| 2/1/2010 6:07:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Patricia Ann Becht |
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SSP mother pleads guilty
Danielle Cabot
Review Staff
A South St. Paul mother who led her two youngest children into a suicide pact pleaded guilty Jan. 27 to two charges.
Patricia Ann Becht, 42, pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree for the death of her 10-year-old son and attempted murder in the second degree for the overdose of her 11-year-old daughter.
Becht faces 35 years and 3 months in prison. She will be eligible for release in just over 25 years.
The tragic plan was discovered by Becht's niece July 6 when she checked on the family at their home on the 700 block of First Avenue South. Patricia's 16-year-old daughter, who was out of town, could not make contact by phone. A call to 911 was made about 5:30 p.m.
The South Metro Fire Department was the first to respond. Michael Vonheath Becht Jr. was found deceased laying in his bed. Michael's sister Erica was found unconscious and breathing, and his mother was found conscious and vomiting in the bathroom.
Patricia Becht and her daughter received medical attention for overdoses Patricia Becht later said she provided the children the bipolar medication Seroquel. South Metro was able to revive Erica at the scene. "The department's just thankful that we were able to get there in time to make a difference in Erica's life," said SMFD Fire Chief John Ehret.
A dangerous secret
A neighborhood child told a police officer Michael had mentioned something about pills the day before the overdoses. His sister had scolded Michael for saying what he said and sent him home, according to the report.
Patricia Becht told police that her children asked her about Michael Jackson's estate, Neverland, during coverage of his death earlier that month and the family discussed going there. Becht told the children heaven would be like Neverland.
Michael would have been a fifth-grader in the Intermediate District 917 special education program in Rosemount. His sisters attend the South St. Paul school district.
Police found a suicide note in the living room addressed to Patricia's 16-year-old daughter.
In the note, Becht wrote that she felt the 16-year-old daughter would not understand, but that at last Becht and the younger children would be at peace. Another writing found in the living room said, "I don't have much to say, only that we are happy to be gone."
A logical plan for an illogical goal
Police also found a detailed "to-do" list Becht left in the living room. In it, she calculated the dosages needed for each persons' body weight and listed the farewell letters she'd need to write, as well as directions for whoever found the family to contact relatives.
South St. Paul Police Chief Dan Vujovich said the case was particularly emotional for investigators, who were able to set that aside to perform a thorough investigation. "Anytime someone is a victim of domestic violence it's a tragedy for the community." According to media reports, Becht acknowledged in court that prosecutors had a solid case against her if it had gone to trial.
Becht, who suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, was being held at Minnesota's maximum-security psychiatric hospital in St. Peter prior to her plea. However, she passed numerous psychiatric tests that determined she understood the repercussions of her actions at the time of the overdoses.
Vujovich said the sentencing acknowledged the wishes of Becht's family while still holding her accountable. "She'll have a long time to think about what she's done."
"This plea brings this tragic case to an end," said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom in a statement. "We are pleased to find resolution and avoid further trauma to her surviving children, which would have occurred in a trial ."
Danielle Cabot can be reached at southwest@lillienews.com or 651-748-7815.
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