KAITLYNN GRIFFIN - 6 yo (2009)/ Convicted: Father; Kristopher Griffin - Mansfield MA

A father who said he was commanded by God allegedly broke into his
estranged ex-girlfriend's home early today and slashed their 6-year-old
daughter to death with a filet knife.

The body of preschooler
Kaitlynn Griffin was found with her throat cut shortly after 4 a.m. in
the basement of the home she shared with her mother at 93 Chilson Ave.

The
girl's father, Kristopher Griffin, 35, who has a history of mental
illness, was charged with the murder and home invasion. He pleaded
innocent in Taunton District Court.

Poliec said he told officers that God told him to kill the child.

"Yes, she's gone," a prosecutor said Griffin told police. "I had to save her. I killed my little girl."



Kristopher Griffin during his arraignment in
Taunton for the murder of his daughter in Mansfield early Friday
morning. Above he looks at his attorney Joseph Krowski.

Griffin stood silently, wearing a hospital johnny, and bowed his head
while the innocent plea was entered on his behalf. At some points
during the arraignment he grimaced as if he were in physical pain.

Judge
John Canavan ordered Griffin held without bail and sent to Bridgewater
State Hospital for evaluation prior to his next scheduled appearance
Aug. 12 in Attleboro District Court.

Police Chief Arthur O'Neill
said Griffin told detectives he jimmied open a screen in a side door of
his girlfriend's home, apparently as both she and the child slept.

Other
children of "varying ages" also stayed at the home, O'Neill said, but
only the girl and her mother were home at the time. The other
youngsters, O'Neill said, have "been accounted for" and are safe.

Griffin
previously lived at the Chilson Avenue address but had been estranged
from the little girl and her mother for about two weeks, Bristol County
Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Brackett said.

He had recently been staying in a camper owned by friends at 85 Ware St.

Mansfield
police initially received a 911 call about 4 a.m. from a resident of
the Ware Street address reporting that Griffin had left a note
indicating he might harm himself.

Officer Joshua Ellender drove to the address, took a report, and asked Mansfield patrol units to be on the lookout for Griffin.

Shortly
thereafter, Ellender located Griffin about a half-mile from 85 Ware
Street and began talking to him. Griffin was not wearing shoes and
claimed he was walking to CVS to obtain medication.

About 15
minutes after making the initial call, the residents of 85 Ware St.
again called 911, reporting a second note allegedly left by Griffin
asking "forgiveness for sending Katie to heaven."
Griffin was asked whether he had harmed the child, and allegedly he
said: "She's gone."

While
being questioned by police, he allegedly made suicidal comments, asked
police to shoot him and banged his head repeatedly on the roof of the
police cruiser.

Griffin had traces of blood on his hands and clothing, according to prosecutors.

At
the same time police were dispatched to 93 Chilson Ave., and after a
short search located Kaitlynn's body covered by a blanket in the
basement.

Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Brackett said
during the arraignment that Griffin has been hospitalized at least
twice in the past.

He most recently was hospitalized at Sturdy
Memorial Hospital about two weeks ago, when he broke up with his
girlfriend, Deborah Mons. Mons is Kaitlynn's mother according to a 2003
Sun Chronicle birth announcement.

Griffin was hospitalized after
Kaitlynn's mother said she planned to move down South with her two
children, including a boy, prosecutors said. O'Neill said the second
child was not Griffin's.

Brackett said Griffin was previously
subject to a lengthy hospitalization, beginning in October 2006. She
did not say where that hospitalization occurred or anything else about
its circumstances.

Meanwhile, the yellow two-family home on
Chilson, which is across the street from a Lance Buick and Pontiac
dealership, is roped off with crime scene tape and investigators were
still going in and out of the house late this afternoon.

A
person identified as a friend of the family who was seen talking to
investigators became emotional when asked by a reporter if she knew the
victim.

She broke into tears and said there would be no comment from the family.

Helena
Medeiros, a neighbor who lives a few doors down from 93 Chilson Ave.,
said the family had lived in the home for about five years.

She was unaware of what happened, and when told of the incident, said: "That's awful, and it happened right next door to me."

Medeiros, who walks her dog past the house every day, said she never saw the little girl outside.

Regarding
Griffin, Medeiros said she "never even knew the guy or saw him," but
sometimes could see a woman sitting at a computer through the home's
window when passing by.

A woman and her children, who live a
street over and were traveling down Chilson Avenue this morning stopped
to ask a reporter what happened.

They were shocked at the revelation. The woman's son said he knew Griffin's son, but did not know Kaitlynn.

