Homicide

Vermont mother, boyfriend charged in death of her disabled 13-year-old son; alcohol in IV tube

Associated Press
Published | Updated

This photo provided by Vermont State Police shows Melissa Robitille. Vermont State Police say Robitille and her boyfriend, Walter Richter III, put alcohol in her disabled son's IV tube, killing the 13-year-old boy. They were charged Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 with murder. (AP Photo/Vermont State Police) (The Associated Press)

This photo provided by Vermont State Police shows Walter Richter III. Vermont State Police say Richter III and his girlfriend, Melissa Robitille, put alcohol in her disabled son's IV tube, killing the 13-year-old boy. They were charged Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 with murder. (AP Photo/Vermont State Police) (The Associated Press)

Vermont State Police say a woman and her boyfriend put alcohol in her disabled 13-year-old son's IV tube, killing him.

Melissa Robitille and Walter Richter III were charged Tuesday with murder in the death of Isaac Robitille. Melissa Robitille called police on Aug. 22 to report he was dead.

Police say Isaac was born with significant medical conditions and multiple disabilities that required the assistance of caretakers, feeding tubes and IV tubes.

They say Robitille and Richter used the IV tube to administer alcohol to the boy and that led to his death. His blood alcohol content was 0.146 percent, almost twice the legal limit for driving.

Robitille and Richter are charged with second-degree murder. They're in police custody. It couldn't immediately be learned if they had lawyers.