CHICAGO, March 12 (UPI) -- A suburban Chicago woman whose 15-year-old son was found dead, weighing only 23 pounds, was held without bond Friday on a manslaughter charge.
Crystal Lake paramedics dispatched Thursday to the home of the boy, Seamus M. Leonard, a cerebral palsy victim, found his severely malnourished body dead on a filthy livingroom floor, authorities said.
The boy's mother, Kathy Leonard, 44, was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Her six other children, ages 3 to 17, were removed from the home and are staying with relatives, the Chicago Tribune reported.
After consulting with the coroner, Crystal Lake Police Chief Howard Parth said the cause of death was "primarily pneumonia" brought on by severe malnourishment.
The boy was about 4 feet tall when he died, according to Parth, who said the mother called paramedics to her home about 6:35 a.m. because her son was not breathing.
