Free Republic

Mother may not be sane, defense says Issue of competence in boys' slayings recalls Yates drowning case05/13/2003 By LEE HANCOCK / The Dallas Morning News TYLER – Pale, grim-faced and clutching her arms to her sides, Deanna "Dee" Laney walked into a courtroom for the first time Monday and listened to a court-appointed defense lawyer explain that she might not understand what was happening to her. Tyler criminal defense lawyer F.R. "Buck" Files Jr. later told reporters that "everything about the case" suggested that she might not be sane. The 38-year-old mother is charged with bashing the heads of her...

Mom 'calm' in call to 911 Diaries, Bible sought to shed light on her thoughts, boys' deaths 05/12/2003 By LEE HANCOCK / The Dallas Morning News TYLER – Sunday was to be First Assembly of God's special Mother's Day celebration, but the congregation instead gathered to mourn the inexplicable – a tragedy in which two children were bludgeoned to death with rocks, allegedly by their mother, a member of the church's choir. Hundreds filled the pews, some calling out encouragement, many dabbing their eyes as pastor Gary Bell talked of the pain of losing two of his young nephews and...