June 28, 2004
A young girl is dead because she wasn't getting the medication she needed. Cheryl Botzet is accused of not giving her daughter insulin. News 3's Jeff Jaeger reports why prosecutors say Botzet killed her daughter on purpose.
Prosecutors say all the evidence, including Ariel Botzet's autopsy, shows that Cheryl killed the 11-year-old. The DA's office said there was no difference between what Botzet did to her daughter and sticking a gun to the back of the girl's head and pulling the trigger.
Ariel Botzet died in February after not receiving enough insulin to control her blood sugar. Prosecutors say the mother knew about Ariel's diabetes but failed to give her insulin -- and that proved it was premeditated. And neighbors agreed. But the defense says it's political.
(David Roger) "This child was on the edge of a cliff and the soul person that controlled her life was her mother, and her mother shoved her off that cliff."
(Herb Sachs) "As I saw on television, the DA's office is overcharging everything hoping we will make a deal and come down."
The defense argues that Ariel's death was not a result of abuse. He says abuse requires a physical, non-accidental injury and says neglect is not abuse. Botzet's is being held on 150-thousand dollars bail. Her arraignment is expected to begin Monday morning at 8:30am.
