ROWAN RICHARDSON - 6 Months - (2010) Eden Prarie (SW of Minneapolis) MN

A 36-year-old man is in the Hennepin County Jail Saturday night after
police say he killed his infant son. Police initially responded to a
9-1-1 hang-up call in Eden Prairie around 5:30 p.m., and say when they
arrived, they found an unresponsive infant.
Police say the baby was transported to HCMC, and later died.
The father, 36-year-old Randall Richardson, was taken into custody,
and police say he'll faces a second degree murder charge. Police
say no one but the infant's mother and father were at the home, on the
17,000 block of Evenston Road, when officers responded to the call. Police
and the Hennepin County Crime Lab were still on the scene late Saturday
night and were waiting to execute a search warrant.

36-year-old Randel Eudean Richardson is behind bars, facing murder
charges in the death of his infant son. His wife says Richardson was
struggling with a mental illness. Police
say Randel Richardson and his wife were both at home when they responded
to a 911 hang-up call Saturday around 5:30 p.m. When they
arrived at 17870 Evenston Road in Eden Prairie, they found an
unresponsive infant. Paramedics tried to revive 6-month-old Rowan Richardson,
who was transported to HCMC, and later died. Randel
Richardson's wife, Kari Richardson, stated that
she arrived at the house shortly before the 911 call was made and found
her son, Rowan, in the bathtub. She says her husband has struggled with
a debilitating mental illness for several months. “He would never
hurt anyone if he was in his right mind,” she said in a phone
interview. She claims her husband is on a waiting list to
see a local psychologist. “My husband is a good person and a good man," she said.
"His mental illness has taken him away from me.” Randel
Richardson, was taken into custody, and police say he'll face murder
charges. No one in the Eden Prairie Police Department was available to
comment on Sunday about Randel Richardson's mental condition.
The Hennepin County medical examiner has not released the cause of death. Eden
Prairie Police, along with the Hennepin County Crime Lab, continue to
investigate the infant's death. A spokesperson for the city of Eden
Prairie says Kari Richardson is not a suspect in the death.

For the past several months, Randel Richardson's wife
was frantically trying to get help for him and his recent onset of
mental illness, said her mother, Nena Stern.
Richardson had been a model father, a "wonderful man" who was
brilliant with computers before his sickness, Stern said. She called her
son-in-law, now in Hennepin County jail, a precious man who doesn't
deserve to be "locked up and thrown away like a dog."
"He needs help," she said, breaking down while talking to a reporter.
Richardson, 36, was arrested in connection with the death of his
6-month-old son, Rowan, on Saturday. Criminal charges and a formal
arraignment are expected Tuesday.
A 911 hangup call about 5:30 p.m. Saturday led Eden Prairie police to
the modest house along Evenston Road that Richardson shares with his wife and children.
The child's mother, Karen Richardson, told police that she had been
grocery shopping, then returned home and found the boy unresponsive in a
washtub or bathtub. The Richardsons' two other children had been
staying with relatives in Atlanta and were on their way home Saturday.
"The problem I'm having," said Nena Stern, Karen Richardson's mother,
"is this precious man, her husband, he's not a killer."
Stern said her daughter has sought help for her husband, who worked
in information technology at Cargill, but had been stymied by a system
that didn't recognize the urgency of her problem.
"She's been crying out for three months and there's no one who can
help her," said Stern. She mentioned a psychiatrist and some tests, but
said no one ever gave them a concrete diagnosis for her son-in-law. She
said the family was overcome Monday with preparations for Rowan's
funeral, but wanted to share a message about mental illness with the public.
"My daughter's the best mother. I've told all my friends in Nashville,
this is the best, all-American family," Stern said.

1. For the past several months, Randel Richardson's wife
was frantically trying to get help for him and his recent onset of
mental illness, said her mother, Nena Stern.
2.The child's mother, Karen Richardson, told police that she had been
grocery shopping;
3. Stern said her daughter has sought help for her husband,
4. She's been crying out for three months and there's no one who can help her," said Stern.

