Carol Lynn Pappas not guilty of fatally stabbing her granddaughter by reason of insanity.
53-year old grandmother Carol Lynn Pappas was found not guilty on friday by reason of insanity.
In her sons home, after fatally stabbing her 21-month old granddaughter (Madison Pappas), she called 911 and told police, “I flipped … the baby was crying and I couldn’t handle it.”
Police arrived to find Carol Lynn Pappas, still covered in blood, and 8-inch knife along side of Madison Pappas who had been stabbed multiple times.
Authorites say Pappas told her son she had been receiveing “spiritual advice” from geese flying overhead. Pappas had also been in and out of hospitals for psychiatric care six times, in the same year, before the slaying.
Looking back, I believe this would have been a big clue not to leave “crazy mom” alone with your child.
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Uncategorized
20 opinions for Carol Lynn Pappas not guilty of fatally stabbing her granddaughter by reason of insanity.
rebl1128
Feb 24, 2007 at 6:21 pm
So, let me get this straight: I can kill anyone I want and get away with it, as long as I claim I was getting spiritual guidance from birds? Hmmm…
missy
Feb 25, 2007 at 2:55 am
Grandmother is known to be a mental patient, yet still left to care for 21 month old? Parents are to blame, plain and simple! Anyone who has close contact with mental patients knows that hospitalization is as short (and not very effective) as possible and then they are released on a cocktail of psychotropic drugs. Not babysitter material — barely able to meet their own needs at times. Shocking!
Michelle
Feb 25, 2007 at 11:15 am
unreal That is all i can say…
Renee
Feb 27, 2007 at 3:35 pm
All I can say about this is while the grandmother may have committed this horrible act, the parents are responsible for leaving her alone with their child. Also, I don’t beleive insanity is a reason to be found not guilty, if you did it you’re guilty whatever the reason may be.
Melissa
Feb 27, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Renee,
I completely agree with you. If you DID it you are GUILTY. At least she’ll be put away for a long time (hopefully). I also agree that the parents should have never left that baby with her. I know they probably never though she would do something like that, but you have to be cautious, even when it’s family.
Bridget
Feb 28, 2007 at 11:14 am
The parents should bear a large portion of the blame here. Leaving their baby with a mentally ill person was stupid and irresponsible. I’m sure they are suffering now but that won’t bring Madison back. The woman probably is truly mentally ill and probably did get advice from geese but she still is a danger to society as she is a mentally ill person who now has a history of HOMICIDAL VIOLENCE so we can hope she is locked up forever. One of my brothers is mentally ill but able to function just fine in society and takes his meds religiously, you’d truly never know he was ill. If he did anything like this, I’d want him to be locked up too.I sure hope this woman is not set free, ever.
Blurgle
Mar 24, 2007 at 11:33 pm
I agree with the verdict, which probably makes me very hated here, but: if she can’t tell right from wrong, she can’t be legally convicted of a crime. So why aren’t the parents on trial for leaving a child with someone who can’t tell right from wrong?
Lulabelle
Mar 25, 2007 at 5:59 am
Right! Right! I agree with you. Sorry if my previous post seemed like I thought it was her fault. I agree with the verdict — just sickened that someone so profoundly mentally ill was left with small children. You’re right — parents should be on trial for this. Maybe the parents are mentally ill as well. No one in their right mind would leave a child with a mentally ill person, even if it was a family member. I’m curious if she was getting out patient care and what their recommendations were for her. Sounds like she should have been in day treatment at least and not having responsibilities in the family, but the supportive care of the family.
shauna olsen
Mar 25, 2007 at 8:45 am
The sad part is like everyone else agrees is that the father KNEW his mom was a few bricks shy of a building and STILL let her take care of the most important person in his life—his son. They too should be held accountable for neglegence. Sad to say also that will never happen. Poor kid never stood a chance with an assault like that. All we can hope is that he is with God now and happier than he was before.
Nikki
Apr 6, 2007 at 12:07 pm
MY MOM IS NOT CRAZY BUT SHE DID allow us to kinda be unsupervised alot. So now that I have my own children i monitor her activities and influence with my babies. I love her and she did the best she knew how at the time. However I know the history so I keep an eye when the kids are with her. all that being said, if mom had been seeking spiritual guidance from a bird she would NOT be watching my baby! Somebody please put the bird back in the clock!!! coo-coo!!
Nikki
Apr 6, 2007 at 12:12 pm
This is like u know Uncle Jo has a Thing for little boys. and has been arrested for touching them and you go and leave your son with him. Then act suprised when he molests the boy! U knew he was a molester and you leave a kid with him. IMO, it’s the same difference! They knew mom was crazy and they leave a baby with her! Sorry but I have a little news flash….Grandparenthood does not cure insanity!!! No matter how cute the baby is!
