Salem mother pleads not guilty in chemo case

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July 6, 2009

By Julie Manganis The Salem News Mon Jul 06, 2009, 11:19 AM EDT

SALEM — A Salem mother is being held on $15,000 bail after pleading not guilty this morning to charges that she intentionally failed to give her disabled son the cancer treatments he needed to survive.

Kristen LaBrie, 37, of 15 Cleveland Road, Salem, was barely audible as she uttered the words "not guilty" four times, one for each of the charges against her.

LaBrie was secretly indicted Friday on charges of attempted murder, assault and battery on a disabled person, wanton or recklessly permitting assault and battery on a child causing serious injury and child endangerment, all stemming from the illness and subsequent death of her son Jeremy Fraser, 9.

Jeremy died last March. LaBrie is not charged with directly causing the boy's death, but the charges could send her to prison for up to 40 years if she is found guilty.

Salem Superior Court Judge Richard Welch set the $15,000 bail after hearing from prosecutor Kate MacDougall, who described some new details of the case, including specifics about LaBrie's alleged failure to pick up prescriptions. The judge also heard from LaBrie's privately hired attorney, Kevin James, who described his client as "a victim."

Eric Fraser, Jeremy's father and LaBrie's former husband, sat in the courtroom. He told reporters he has confidence in the district attorney's office.

Members of LaBrie's family declined comment. Two people attempted to post bail this morning, offering to put up a family home, but Massachusetts courts do not accept property as bail and it was unclear whether they will be posting bail.

LaBrie will be held in Framingham Prison until her bail is posted.

For more information on this story please see tomorrow's Salem News.

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