"It's very sad. It's horrible," the woman said. "We'll pray."

At
85 Ware Street, a quiet neighborhood behind the Jordan-Jackson
Elementary School complex, there were several cars parked at the home
and a police cruiser was in the driveway, but no one answered the door.

The
investigation into the child's death by Mansfield police, the Bristol
County District Attorney's Office and investigators in the Bristol
County Crime Prevention and Control unit is continuing.

A Mansfield man crept into the home of his
former girlfriend early yesterday and, believing he was acting on God’s
orders, slit their 6-year-old daughter’s throat, authorities said.

Worried that the mother planned to move away with young Kaitlynn, Kristopher L.
Griffin slashed a window screen and clambered through a bulkhead before
killing the girl, a prosecutor said in court yesterday.
“The defendant indicated that the only way he could save his daughter was to
kill her, that God ordered him to do it,’’ said Cynthia Brackett, an assistant Bristol district attorney, recounting an interview Griffin gave to police.
The 35-year-old Griffin left a note seeking “forgiveness for sending Katie
to heaven’’ and begged police to shoot him after he was picked up
wandering barefoot in the rain in the quiet before dawn, according to
police. But in court yesterday he said nothing, staring at the floor
and sobbing as he faced charges of murder and home invasion. A plea of
not guilty was entered on his behalf.
The judge ordered Griffin held without bail until his next court appearance
in August and directed he undergo psychiatric evaluation at Bridgewater
State Hospital.
“I think it’s pretty apparent that there are some serious mental health issues
here,’’ Joseph Krowski, Griffin’s public counsel, said after the
arraignment.
The ghastly nature of the slaying stunned police and local residents. “It’s
horrific and heartbreaking; there’s no other way to say it,’’ Mansfield
Police Chief Arthur M. O’Neill said.
After investigators had finished collecting evidence from the Chilson Avenue
duplex where Kaitlynn was killed, her tiny bicycle remained in the
driveway, resting on training wheels. A pink helmet dangled from the
handlebars, matching the frame. Neighbor Jimbo Tardivo choked up as he
considered it. Kaitlynn would wave and tell playful stories from her
second-floor window whenever she saw him below, he said.
“She was a little peanut, a little star in that window, and I’m going to miss her,’’ Tardivo said, his chest heaving under a Harley-Davidson T-shirt as he sobbed. “She was so adorable.’’
Tardivo said Griffin and his girlfriend, who was not identified by police,
appeared to have a rocky relationship. Police and prosecutors said the
couple broke up two weeks ago, and Griffin went to live in a camper in
the yard of a friend’s house on Ware Street, 1 1/2 miles away.
At about 4:05 yesterday morning, the owners of that house called 911 to
say that Griffin, who authorities say has been hospitalized multiple
times for mental illness, had disappeared and might be in danger of
harming himself. Twelve minutes later, the homeowners called again to
say that they had discovered a frightening note indicating that
Griffin’s daughter could be in danger.

Kaitlynn N. Griffin

GRIFFIN,
Kaitlynn N. Of Mansfield, unexpectedly, July 24, 2009. Beloved daughter
of Deborah L. (Clapp) Mons of Mansfield. Devoted sister of Keith
Villanueva, Robert Mons and Timothy Mons, all of Mansfield and Kristin
Griffin and Austin Griffin both of Florida. Cherished granddaughter of
Patricia Clapp of Mansfield, Joan DeLapp of Bourne and Russell and
Willa Griffin of Florida. Adoring niece of Pamela and her husband
Timothy Vickers of Mansfield and Cynthia Clapp of California. Dear
cousin of Matthew and Joseph Weyrauch both of California. Relatives and
friends are cordially invited to attend visiting hours on Tuesday July
28th from 5-8 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North
Main St., MANSFIELD. Funeral Services and burial will be private. In
lieu of flowers, donations in Katie's memory may be made to the Capron
Park Zoo, 201 County St., Attleboro, MA 02703. For complete obituary or
additional information please visit www.shermanjackson.com

* * * *

Kaitlynn N. Griffin, 6
Dateline: Mansfield, MA
Kaitlynn N. Griffin, age 6, a lifelong resident of Mansfield died unexpectedly on Friday July 24, 2009 at home.
Born in Attleboro, MA on July 6, 2003 she was the loving and most special daughter of Deborah L. (Clapp) Mons of Mansfield.
Katie had just finished kindergarten and was looking forward to starting the
first grade at the Robinson School in Mansfield. When younger she
attended Leah’s Little One’s Pre-School, also in Mansfield and was
baptized at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Wrentham.