Look, this is extremely sad, but FGS if hubby is by all accounts mentally unwell to the point where the mother was frantic, why the hell didn't she take her 6 month old to the supermarket with her instead of leaving him in the care of her sick husband? Seems to me mothers like to take the easy road for themselves these days, nevermind the fact that kids benefit from the stimulation of trips to the supermarket etc anyway. What was she thinking? They sure are different to mothers 20 years ago to the detriment of their children.

Those were the words spoken by
Randel Eudean Richardson when police arrived at his Eden Prairie home as
firefighters tried to revive his six-month-old son who was found
unresponsive in a laundry wash tub. Richardson, 36, was charged
Tuesday in Hennepin County with one count of first degree murder in the
death of his son, Rowan Richardson. According to the criminal
complaint, Eden Prairie police were called to the Richardson home on the
1700 block of Evenston Road around 5:34 p.m. Saturday. Firefighters
were giving Rowan CPR, and water was spraying out of the child’s mouth
with each back blow delivered by the first responders. As this
was going on, Kari Richardson – the boy’s mothers and Randel’s wife –
was screaming hysterically, “He killed my baby!” Randel Richardson was
sitting on the couch at the time, telling officers “I did this on
purpose.” At that point, Richardson was arrested and read his
rights. He told police he was home alone with Rowan while his wife was
out shopping. He said he had a phone conversation with his wife, then
went downstairs to the laundry tub, filled it partially with cold water
and held the boy down while he struggled. When Rowan Richardson stopped
struggling, Randel left him in the tub, went back upstairs and waited
for his wife to come home. Kari Richardson reportedly arrived
at the Eden Prairie home shortly before the 911
call was made and found Rowan unresponsive. She said her husband has
struggled with a debilitating mental illness for several months.
“This came on so sudden,” Richardson said. “He had no history of mental illness.”
“He would never hurt anyone if he was in his right mind,” Kari said Sunday
in a phone interview. She says her husband was on a waiting list to
see a local psychologist.
“My husband is a good person and a good man," she said.
"His mental illness has taken him away from me.”
Eden Prairie Police, along with the Hennepin County Crime Lab, continue to
investigate the infant's death. A spokesperson for the city of Eden
Prairie says Kari Richardson is not a suspect in the death.
A memorial service is being planned for Thursday and
Kari Richardson said there has been an outpouring of support.
“I never imagined there could be so much love from all over,” she said.

For his third court appearance, accused baby killer Randel Richardson
was represented Wednesday in Hennepin County District Court by two
well-known lawyers: Anthony Edwards and his mother, retired Judge Isabel
Gomez.
Judge Joseph Klein granted a defense request that Richardson be given
two mental evaluations: one to determine his fitness to stand trial and
aid in his defense, and the other to determine his mental status at the
time his 6-month-old son, Rowan, was drowned in a laundry tub in the
family's Eden Prairie home.
Edwards, of the Parker Rosen law firm in downtown Minneapolis, has a
solid criminal law background from early in his career. Gomez retired
from the Hennepin County bench in 2005, then served on the state
Sentencing Guidelines Commission. She said she will renew her law
license for Richardson's case.
"We want to come to the fullest possible understanding of what led to
this," Gomez said. She declined to say more about why she came back for
this case in particular, but her son said they believe a "mental
health" issue will be part of the case.
Richardson, 36, has been in jail since July 31 and has struggled to
obtain counsel. He initially said he would represent himself. He doesn't
qualify for a public defender. Twice he has appeared in court without
lawyers. No family members have appeared at his court hearings.
Richardson is next scheduled to appear before Judge Mark Wernick on Sept. 22.Three search warrants executed at the Richardsons' Eden Prairie home
and newly filed in court, provided only the slightest of details about
what allegedly happened when he was alone with his child while his wife
shopped for groceries.
Using warrants, police collected computers, electronic records,
receipts, body fluids and water from the tub where the baby was found by
his mother July 31.

kiwimom wrote:Look, this is extremely sad, but FGS if hubby is by all accounts mentally unwell to the point where the mother was frantic, why the hell didn't she take her 6 month old to the supermarket with her

This, to me, is reminiscent of Rusty and Andrea Yates - EXCEPT in Andrea Yates case, there were numerous files relating to her mental illness, delusions, thoughts of harming her children etc with various medical personnel INCLUDING the warning by at least one doctor that Andrea should not be left alone with the children.

