrates latest news into your Web browser and installs in seconds. Download it now!
Send Us Feedback
News Video
Find, view and share videos about news and entertainment from around the Web.
See Videos »

News Alerts

The latest updates sent straight to your inbox.

Get AOL News Alerts »

Mom Allegedly Withheld Cancer Meds

By DENISE LAVOIE
,
AP
posted: 123 DAYS 14 HOURS AGO
comments: 178
Text SizeAAA
SALEM, Mass. (July 6) - A woman accused of withholding cancer treatment from her son by not filling prescriptions and misleading his doctors pleaded not guilty Monday to an attempted murder charge in the 9-year-old boy's death.
A prosecutor outlined the allegations against Kristen LaBrie, but offered no details on her alleged motive in repeatedly failing to follow doctors' instructions in how to care for her son, Jeremy Fraser.
Skip over this content
http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=549540&pid=549539&uts=1248727047
http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf
Parent Criminal Cases
South Carolina mom Jerri Gray faces felony child neglect charges over her son, Alexander Draper, 14, who weighs 555 pounds. They made national headlines when they were reported missing in May, and were found later that month in Baltimore. Gray told CBS News that she works late shifts, which leaves her little time to prepare healthy meals for her son.
The Greenville County Sheriff's Office (2)
The Greenville County Sheriff's Office (2)
She was ordered held on $15,000 cash bail on attempted murder, child endangerment and other charges.
The boy's father, Eric Fraser, said he did not know of any religious beliefs or any other reason why his ex-wife would withhold treatment.
"I have no idea," he said Monday, before LaBrie's arraignment in Salem Superior Court.
LaBrie shook her head as Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall said she repeatedly failed to fill prescriptions for her son and deceived his doctors into believing she was giving him the medications he needed to save his life. The boy died in March.
As a young child, Jeremy Fraser had been diagnosed with a serious form of autism.
In October 2006, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but doctors gave him an 85 percent to 90 percent chance of recovery, MacDougall said. The boy was given large doses of chemotherapy in the hospital and his cancer went into remission.
His mother was given prescriptions for medications he was to be given at home. MacDougall said LaBrie repeatedly failed to pick up prescriptions, but led doctors to believe they were being filled, at one point asking for a liquid version of the medication because her son was having trouble swallowing pills.
"Miss LaBrie never expressed any misgivings about the treatment," MacDougall said.
In February 2008, after one of Jeremy's doctors called LaBrie's pharmacy and learned she had not been filling prescriptions, LaBrie said the pharmacy must have made a mistake, MacDougall said.
It was at that point that doctors discovered that the boy's cancer had returned as leukemia and was untreatable with chemotherapy, she said.
LaBrie's attorney, Kevin James, said Monday that LaBrie was a single mother with "severe financial problems" who bore the burden of taking care of her son.
"She is a victim. She is the mother who took care of her child," James said.
LaBrie, 37, had earlier been charged with child endangerment; a grand jury returned the more serious indictment Friday.
The alleged withholding of medication took place while the boy was mostly in LaBrie's care, authorities said.
LaBrie claimed in probate court documents that Fraser, the boy's father, chronically missed visits with his son and did not have contact with his school or doctors during the boy's chemotherapy.
"No assistance with care," she wrote in documents filed in April 2007.
Fraser, 38, of Saugus, said Jeremy was a happy kid who enjoyed riding dirt bikes and swimming at a family cottage in Tamworth, N.H.
Before the arraignment, he declined to speak specifically about the case against LaBrie, other than to say, "I am relieved that it is moving forward."
LaBrie faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted.
Skip over this content

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-07-06 16:05:34

Related Articles

  1. See More Related Articles and Blog Posts
(178)
Sort by:

1 - 10

CHASKAinTEXAS

06:13 AMJul 09 2009

My sis died when I was 12 & she was 2 1/2 as a guinea pig to radiation so people like that women could with hold medicine that would keep her child ALIVE? I say while it's an inconvienence to her he could still be alive & possibly cured so shame on her and a little time in jail might help her to understand she's not GOD. I'd do ANYTHING for my children,but killing them slowly wouldn't be on my agenda. On the otherhand I understand her sorrow ,and maybe the madness to her thinking ,but at that time if she couldn't cope pass the child to a relative that can....

AVG RATING:
(1)

Atlan568

04:18 PMJul 08 2009

for those that think there is help out there - there really isn't. maybe its different with kids , but when an amputee finally gets to the top of that waiting list to get that ramp built that she can't afford herself, !4 years after she dies! you realize help is there in name only, not in any actual reality. Besides primitive tribes had the better idea. A handicap child who'd be a burden to the tribe was exposed. Our tribe keeps people who are closer to animals in existence alive and burdens everyone with their care.

