Mom accused of stabbing kids found not guilty by reason of insanity

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Posted: 3:12 PM Jan 7, 2009
Last Updated: 10:26 AM Jan 8, 2009
Reporter: Chris Thomas
Email Address: chris.thomas@wrdw.com

23 comments

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January 7, 2009

AUGUSTA, Ga.---Accused murderer Jeannette Michelle Hawes was found not guilty by reason of insanity in Superior Court Wednesday afternoon.

Judge J. Carlisle Overstreet ordered her confined to a mental health facility for treatment for an unspecified time.

Ms. Hawes stabbed her two young children to death in late 2007 inside a southside gas station bathroom.

Earlier, her attorney announced plans to make the insanity plea.

Judge Overstreet presided over a bench trial. That means he, not a jury, decided the verdict.

More:

Only on 12: Hawes' father figure says mental health issues were 'obvious'

Psychiatrist calls Hawes case 'most tragic' she's ever seen

Jeanette Michelle Hawes is escorted from the courtroom after being found not guilty by reason of insanity.

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Posted by: Two Sides on Jan 9, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Why is everyone saying she knew what she was doing b/c she locked the bathroom door? I don't know about you but it seems to be a habit or a good idea to lock the door of a public restroom when you're inside. NO ONE HERE CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MICHELLE. NO ONE HERE CAN CHANGE THE VERDICT/SENTENCE. ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE MICHELLE. BUT I WILL SAY, THERE IS A SUCH THING AS INSANITY/PSYCHOSIS. ANY ONE OF US CAN OR MAY BE A SUFFERER/VICTIM OF PSYCHOSIS OR A DIFFERENT PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER ONE DAY. YOU NEVER KNOW. Yes, we all know what happened was a very sad tragedy. Do you not think Michelle is or will be deeply hurt/traumatized for the rest of her life?

Posted by: jessica Location: augusta on Jan 8, 2009 at 06:26 PM
Angelina, I appreciate your comments. They are ones I could never say myself since i am not a convicted felon like yourself. Thank the good lord that your children were taken away from you and are hopefully safe from the abuse you state you were convicted for. You are in no place to say that you "understand" why this horrible disgrace of a human being murdered her children. She knew exactly what she was doing, that is why she locked the bathroom door in hopes that no one would come in until she was done murdering her poor innocent toddlers. Jeannette Hawes did not receive the justice due her, but I am sure god will take care of that. Finally, I would like to congratulate you, since you seem to be so proud of giving birth to your daughter in prison. I guess that is not something alot of people can say, much less brag about.

Posted by: mustangchic28 Location: aiken on Jan 8, 2009 at 06:10 PM
susan smith starp hrr 2 kids in to a car seat and let them drown. and this girl here gets off by being crazy? i do not uderstand the laws of this.

Posted by: linda Location: augusta on Jan 8, 2009 at 05:48 PM
All of these comments sicken me. Who without sin cast the first stone!Sin is sin. Let us not be so judgemental because your own life is nothing but a vapor. Your minds may be overtaken by Satan. Pray that this young women gets the help she needs. She will be tormented until she ask for forgiveness from God,Not us.Show some love. Read John 13:34-35. That is in your bible, not in a comic book.

Posted by: Sarah Location: Aiken on Jan 8, 2009 at 05:37 PM
Hawes is a MONSTER! She knew exactly what is was doing.

Posted by: perry Location: Augusta on Jan 8, 2009 at 05:24 PM
We all can say whatever but i agree on one thing drugs is no excuse for for insanity. Whoever her lawyer was, u should go into private practive if u arent, you just performed the unbelievable

Posted by: nameless Location: augusta on Jan 8, 2009 at 03:22 PM
SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING. I HOPE THEY NEVER LET HER OUT.

Posted by: Mrs Smith Location: Augusta on Jan 8, 2009 at 12:05 PM
While watching the news yesterday my heart went out to Michelle and her kids once again. We tend to forget that it is not up to us when we are taken from this life and go on to be with our Father in heaven. God spared those kids that they did not feel any pain and he took them on home. Should Michelle be sent to jail? I can't say. This is our justice system. We appoint judges to make these decisions and we have to be okay with whatever he or she sees fit. I pray that she gets the help she needs because she will have to live with it for the rest of her life and that may be punishment enough. This was a tragic event and I wish that it could be all taken back but it can't so we must not judge her and only pray for her. These babies are in a better place and they are now watching over their mother along with their grandmother.

Posted by: Kayla Location: Augusta on Jan 8, 2009 at 10:10 AM
I think she should be put to death, who could do that, I'm sure there was an agreement worked out between her and her lawyers to plead insanity. Throw her in the whole!

