The recent killing of 19-month-old Donna May Busch is "not part of an ordinary culture of violence," said Frank Zimring, a University of California, Berkeley law professor and a fellow of the American Society of Criminology.
But he also said in an interview with the Free Lance that such homicide cases are "not unthinkably rare" in the United States and he pointed to another instance in Houston in 2001 when a mother killed all five of her children. Closer to home, there also was a recent tragedy in Watsonville, where a 37-year-old mother is accused of suffocating her daughter to death in a motel room on Nov. 16, according to the Register-Pajaronian newspaper.
Zimring talked to the Free Lance about the suspected homicide of the local toddler by her mother, Cheryl L. Busch, on Wednesday at the family's home in the 2300 block of Shore Road. Authorities publicly have said a potential reason for the shootings is unclear.
Zimring, though, said that with two shots fired at the child - to the chest and head - it "re-enforces some sort of mental instability." He also pointed out that with the local child being 19 months old, it definitely was "not post-partum" depression - which can occur when children are much younger.
County Mental Health Director Alan Yamamoto, meanwhile, said there are emotional and mental concerns with the case but he could not say if they are any reasons behind the suspected crime. Mental health workers have been keeping a close watch on Busch at the San Benito County Jail, where she is being held in a safety cell and remains on suicide watch.
The bottom line, though, Zimring said, is that kids can be subjected to their parents' instabilities.
"Children are hostages to the mental and emotional stability of the parents," Zimring said.
Colin McConville Colin McConville is a reporter with the Hollister Free Lance. You can reach him by email or at (831) 637-5566.
Although the Hollister Free Lance does not have any obligation to monitor this board, the Hollister Free Lance reserves the right at all times to check this board and to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to the Hollister Free Lance in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. The Hollister Free Lance also reserves the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions. All threats to systems or site infrastructure shall be assumed genuine in nature and will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Submission of any comments will be considered permission to use online or in print.
Video:County officials sworn in