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Mother Pleads Guilty But Mentally Ill in Daughter's Death
19 Aug
Summary
- A mother pleaded guilty but mentally ill to third-degree murder.
- The plea concerns the strangulation death of her 3-year-old daughter.
- Sentencing was adjourned pending a judge's final decision.
A 37-year-old woman, Solange J. White, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to third-degree murder on Tuesday. This plea addresses the strangulation death of her 3-year-old daughter, which occurred four years ago. The plea was entered in Berks County Court before Judge Thomas G. Parisi as a non-jury trial was commencing.
White, who has been institutionalized in a state psychiatric facility, had previously waived her right to a speedy trial multiple times. Her attorneys required additional preparation time for her defense. District Attorney John T. Adams acknowledged that White's mental health issues were a significant factor, with her family long expressing concerns.
Exeter police responded to a 911 call from White's residence reporting the child unconscious and the belief that White had strangled her. Investigators found marks on the child's neck consistent with strangulation. The judge adjourned the sentencing hearing after hearing emotional testimony from family and friends, planning to reconvene to announce his ruling.
