Karen McCarron

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Karen McCarron is an Illinois physician who has been accused of smothering to death her autistic daughter Katherine 'Katie' McCarron (July 22, 2002-May 13, 2006). She has been charged with first-degree murder, obstructing justice and concealment of a homicidal death.

1 Timeline
2 Reaction
3 External links
4 Sources

[edit] Timeline

Karen and Paul McCarron had their first child, Katherine, on July 22, 2002, at Saint Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois. She was diagnosed with autism in May of 2004. In September of 2004, Paul and Katie moved to North Carolina to live with her paternal grandmother. This move was made in order for Katie to attend a special school for autistic children, the Mariposa School in Cary, North Carolina. Paul and Katie would return home to Ilinois on holidays, and Karen, who was a pathologist with the Peoria-Tazewell Pathology Group, stayed in Peoria with their younger daughter Emily, and visited North Carolina occasionally. After 20 months, the family decided to return full-time to Illinois. Paul McCarron took Katie to their home in Illinois on May 3, 2006. On May 7, 2006, Paul returned to North Carolina to fulfill the last three weeks of his work commitment. Katie remained in Illinois under the care of her mother and maternal grandparents, along with her younger sister. On the afternoon of May 13, 2006, Karen allegedly killed Katie by suffocating her in a plastic bag. In the very early hours of Sunday morning, Karen McCarron took Tylenol in what she described as an unsuccessful suicide attempt.

[edit] Reaction

Many autistics have rallied in favor of a conviction of Dr. McCarron. Katie's death has garnered intense scrutiny within the autism rights movement. Some autistics and pro-acceptance parents have made internet-based memorials for Katherine and her death. In particular, Autism Hub held a memorial on May 24 and the site was shut for the day on May 25.

The parents of some autistic and non-autistic children have spoken in support of Dr. McCarron. They claim that a lack of support and services for autistic children and their families is at least partly to blame.

In response to the news coverage the perceived supporters of Dr. McCarron received, some autism parents including Autism Vox and other disability advocates have issued what they describe as "a call for restraint" in media coverage of the case. They suggested that news coverage that is sympathetic toward Karen McCarron's act can contribute to stigmatization of disabled people, and lead to similar acts.