NATALIE
May 9, 2007 at 7:46 am
DO NOT DARE COME IN HERE AND START BLAMING THE PARENTS, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH, NONE OF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO PASS THAT JUDGEMENT, UNTIL YOUR CHILD IS STABBED TO DEATH I SUGGEST YOU ALL SHUT YOUR MOUTH! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WENT ON THIS DAY, AND BEING SOMEONE WHO SEES THE PAIN HE GOES THROUGH AND HOW HARD HIS LIFE HAS BEEN SINCE THIS FREAK ACT, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO PASS JUDGEMENT OR START BLAMING THEM! THEY ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH, DO YOU THINK THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM RANDOM STRANGERS WHO HAVE NEVER HAD THEIR BABY TAKEN FROM THEM IN THIS WAY, HOW IT IS THEIR FAULT, DO YOU NOT REALIZE THEY HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH. MAYBE YOUR RIGHT IT WAS NOT THE BEST OF IDEAS TO LEAVE THE BABY WITH HER, THEY TRUSTED HER THAT SHE WAS NOT A KILLER, SO DO NOT MAKE THEM FEEL WORSE THEN THEY ALREADY DO, THEY ALREADY HAVE LOST THEIR ONLY CHILD AND THEY DO NOT NEED YOUR SMART ASS KNOW IT ALLS MAKING THEM FEEL WORSE. FOR ONCE PUT YOUR SELF IN THEIR SHOES AND THINK IF YOUR BABY WAS STABBED BY YOUR OWN MOTHER, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? AND THEN HOW WOULD YOU FEEL WHEN THE WORLD IS BLAMING YOU!!!!!
anonymous
May 17, 2007 at 7:51 pm
TO NATALIE, I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE SAME COMMENT YOU JUST MADE SO I WILL KEEP THIS BREIF.
I HAVE REQUESTED THIS STORY BE REMOVED FROM THIS PAGE AND WOULD LIKE TO DO SO AGAIN RIGHT NOW.
THE PARENTS ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE, ARE SUFFERING ENORMOUSLY AND WERE UNAWARE OF THE EXTENT OF CAROL’S CONDITION. SHE HAD NO HISTORY OF VIOLENCE AND KEPT A GREAT DEAL OF HER ILLNESS SECRET FROM HER FAMILY.
LET’S NOT FORGET THE PRESS CAN AND WILL TWIST A STORY. INSTEAD LET’S KEEP IN MIND THAT PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY KNOW THE FAMILY CAN GIVE YOU A TRUE ACCOUNT.
THIS FAMILY IS *STILL* SUFFERRING AND HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH.
AGAIN I ASK THE ADMINISTRATOR TO REMOVE THIS STORY INSTEAD OF REMOVING MY LAST COMMENT.
Peter
Jun 27, 2007 at 11:56 pm
I normally don’t respond to forums but this hit home pretty hard so I want to make a comment. The vitriole that some of you have here is really sad. I am a victim of a somewhat similar event. In May of 2004, my beautiful wife and mother of my now 4 year old son, took one of my handguns, loaded it and shot me three times in the head as I lay sleeping. She then went downstairs to where my mother was and shot her twice. My mother died instantly. My wife had suffered horribly as a child from a mother who ignored many types of abuse from three different husbands and who “addicentally” killed one of her husbands in front of my wife when she was only 2 years old. Her mother then left my wife alone with the dead body for a couple hours until neighbors contacted police when they noticed her other walking around the neighborhood wearing a blood-stained nightgown.
There was absolutely no indication that my wife was suffereing any mental illness. She was a loving wife, mother and a doting daughter-in-law who was adored by my mother. I would no more condemn her than I would if she had suffered a heart attack while driving and had a fatal accident. My support of her earned me much hatred, my father, sister and all my relatives except for my children have not contacted me since a week after the shooting. I spent eight months between the hospital and nursing home, am totally blind and require a permanent traecheostomy in my neck to breathe (with supplemental oxygen) at night. I have gone through seven surgeries and have two more scheduled. My fact has been reconstructed but I have to take daily meds to control the painful pressure in my head. I have no sight and no sense of smell. What I do have is an understanding that the most wonderful and loving person I have ever known suffered from a mental illness that I, her husband, did not recognize.
I have no doubt that Madison’s parents have condemned themselves to a lifetime of guilt just as I have. Thankfully, my son was spared and was not at home when the shooting occurred. He will never understand why he was ripped away from the family he loved and I hope he does not ever understand what his mother did to his beloved grandmother.
Here is something that should set you angry women off: my wife and carol Lynn Pappas are roommates at the state hospital. Crazy world.
I am not some heratsick, puppy dog husband (now divorced). I have spent all my life as an opinionated, tactless and loud former Marine who doesn’t let anyone talk crap about anything I care about. I would have executed my wife with my own hands had I believed for a moment that she had presence of mind when this tragedy occurred. I support the death penalty and I despise politicians that make it easy for convicts to roam our streets.
