Conn. Teen On Suicide Watch After Murder Charges
(CBS/AP) DANBURY, Conn. A Danbury High School senior charged with murdering her newborn baby girl has been placed on suicide watch.
Panna Krom, 17, appeared in Danbury Superior Court on Friday before Judge Denise Markle, who ordered the teens bail to remain at $750,000 despite a request from Krom's attorney to lower it.
"She is not at risk of harming anybody in the community," said Vicki Hutchinson, Krom’s attorney. She said Krom planned to have the baby and then things went wrong.
Hutchinson said she had not had a chance to thoroughly review the case because the court file has been sealed. She said Krom spent four days this week in the psychiatric ward at Danbury Hospital and is taking an antidepressant.
Hutchinson described Krom as a good student with hopes of going to college who has never been in trouble.
Police showed up at her home Dec. 29 after an emergency room doctor at Danbury hospital reported he was treating a girl who had recently given birth. The sewer system was reportedly shut down around her home while police investigated.
Hutchinson said Krom was probably about six months pregnant.
Police initially thought the baby was stillborn or that Krom had a miscarriage. They have not said what prompted them to charge her with murder. An autopsy will likely not be completed for six to 10 weeks.
Krom, who was charged with murder and risk of injury to a minor, is due back in court Friday.
"Right now she's just in shock," Hutchinson said outside the courthouse on Friday.
Hutchinson asked that Krom be granted a lower bail and subject to electronic monitoring because her parents, factory workers who fled Cambodia 25 years ago, could not afford the $750,000 bond.
Markle said she denied the request because the charges are so serious.
Danbury High School principal Catherine Richards said that Krom was scheduled to graduate in June.
"She'd been in school. She'd been an active student here," Richards said. "It's a tragedy."
Panna Krom, 17, appeared in Danbury Superior Court on Friday before Judge Denise Markle, who ordered the teens bail to remain at $750,000 despite a request from Krom's attorney to lower it.
"She is not at risk of harming anybody in the community," said Vicki Hutchinson, Krom’s attorney. She said Krom planned to have the baby and then things went wrong.
Hutchinson said she had not had a chance to thoroughly review the case because the court file has been sealed. She said Krom spent four days this week in the psychiatric ward at Danbury Hospital and is taking an antidepressant.
Hutchinson described Krom as a good student with hopes of going to college who has never been in trouble.
Police showed up at her home Dec. 29 after an emergency room doctor at Danbury hospital reported he was treating a girl who had recently given birth. The sewer system was reportedly shut down around her home while police investigated.
Hutchinson said Krom was probably about six months pregnant.
Police initially thought the baby was stillborn or that Krom had a miscarriage. They have not said what prompted them to charge her with murder. An autopsy will likely not be completed for six to 10 weeks.
Krom, who was charged with murder and risk of injury to a minor, is due back in court Friday.
"Right now she's just in shock," Hutchinson said outside the courthouse on Friday.
Hutchinson asked that Krom be granted a lower bail and subject to electronic monitoring because her parents, factory workers who fled Cambodia 25 years ago, could not afford the $750,000 bond.
Markle said she denied the request because the charges are so serious.
Danbury High School principal Catherine Richards said that Krom was scheduled to graduate in June.
"She'd been in school. She'd been an active student here," Richards said. "It's a tragedy."
No comments:
Post a Comment