Mother indicted in death of son, 9

By Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
Staff Writer

July 06, 2009 06:00 am

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SALEM — A 37-year-old mother accused of withholding cancer treatment from her ailing son, who ultimately succumbed to the disease, was indicted Friday for attempted murder.

The secret indictment became public upon her arrest by Salem police at 6:15 p.m. yesterday at a South Salem home.

Kristen LaBrie faces charges of permitting serious bodily injury to a disabled person, permitting substantial bodily injury to a child, and child endangerment, along with the charge of attempted murder.

LaBrie's son, Jeremy Fraser, 9, died March 30 at Kaplan Family Hospice in Danvers.

Doctors diagnosed Fraser, who was also autistic, three years ago with a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that was curable.

After chemotherapy, his cancer went into remission and he was given a good prognosis as long as he continued taking his medications and receiving chemotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Prosecutors allege that LaBrie canceled at least a dozen appointments and failed to pick up most of Jeremy's prescriptions. As a result, doctors said, the boy's cancer returned in a far more serious form.

When doctor's noticed Jeremy's condition worsened, they contacted state child welfare authorities. Jeremy spent the last months of his life living with his father, Eric, in Saugus.

Fraser could not be reached for comment last night.

Jeremy attended North Shore Education Consortium in Beverly until his death.

On June 30, 2008, LaBrie turned herself in to Salem police on a warrant for her arrest on a single child-endangerment charge.

The indictments unveiled yesterday will mean more severe penalties, which carry prison time, if she is convicted.

Attempted murder has a maximum of 20 years in prison and permitting serious bodily injury to a disabled person carries a maximum of 10 years. The remaining charges each are five year maximum sentences.

LaBrie will be arraigned today at Salem Superior Court. She was held overnight at the Salem police lockup.

Essex County Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall is prosecuting the case.

Defense attorney Kevin James of Danvers is representing LaBrie. James could not be reached for comment last night.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt; rather, it means a grand jury has found sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.