Defense Preparing Case For Mother Of 2 Kids Found Dead In Freezer
DETROIT (WWJ) -- The attorney for the Detroit mom accused of killing two of her children and stashing their bodies in a freezer said that he has not yet determined how the defense will proceed with case.
Wyatt Harris said that he has met with Mitchelle Blair -- mother of Stephen Berry and Stoni Blair, the children whose body's were found inside a freezer in their Detroit home on March 24 -- but has not decided if they will pursue an insanity defense.
"She's in a cell, a separate cell by herself -- no one has told me that she is in an isolation area -- but she's in a cell by herself," Harris said. "I have to analyze all of the information that's coming to me and discuss with her a way in which she wants to handle the case and talk to her in terms of what's in her best interest.
"We're at the very beginning stages of that, so, it's so early," Harris said.
Harris said that he has not yet read the statements made by Blair's two surviving children about alleged horrific abuse, nor has he read the autopsy report. The Medical Examiner determined that the deaths of Stephen Berry and Stoni Blair were homicides.
Blair's two other children, ages 11 and 17 — now in protective custody — were unharmed, but knew their dead siblings were inside the freezer, according to reports.
All of Blair's children were apparently home-schooled, which is why Detroit school officials said they were not looking for the kids.
Blair is being held on a $1 million bond on five counts of first degree child abuse, but will now be charged with murder, according to prosecutors.
