Monday, August 28, 2006 · Last updated
6:34 a.m. PT
Seabeck woman
held in death of adopted son in 2002
THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. -- A woman
known for caring for children has been arrested for investigation of
homicide by abuse and manslaughter involving an 8-year-old boy who
died in 2002, Kitsap County sheriff's deputies said.
The woman was jailed Saturday with
bail set at $1 million pending a Superior Court appearance.
The coroner ruled four years ago
that the boy's death was caused by a respiratory infection, but the
case remained open as investigators sought more information,
sheriff's Deputy Scott Wilson said.
KING Television of Seattle reported
that the woman, 43 or 44, who lived near Seabeck at the time of the
boy's death, later left with her family to care for orphans in
Africa and was arrested shortly after returning to the area for
medical treatment of an infection.
Neighbors said she was polite and
helpful but added that the family kept to themselves and that
children in the household were home schooled.
"They had apparently 11 foster kids
over there, plus three of their own, and we barely heard them,"
Danita Hughes said. "They lived a very simple life. They raised
their fruit and vegetables on their property, they had cows, goats,
got their milk that way, pretty much lived off the land."
Hughes said she remembered one of
the children dying after being injured for some reason about four
years ago.
"My husband went over to try to
help," Hughes said. "She believed in no medical help. It was just
home remedy-type stuff."
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