BEULAH, Mich. – A state psychologist says a northern Michigan mother charged with attempted murder in the carbon monoxide poisoning of her autistic 14-year-old daughter is competent to stand trial.
Kelli Stapleton's defense requested the review by the state forensic center. Defense lawyer Heidi Hodek tells the Traverse City Record-Eagle (http://bit.ly/1c3xUdN ) she didn't find the result surprising, based on her conversations with Stapleton.
A judge is to review the findings Thursday afternoon in Benzie County District Court in Beulah.
Stapleton and her daughter, Isabelle, were found unconscious Sept. 3 in the family's van in Blaine Township in what authorities described as an attempted murder-suicide.
The family lives in Elberta, west of Traverse City. Kelli Stapleton had chronicled in an online blog the challenges her family faced caring for Isabelle who has severe autism.
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Information from: Traverse City Record-Eagle, http://www.record-eagle.com
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