“Crazy” Mother Kills Presumably Autistic Son, Media Reports

In Colorado, Stephanie Rochester killed her infant son. Rochester, who works with autistics as a mental health counselor, feared 6-month-old Rylan would be autistic.

This story is different from most of the reports on parents killing their (presumably) disabled children, in that, this time, the emphasis is not placed on how hard it would be to care for a disabled child. That doesn’t make this story less ableist: instead of focusing on Rylan’s possible autism, the reporter focuses extensively on Ms. Rochester’s apparent depressive and suicidal symptoms, including what prescription medication she was given for it. Now of course it is necessary that, if Stephanie is depressed, she be provided with adequate mental health services while in custody. Also, if her depression played a part in the crime, this should be acknowledged and taken into account. But that doesn’t seem to be the interest of the reporter: this crime must be blamed on either the victim’s presumed disability or on the murderer’s poor mental health.

This crime is horrible. I am concerned about the people who loved Rylan and mourn his death. Of course, Ms. Rochester’s circumstances should be taken into account in court, but when does the media finally learn to focus on what a crime actually is? Homicide happens way too often. Acknowledge that. Please stop blaming “crazy” perpetrators or “defective” victism for it.