Mom shouldn't be charged

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jul 6, 2008

Shame on Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings for charging Kamilyn Hadley with negligent homicide in the accidental death of her 5- month-old son, Daniel.

Mr. Rawlings was not required to file charges. He claims the decision was based on "fact, law, public policy and humanity."

Mr. Rawlings should take a lesson from the 2002 Utah case of Paul Wayment. Wayment plead no contest to negligent homicide after his 2- year-old son, Gage, died after getting out and wandering away from their truck while on a deer-scouting trip. Wayment took his own life the day before he was to report for jail.

Why spend tax-payers' money to put Hadley through these proceedings? I urge Mr. Rawlings to do the humane thing and drop the charges. It was a tragic mistake that deserves to be treated with forgiveness and empathy, not condemnation and punishment.

Kate Smith

Bountiful