Katie loved animals and enjoyed trips taken to Capron Park Zoo in
Attleboro and playing with her cats Tinkerbell and Peter Pan and her
dog Mariah. She also liked playing with dolls and taking ballot lessons
at Le Studio Danse in Mansfield, but most of all she simply loved just
“being a little girl.”
In Katie’s short life on earth she touched so many lives and she will
always be remembered for her popularity with fellow students and for
the charming ways in which she conducted herself so sociably with those
who had the opportunity to meet this “little angel.”
In addition to her loving mother Katie was the devoted sister of Keith
Villanueva, Robert Mons and Timothy Mons all of Mansfield and Kristin
Griffin and Austin Griffin both of Florida. She was the cherished
granddaughter of Patricia Clapp of Mansfield, Joan DeLapp of Bourne and
Russell and Willa Griffin of Florida. She was the adoring niece of
Pamela and her husband Timothy Vickers of Mansfield and Cynthia Clapp
of California. Katie is also survived by her dear cousins Matthew
Santizo and Joseph Weyrauch both of California and many wonderful
friends.
Visiting hours, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to
attend, will be held on Tuesday July 28th from 5-8 P.M. at the Sherman
& Jackson Funeral Home 55 North Main St. Mansfield.
At her family’s request funeral services and burial will be held
privately. Katie’s family has also requested that in respect to her
love for animals in lieu of flowers please make donations in Katie’s
memory to the Capron Park Zoo 201 County St. Attleboro, MA 02703.

Kaitlynn Griffin's family says the community's support has been so moving that "'Thank you' seems inadequate."

In
a letter to The Sun Chronicle, Griffin's aunt, Pam Vickers, said the
6-year-old's murder on July 24, allegedly at her father's hand, has
"broken our hearts and shaken out faith to the core."

"However, there have been some bright moments" thanks to many community members who have prayed for the family, Vickers said.

"Perhaps
most surprising to us, a family that chose Mansfield as our home within
the past fifteen years, is the outpouring of compassion from the
community at large," Vickers said, in a letter sent on the family's
behalf.

"People we've never met have been touched by Katie's
story and the beautiful face looking at them from behind her curls in
the picture that represents her. They have offered prayers and good
thoughts; many came to her visitation to let us know that we had their
support at this unimaginable time."
Police, firefighters and state police detectives "could not have acted
in a more compassionate and supportive way," Vickers said.

Residents
of Mansfield, and Southeastern Massachusetts in general, "have really
stepped up to offer their prayers and support, much appreciated in
these difficult moments," she said.

The family also has welcomed
the prayers and support from Mansfield's religious community,
"especially critical at this time when we are feeling so distant from
the Almighty," she said.

In addition, Mark Cedarfield at Sherman
and Jackson Funeral Home "has gone above and beyond, becoming nearly a
member of the family as he guided us through the process of saying good
bye to our little girl," she said.

Vickers also thanked the
Leah's Little Ones pre-school, where Katie was a longtime student; the
Mansfield schools' staff, "especially the Robinson School where she was
excited to be continuing her educational journey" as a first-grader
this fall; and Mansfield Boy Scout Troop 17, where her older brother is
a member.

"We could not have made it through the last week without them," Vickers said.

The
family has asked that donations be made in Kaitlynn's memory to the
Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro, one of the young girl's favorite places;
she loved animals.

Zoo Director Jean Benchimol said last week
the zoo is establishing a fund for the money, allowing family members
to recommend uses for it.

Griffin was found shortly after 4 a.m.
July 24 with her throat cut in the basement of the 93 Chilson Ave. home
she shared with her mother, Deborah Mons.

Her father, Kristopher
Griffin, 35, has pleaded innocent to murder and home invasion in the
fatal slaying. He is undergoing evaluation at Bridgewater State
Hospital. His next court date is Aug. 12 in Attleboro District Court.
Griffin reportedly has told investigators God told him to kill his
daughter. He allegedly broke into her home, where he previously lived,
and slashed her throat with a filet knife.