The reason why these horrific events occur is because people like YOU refuse to accept the fact that mental illness is real. This ignorance is waht keeps it behind closed doors and is why so many mentally ill people will not get help.
You so-0called ladies want to blame someone? Blame yourself. Thae Pappas family probably cries themselves to sleep every night. I’m 466 and will never stop the heartache that I feel for the way my mother died. I will not, however, allow my sadness to condemn a ill person. Carol Lynn and my ex-wife will both re-enter society when the time is right and they will be safer than any of us. Maybe if we weren’t so judgemental and ignorant, we could actually be proactive and prevent these tragedies instead of just hateful.
Peter Spitz
Denver, CO
Bridget
Jun 28, 2007 at 7:18 am
Wow, Peter. Yes, mental illness is real and not a joke. It is a physical illness that manifests itself in aberrent behaviour, many do not understand that fact. Some people (I think many of the abusers on this site) are just mean, selfish and uncaring. Mental illness is something else altogether and needs to come into the open and be accepted and treated as an illness because it isn’t a choice any more than getting diabetes or cancer is a choice. Maybe my comments above were rash. If I knew someone was mentally ill, no I wouldn’t leave my son with them. But my heart is sad for the parents and I can admit to having had my mind opened a bit more. I guess that’s what this site is good for?
sherrynrobflynn96
Sep 28, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Oh my god, how horrible. I am 38 years old and raising my 21 month old granddaughter since birth. Nothing could ever , I mean ever provoke me to harm her. She is my life. I have 2 other granddaughters n one more on the way. Some days I have all 3 together, never once thought of harming them. Pulled my hair out but harm was not a thought. Where was his mind leaving her with his mentally unstable mother?
sherrynrobflynn96
Sep 29, 2007 at 12:07 am
You know something Peter your pretty judgemental your self for judging people that voice their opinion on this tragedy. Mental illness is a disease not taken as serious as others. My sister was and is mentally unstable. Noone knew until she left my 3 yr. old son in a crack house. Help her, how Peter when we did not even know she was ill. Every time we did help she just defyed everyone and kept on doing what she wanted , going off meds, etc. I hate her for that and will never forgive her because the drugs caused her unstableness and she had a choice when it came to those drugs. Crack kills and we all know it. Maybe, Mr. Pappas should of taken his mothers illness a lil more serious and been a lil more cautious as to leaving his child alone with her. My heart, as well as the other women you are bad mouthing, hearts go out to him. Still, does not excuse the cold heart truth of he should of used better judgement there and some of the guilt lies with him and his decisions. It is only opinions and everyone has a right to their opinion, even if you do not like them…. Sorry for your tragedy, it was very sad, but you my friend are bitter with the wrong people. May god bless you……..
Carry Grant
Sep 29, 2007 at 7:18 am
Mental unstable or mental illness is what it is. But someone being on crack is not mentally unstable or illness, it is a drug problem. Crack does not cause mental illness. Your sister left her 3 year old son in a crack house because she is a drug addict not because she is mentally unstable. There is difference between mentally unstable and drug addiction.
sherrynrobflynn96
Sep 29, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Actually, if you are going to comment , please by all means get it straight. It was my son, mine not hers. I clearly wrote that if you read it correctly. As for your brilliant explanation of mental illness verses mental nutcase, thanks I was really hoping someone like you could point that out to me. As her sister for 38 years as to which she was wacked out for about 19 of them, gee I think I would know my sisters problem better than you. But!! thanks for clearing her condition up. She was a drug addict that did so many drugs she became mentally ill. Do not even tell me that is not possible , because I have at least 10-15 different docters she has seen that could tell you otherwise. She has a chemical imbalance that was triggered because of the drugs. I forgot to ask, are you a docter?? Uh! crack does fry your brain you know. The point here was that this guy knew his mother was wacked out yet he still left her to care for his child. Someone that looked up to her, trusted her, loved her and then brutally stabbed by her. People are suppose to feel sorry for her!! No, don’t think so. To many children are dying because of ignorance. I never knew my sister was a wacko, she was’nt even diagnosed until after she went to jail for kidnapping. Yes, I had my own sister locked up for this, just as I would any other scum bag off the street. Noone knew she was at least we thought as normal as could be, but guess what she is not. I would never even leave her alone with my grandbaby’s, never….. Difference is he knew she was unstable. Your entitled to your beliefs and opinions as I am to mine. That is what this site is for. Noone is really right nor wrong here, we just all think differently, that is my friend our own individuality, just remember that next time before you go e-mailing someone with a correction on their e-mail to someone else and get your facts correct also. Have a wonderful day and god bless you…
rockdoll_71
Oct 17, 2007 at 3:10 am
I don’t think it’s fair to blame the parents. How were they to know what was going to happen? I am sure they are devastated by the loss of their precious baby. My heart goes out to them.
You must log in to post a comment.