And yet, that is precisely what Rusty did.

He should have been charged with murder for depraved indifference in the death of his children...and while I feel for this mother as a mother...she should be charged to.

As parents it is our RESPONSIBILITY to make certain that are children are safe at all times. Leaving your child at home, alone, with someone you feel is mentally unwell is nothing short of neglect!

Published April 28, 2011, 07:16 PM
Eden Prairie, MN, Man Who Drowned Baby Son Found Mentally Ill

A judge has ruled that a Twin Cities man who admitted drowning his infant son in a laundry tub last year is not guilty because he was mentally ill.
Randel Richardson of Eden Prairie admitted to holding his 7-month-old son, Rowan, under water in the family basement July 31 while his wife was out grocery shopping.


Judge Mark Wernick cited reports from three psychologists who found that Richardson suffered from a mental illness that prohibited him from understanding the consequences of his actions when he killed his son.


The Star Tribune reports that because he was found mentally ill, Richardson is expected to receive intensive medical treatment and possibly one day be released.


Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman declined to comment.

http://www.wdaz.com/event/article/id/8197/

This whole story is bull. I am an "X " family member...only talk to my aunt, as Kari and her mother Nena, have broken my aunts heart. So many questions...I spoke with Nena...the mother of Kari, the night they took the baby killer to jail...She told me and my other cousin on a three way call...the whole story...he was on a low dose of Selexa,the children were sent to TN with grandparents so baby killer could "bond" with the baby...he told my aunt he didn't want another child. Kari stayed on the computer. His facebook pictures, which are still up, tell the whole story. I am sure she saw these photos... distorted pictures of his other two children,alligator with a human hand in his mouth, drawing of white sheep with a black wolf in the background...and she leaves the baby with this man??? Stays gone for hours, shopping at Target, going to Starbucks,calling all of her friends. Why didn't she take the baby?? Since when does it takes weeks to see a psychiatrist? Why did her mother-in-law insist that Kari check him out of the nut house...but still left baby Rowan with this man? Why has she not been charged with child neglect? She has made $$$$$$$$$ off of the pitiful people in that town. A few weeks after Rowan's death...she went to the fair and posted on Facebook..."I ate so much junk food at the fair I hope I have walked enough to burn off those calories and the baby fat!" Really Kari??

Ihatebabykillers wrote:This whole story is bull. I am an "X " family member...only talk to my aunt, as Kari and her mother Nena, have broken my aunts heart. So many questions...I spoke with Nena...the mother of Kari, the night they took the baby killer to jail...She told me and my other cousin on a three way call...the whole story...he was on a low dose of Selexa,the children were sent to TN with grandparents so baby killer could "bond" with the baby...he told my aunt he didn't want another child. Kari stayed on the computer. His facebook pictures, which are still up, tell the whole story. I am sure she saw these photos... distorted pictures of his other two children,alligator with a human hand in his mouth, drawing of white sheep with a black wolf in the background...and she leaves the baby with this man??? Stays gone for hours, shopping at Target, going to Starbucks,calling all of her friends. Why didn't she take the baby?? Since when does it takes weeks to see a psychiatrist? Why did her mother-in-law insist that Kari check him out of the nut house...but still left baby Rowan with this man? Why has she not been charged with child neglect? She has made $$$$$$$$$ off of the pitiful people in that town. A few weeks after Rowan's death...she went to the fair and posted on Facebook..."I ate so much junk food at the fair I hope I have walked enough to burn off those calories and the baby fat!" Really Kari??

Thank you for coming on. I am sorry for your family's pain. And I agree..."baby fat"! What a poor choice of words for a "grieving mother"

Ihatebabykillers wrote:This whole story is bull. I am an "X " family member...only talk to my aunt, as Kari and her mother Nena, have broken my aunts heart.
..she went to the fair and posted on Facebook..."I ate so much junk food at the fair I hope I have walked enough to burn off those calories and the baby fat!" Really Kari??

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