Mansfield man found competent to stand trial

By Associated Press
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 - Added 1 year ago // Fix IE7 problem for Yahoo button // span class="yahooBuzzBadge" > a > span > span // If we get the wrapping span to "have layout" by applying a width and height, will this fix the problem?
MANSFIELD — A Mansfield man accused of killing his 6-year-old daughter because God told him to do it has been found competent to stand trial.Prosecutors said Monday that state psychologists at Bridgewater State Hospital made the determination after evaluating 35-year-old Kristopher Griffin.http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1194664&format=comments#CommentsArea

Griffin indicted by Bristol County Grand Jury


By Stacey Gallotta
Mansfield News
Posted Sep 30, 2009 @ 03:14 PM
Mansfield —
A Mansfield man accused of killing his 6-year-old daughter on July 24 has been formally indicted by a Bristol County grand jury, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s office.Kristopher Griffin, 35, faces charges of murder and home invasion. In July Griffin allegedly broke into broke into the Chilson Avenue home of his former girlfriend and slashed the throat of his daughter, Kaitlynn Griffin, with a knife.The indictment was handed down a little more than two months after the murder took place. For almost the entire month of August Griffin had been undergoing a mental health evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital to determine whether he would be competent to stand trial, which delayed the indictment.It was eventually determined Griffin would be fit to stand trial, after his mental health evaluation was released by doctors at the end of August.Griffin’s next court arraignment will take place in New Bedford Superior Court at a date to be determined.


http://www.wickedlocal.com/mansfield/news/x593061382/Griffin-indicted-by-Bristol-County-Grand-Jury

https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=135429952360#!/group.php?gid=135429952360&v=info

as of yesterday 8/31/09:
kris(her murderer) was found competent or able to stand trial and will be going back for another court hearing October 2nd. he will be in a facility until then.

9/18/2009
As of right now we don't know the next court date. The case most likely wont go to trial for a year to a year and a half, our tax dollars at work keeing him fed, clothed and sheltered and for what reason?

10/7/09
There was no hearing on the 2nd. as long as they can postpone this they will. they'll play with it for 1-2 years probably before they do anything serious but if anything happens you'll be the first to know. he should have just done us all a favor and done him self in instead then we wouldnt all be in this position and wouldnt have to be trying to pick up the pieces

10/27/09
Arraignment is on Friday 10/30/09 in the New Bedford Superior court, they say hopefully the first call between 9 and noon. No word on what might happen at the arraignment yet.

10/30/09
The judge was out today so the arraignment was cancelled and has now been rescheduled for november 5th at 11:30AM. Hopefully this time it actually happens. The state should do everyone a favor and just put him in general population.

11/15/09
He was arraigned today on murder one and armed home invasion, entered a plea of not guilty. Next hearing is December 15th for discovery and motions not sure what will happen then. My question is HOW THE HELL do you plead not guilty to a crime that you have already confessed to doing to several people. Will keep everyone posted if anything else happens in the meantime.

12/15/09
Today was supposed to be a hearing for motions and discovery, his attorney called out sick for the day so nothing was done and as it stands right now his attorney isn't available to be back in court until 2/16/2010 so motions and discovery on 2/16/2010 now. I'll update everyone as i get updated by the DA's office.

2/16/10
So all the players finally managed to be in court on the same day this time. Motions were filed for yet more psych evals by the "experts" hired by both sides. Next court date is 4/5/10 for yet more motions and hooey. Like they told us at the beginning this is going to be a long slow process to get to trial. I will continue to update people as i hear from the DA's office. Any specific questions send me a message and I will try to answer. Deb

4/6/2010
Court was held yesterday for motions and discovery, the defense has a mental health expert to say that he is not criminally responsible for his crimes, so now the DA is going to get an expert to say that he is criminally responsible. Word at this point is that this might go to trial by the end of the year. Next court date is either 5/4 or 5/18 depending on something that his attorney has going on. Any other specific questions message me. Thank you to everyone for your continued support during this process. Deb

5/4/2010
Court will be on May 18th in New Bedford Superior Court

5/18/2010
So today NOTHING HAPPENED, his attorney is on another trail and was not available for todays hearing. Everything has been postponed until July 14th.

7/18/2010
Sorry for the delay in posting this. There was court on July 14th and the defense has not turned over a tape of the phych eval to determine criminal responsibility that was supposed to be turned over by May 24th. They have until the next court date on August 24th to turn the tape over to the prosecution.

8/31/2010
I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to post about last weeks court hearing, it has been a busy week. They did not bring him into court at all, his attorney still claims to not have the report to turn over to the DA, so long story short nothing happened and the next hearing in on October 6th, hopefully something real happens then.

the facebook page seems to contain the most up to date information - i am surprised at the lack of media coverage of this horrific case - and ma does not have searchable case records like we do in florida so the media seems to be the only source.

oviedo45 wrote:the facebook page seems to contain the most up to date information - i am surprised at the lack of media coverage of this horrific case - and ma does not have searchable case records like we do in florida so the media seems to be the only source.