AVG RATING:
(0)

NicStepro

02:10 PMJul 08 2009

I don't know what the solution is. I know one retarded child whose family loves and cares for her and after her parents die her sister will be there to care for her. She's sweet and gives everyone hugs. I know another who can be violent and has acted out sexually with children. When his mom dies his brother and father will not care for him and have nothing to do with him. I know another, big big fella, who has to be held down by security (all 5-6 of them) when he comes in for labwork. One day his elderly motherran into another room sat on the floor and started crying. Maybe your 13 y/o won't look like such a contribution to society when he gets past puberty starts becoming violent or sexual with 8 y/os. Maybe you're gonna be the only one who considers him a blessing then.

AVG RATING:
(1)

slippers100000

05:09 AMJul 08 2009

------BoomerCupid.com------It is a funny and interesting place to date sexy 4O plus and attractive girls or hot guys. Many hottie videos and photos at this site. I've met many thoughtful singles there.

AVG RATING:
(0)

dealseeker5

01:23 AMJul 08 2009

hey yall, i just found this site that is giving away FREE $5 gas cards! be quick though they are only giving a limited amount away for free. http://hardcorebreakingnews.info/freegascard/Enjoy!Deal seeker

AVG RATING:
(0)

Tcalderwoodh

11:34 PMJul 08 2009

To respond to the idiot NeoWiccan4. What a horrible and distasteful comment. I am a mother of a 13 year old with autism and a 3 year old in the process of being diagnosed. I know God gave me my boys for a real purpose which daily I am learning to see the world in a new and beautiful light. All special need children have something to contribute to the world, whether you think so or not. For you to make a comment like you did about being a burden on society shows how uneducated you are as an individual. My oldest would be the first to say "Mommy you need to forgive this person", if he only knew what you said. I will need take comfort that God will handle you with that senseless comment, and pray he will take pity on your soul.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Intractv1

08:11 PMJul 08 2009

Desiderata9116 - This is not Schizophrenia that this boy suffered from (like January did in the story you are referring to), Autism is totally different... I agree with what you are saying, but 2 totally different situations.

AVG RATING:
(0)

NOOPEGIN

05:26 PMJul 07 2009

for every high functioning autistic child there are 10 that are making lives and families a living hell. that have broken up families. where mothers (mostly mothers because dads leave, like here) are actually depressed enough to consider suicide. euthanasia should be an option for severely retarded and autistic children. when mom dies what happens? the burden and useless expense shifts from her to the state and we pay for it.

AVG RATING:
(6)

Xcapartist

02:41 PMJul 07 2009

Pretty funny. An OPINION without any vulgarities and racisim gets flagged? Ha! I am now going to be sure to read them all. Who knew? Flag away losers. NO JURY WILL EVER CONVICT THIS MOTHER.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Peyton1776

01:59 PMJul 07 2009

The sad thing about the boy is he was subjected to forced vaccines by the state and government that has high levels of mercury that causes autism and cancer, but the real villian is the state and usa government. So how does the parents which have children with these two illinesses go after the ones that has caused lethal damage to the children of this country. Now these tyrant have passed a new law for mandatory vaccines for everyone, it's called legal genocide. take the shots, delayed action, a year, two, three years later, the person develops a sickness, and dies of natural causes, but the true culprit is the vaccine and that's how the worldwide population will be reduced from 7 billion down to 2 billion. It's not too late, wake up, refuse the vaccines, get involved with anti-vaccine groups and demand a correct answer from these low life criminals in washinton dc.

AVG RATING:
(6)

1 - 10 of 178

{ JOIN the CONVERSATION }

YOU'LL BE ASKED TO REGISTER OR LOGIN BEFORE POSTING A COMMENT.

News Makers

NewsmakersThe world champion Yankees get a ticker-tape parade and a heroes' welcome in New York. 1 of 7

News Makers

 

All Good News, All The Time

GNN

The Savings Experiment

cleaning products


* Want the latest Hot Seat polls delivered to your Vista desktop? Hot Seat Vista Gadget »

 

Politics Daily

Sports

Money

Technology

Health

Entertainment

A woman accused of withholding cancer treatment from her son by not filling prescriptions and misleading his doctors pleaded not guilty Monday to an attempted murder charge in the 9-year-old boy\'s death. A prosecutor outlined the allegations against Kristen LaBrie, but offered no details on her alleged motive in repeatedly failing to follow doctors\' instructions in how to care for her son, Jeremy Fraser.