BOSTON -- A 9-year-old autistic boy, whose mother is accused of failing to give him medication doctors said could have cured his cancer, died on Monday.
Jeremy Fraser’s mother, Kristen LaBrie, 36, of Beverly, is awaiting trial on charges of child endangerment. Prosecutors are now considering filing more serious charges.
LaBrie lost custody of Jeremy last year after his oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital suspected Jeremy was not getting his medications after realizing his cancer, originally non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, had progressed to leukemia. The doctor contacted the Department of Children and Families last March and reported neglect.
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Investigators later learned that most of Jeremy's prescriptions went unfilled and that LaBrie had canceled at least a dozen of Jeremy’s medical appointments. Police in Salem, where LaBrie lived at the time, charged her with child endangerment.
Father Eric Fraser said Tuesday that his son’s death was unnecessary and unfair. He blamed LaBrie for failing to administer the cancer medication to their son.
“He doesn’t deserve any of this,” said Fraser. “He’s an innocent boy that relied on his mother.”
LaBrie’s lawyer has not asserted any religious beliefs or alternative treatments.
Jeremy surprised doctors, who did not expect him to make it to his ninth birthday, when his cancer went into remission last fall, but by January the cancer was back and Jeremy was given two months to live. His father said his death came quickly.
"He went to school. His last day was Monday, then he went downhill for a week and passed away," said Fraser.
LaBrie's lawyer, Kevin James, who has not ruled out a psychiatric or diminished capacity defense for LaBrie, has been trying to gain access to Jeremy's medical records for the time after the boy was removed from her custody.
LaBrie was due in court Tuesday for a pretrial hearing, but James said she was too distraught to appear.
Previous Stories:
* July 4, 2008: Accused Mother Says Sick Son Is 'My World'
* July 2, 2008: Mom Charged With Denying Son Cancer Meds
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