Thanks for following it up Ovie. It's a horrific case of how children are like flotsam floating around in a choppy sea created by their parents messy lives and how at risk they are.

Insanity defense
February 18, 2011
MANSFIELD - A local man may use the insanity defense when he goes to trial for the murder of his 6-year-old daughter in July 2009.

The lawyer for Kristopher Griffin, 36, has told the prosecutor in the case that he will use the insanity defense.

However, Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Brackett wrote that Brockton lawyer Joseph Krowski has not yet filed a written motion notifying the prosecution of his intent, according to court records.

Griffin is accused of slashing his daughter Kaitlynn's throat with a filet knife at her Chilson Avenue home on July 24, 2009.

Her body was found in the basement of the home after Griffin was found wandering the street in the early morning hours following the incident. "She's gone. I had to save her. I killed my little girl," police quoted Griffin as telling them, according to court records.

Krowski has until March 24 to notify the prosecution whether his client will rely on a defense of lack of criminal responsibility - otherwise known as an insanity defense, according to court records filed in Fall River Superior Court.

If Griffin does plan to use the insanity defense, he is required to undergo a psychiatric exam by a state psychologist, according to court records.

A tentative May 16 trial date has been scheduled in the case.

Griffin, who has had mental problems in the past, is being held in jail without bail and has pleaded innocent to charges of murder and home invasion.

Griffin was staying in a camper at a friend's house on Ware Street in Mansfield when the incident occurred, and is accused of breaking into his former girlfriend's house to commit the murder.
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2011/02/18/news/8872368.txt

I just found this site and read about my daughter Katie's case on here. Speaking for the entire family please respect our privacy and stop posting updates from her facebook page to outside sites. If you want to become a member of her page send a request to one of the page administrators. I miss my daughter every day and if I had any clue as to what her father was going to do we would not have been anywhere near where he could get to us. The only people who really know what happened in this case is those of us personally involved. Please don't judge me based on the actions of another person.

First I am sorry for your loss. The death of a child is tragic. We are a site seeking justice for all children. That includes justice for your daughter. If you feel judged, I am sorry, I don't think anyone is judging you. We hope to see justice for this murder. And I do not think there has been a privacy violation. I am sorry that is all you have derived from this website.I also feel this was the wrong time for you to come on this site to judge us. Thank you for stopping by.

Life sentence in murder of Mansfield’s Kaitlynn Griffin

* A Mansfield man faces life in prison after being convicted Friday, July 27 of murdering his 6-year-old daughter in 2009, according to District Attorney Sam Sutter’s office.
* Kristopher Griffin, 38, was found guilty of first degree murder in the July 24, 2009 slaying of his daughter, Kaitlynn in Mansfield.

By Donna Whitehead
Posted Jul. 30, 2012 @ 12:01 am
Updated Jul 30, 2012 at 8:36 AM

Mansfield - A Mansfield man faces life in prison after being convicted Friday, July 27 of murdering his 6-year-old daughter in 2009, according to District Attorney Sam Sutter’s office.

Kristopher Griffin, 38, was found guilty of first degree murder in the July 24, 2009 slaying of his daughter, Kaitlynn in Mansfield.

A jury convicted Griffin of first degree murder and home invasion after deliberating 90 minutes at the conclusion of a a four-day trial in Fall River Superior Court.

Griffin was immediately sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

During the early morning hours of July 24, 2009, Griffin broke into the Chilson Avenue home he previously lived in with his girlfriend and their daughter. Griffin then walked into Kaitlynn’s bedroom, woke the child up and prayed with her for some time before bringing her into the home’s basement where he slit her throat with a knife, killing her almost instantly.

Griffin was apprehended by police in Mansfield shortly after the incident.

Kaitlynn had just finished kindergarten and was looking forward to starting first grade at the Robinson Elementary School.

Born in Attleboro, she loved animals and enjoyed trips to the Capron Zoo there where a garden was created in her memory.

“This murder was the nadir of depravity,” Sutter said. “An innocent 6-year-old girl, murdered by having her throat cut by her father. It is hard to conceive that acts like this take place on earth, but they do.

“I am grateful to Cindy Brackett, Tom Quinn, my state police unit, Mansfield police and the rest of the prosecution team for the tenacious and determined effort they put forward to ensure that there was a measure of justice achieved in this case.”

The case was prosecuted by Co-First Assistant District Attorney Thomas Quinn and Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Brackett.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/x1814083264/Life-sentence-in-murder-of-Mansfield-s-Kaitlynn-Griffin