NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) - A Connecticut woman charged with killing her 4-year-old son had recently contacted state child welfare officials to report that someone may have harmed the boy, according to the state Department of Children and Families.
Tiffany Farrauto, 33, of New London, was charged Sunday with murder and risk of injury to a minor after police said they responded to her home and she told them she strangled her son. Officers tried to revive the boy, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a hospital.
The Department of Children and Families released a statement Monday evening.
“Recently, we were contacted by the mother who expressed concerns that an unknown party may have maltreated her son,” the agency said. “Upon review, we provided the mother with information on resources in the community.”
The department also said it had involvement with Farrauto in 2017 “centered around allegations of substance use and supports needed to care for a newborn.” Officials said, “The department, along with community partners, provided assistance to the family while actively working with their extended networks of support.”
Gary Kleeblatt, a spokesperson for the department, said the agency would not be providing more details of its interactions with Farrauto.
A state judge on Monday ordered Farrauto held on $2 million bond, ordered a competency exam, and placed her under suicide and mental health watches. Her public defender, Aimee Mahon, said her client has mental health problems that “contributed to the incident.”
Police were called to Farrauto’s home on Sunday on a report of her damaging a vehicle with a baseball bat. Authorities said she told officers to “take me away” because she had strangled her son, who was found unresponsive in her apartment.
Police have not released the boy’s name.
At a vigil Monday evening, Farrauto’s mother, Cindy Steenson, identified her grandson as David Jasmin and said she believes her daughter “snapped,” The Day newspaper reported. She said her daughter had suffered “a lot of trauma” in recent years and had a tumultuous relationship with the child’s father.
“Whatever happened, she must have just had no control,” said Steenson, of Westerly, Rhode Island. “She never would have hurt him if she was in her right mind. She never hurt anyone.”
April Lussier, a friend of Farrauto’s who was among at least 50 people at the vigil, said Farrauto never appeared to be mentally ill or violent, The Day reported.
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