Saturday, April 9, 2011

Legal Guardian Charged With Murder

The legal guardian of a 22-year-old disabled Kearns woman who was found dead March 25 has been charged with first-degree felony murder.

The charges filed Friday in 3rd District Court against 27-year-old Cassandra Marie Shepard also include one count of aggravated abuse of a disabled or elder adult, a first-degree felony, and one count of obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.

Friends and family of Christina Harms said she suffered from the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome

The state Office of the Medical Examiner determined Harms’ cause of death was homicide by positional asphyxiation.

Other details from the medical examiner’s report state Harms’ body and head had bruising that was consistent with chronic physical abuse. Her hands and wrists, which were covered with bandages, were severely damaged with the skin falling off, charging documents say. The report stated Harms was fitted with a makeshift diaper.

Full Article and Source:
Caretaker of Abused Kearns Woman Charged With Murder

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very, very sad. I am so sorry for the family of this victim.

Anonymous said...

This is a heart stopper, makes me physically ill my deepest sympathies to the family of Christina Harms. No mercy for Cassandra Marie Shepard. Her actions and inactions require the full force of punishment.

Eric said...

And the court that was supposed to be overseeing the guardianship? Anybody looking at that?

B Inberg said...

QUESTION:
WHO IS WATCHING THE GUARDIANS?

ANSWER:
NO ONE

Diane said...

You're absolutely right B Inberg.