Woman whose sons starved to death ruled unfit to stand trial

Woman whose sons starved to death ruled unfit to stand trial

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Story Published: Jan 31, 2007 at 11:29 AM PDT

Story Updated: Jan 31, 2007 at 11:02 PM PDT

By KOMO Staff & News Services

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SEATTLE - A King County Superior Court judge on Wednesday dismissed all charges against a 36-year-old Kent woman who is accused of letting two of her children starve, after she was found mentally incompetent and unable to stand trial.

Marie Genevieve Robinson was referred for civil commitment at Western State Hospital. Court documents say Robinson apparently believes her sons aren't really dead but were kidnapped by a secret police agency.

Prosecutors could file charges in the future if doctors determine that she is competent.

Robinson had previously entered not guilty pleas to charges of second-degree murder and criminal mistreatment in the deaths of her two youngest sons, 16-month-old Justice and 7-week-old Raiden.

"This case should absolutely go to trial," said Prosecuting Attorney Rich Anderson. "She should be held criminally responsible for the death of her sons. She just can't be tried right now."

She was passed out drunk, lying in bed with the covers over her head, when police entered her apartment and found the bodies Nov. 14, 2004, prosecutors said. A 2-year-old boy who survived by foraging in the kitchen helped police get the door open.

During a hearing in 2004, her attorney, Colleen O'Connor, said that Robinson "kind of understands" the charges against her, "but she's still grieving."

The deaths were discovered after Christopher Bone, Robinson's boyfriend and the children's father, was released from the Kitsap County Jail in Port Orchard, where he had been held for missing court dates.

When he knocked on the door of the apartment in this south Seattle suburb and got no response, he called police, telling them he had been trying to contact Robinson by telephone for 10 days.

Inside the apartment, police said they found dozens of empty beer cans lined up on the dresser, and the floor was covered with dirty clothing, garbage and empty beer cans.

Chris Bone was in court on Wednesday and tried to hold back tears as he spoke with reporters.

"I have to come to some part of me that's going to be able to forgive," he said, "so I can continue on to be the best father that I can possibly be."

Robinson has been the subject of at least four complaints to the state Department of Social and Health Services, but Child Protective Services repeatedly found her children did not appear to be in danger.

Court records show Robinson had four other children with her former husband before they were divorced in 2001. He won custody of all four.

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