Posted by: ken Location: augusta on Jan 8, 2009 at 09:13 AM
I am sure if we still had an electric chair law, these children would be alive. I remember the days of the chair and the fear people had of it. Sometimes drastic action is needed to stop idiocy.

Posted by: what a shame Location: augusta on Jan 8, 2009 at 09:01 AM
The judge needs to rethink this. She may be insane but she is still guilty. Those kids can't come back but she can eventually walk free from a mental institution? And the psychiatrist has been in this field for 22 years and I'm pretty sure she has come across people who have done worse. Do they realize that they have just set a criminally insane psycho out to do whatever she pleases. What is the justice system coming to?

Posted by: Angelina Location: South Carolina on Jan 8, 2009 at 07:26 AM
Robert most people who commit these types of crimes do not"imagine" it first. Jessica mental institutions linked to prisons are anything but "Cushy" and "prison population" are groups of convicts with similar and in some cases more haneous crimes than hers.Who are they to judge? Really people get a grip. I am a mom and I did not kill my kids, but I caused them so much grief.Went to prison and lost them and my career.That was almost 7 years ago and I still cry all day. I read ignorant comments in the newspaper and online too of people who did not know me nor my situation. Guess what Jessica? I was pregnant and gave birth to a baby during all of that. She is now 5 and the most beautiful and inteligent little girl.I have been back with her since my release and I thank God everday for being wiser and stronger now.I don't abuse her and I am constantly evaluating any decisions I make concerning her.Some of us learn from our awful choices.This poor lady and her kids will never get that chance.

Posted by: leslie Location: north augusta on Jan 7, 2009 at 11:15 PM
No one could stab there childern to death and say they didn't no what they were doing.There is no jury in the world would have let this child killer out that easy.All they did is give people the right to kill kids and say i am crazey and get off.This is not right.

Posted by: Struck Location: Augusta on Jan 7, 2009 at 10:16 PM
WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE HER AND "CONNIE", WHO SAYS SHE WAS ON DRUGS?! I have a 2yr that I cherish and adore however THIS IS MY OPINION: She WAS insane. There's no telling WHAT an insane person would do. It was WRONG, yes!! However, I personally believe this woman simply lost her mind. From what I've read, it seems as if she tried to reach out in many ways. I don't know. God Bless The Babies and Michelle. ***ANGELINA, I AGREE WITH YOU***

Posted by: Robert Location: North Augusta,SC on Jan 7, 2009 at 06:52 PM
I could not imagine harming my child in anyway especially stabbing them to death. She had to be crazy. I just hope she is never able to have children again and stays confined in the mental ward for a very long time!!!

Posted by: jessica Location: augusta on Jan 7, 2009 at 06:51 PM
This is absolutely absurd! She deliberately murdered her two toddlers. Of course anyone would say "that's insane" but not literally. She deserves to suffer in prison in general population, if you get my drift, just like she made those children suffer. Instead all she gets is a cushy hospital room for putting on a convincing act. She will always be a murdering mother who sliced her children up in a gas station bathroom. This is not justice, that judge is obviously not a parent or a grandparent.

Posted by: Angelina Location: South Carolina on Jan 7, 2009 at 06:15 PM
No one in their right minds kills or abuses their children.Surely all of you know this.Yes, if we must get technical she is guilty of the murder if she was rational.What makes her not guilty is her going nuts and killing them. And as for her alleged "drug" usage an white woman went before a judge right before I did in 2004.She broke her childs bones in several places and she was allowed to leave and check into re-hab.True she did not murder her kids, but unless you have ever lost your mind or been on drugs then you should not talk about what you do not know about.I assure you the guilt she feels over this will follow her the rest of her life.No prison, insane assylum or idiotic opinions from people with their heads shoved up their *** will hurt her the way that guilt will.I know this for a fact.The media, prison time and other people opinions fade...but the guilt a mother feels when she has failed does not! Please know that!Careful how you judge. Judge today,convict tomorrow!It happen

Posted by: sickened grandmother Location: Augusta on Jan 7, 2009 at 06:13 PM
This just sickens me to the hilt. What is this world becoming when a mother can kill her children and get off on insanity? My heart is just so heavy with love and compassion for those to little innocent children and the suffering they had to indure yet all mom gets in time out in a mental institution.I know we are not suppose to judge others but this?? It's just totally unacceptable in this world we live in we call a society.And call me dumb but drugs is no excuse for what she done.One things for sure she will have to answer for what she done when that time comes and then justice will be served for those babies.God has His on way of doing things as most of us know..

Posted by: connie Location: NORTH AUGUSTA on Jan 7, 2009 at 05:32 PM
I WANT TO COMMENT ON THE HAWES CASE. I THINK JUST BECAUSE SHE WAS ON DRUGS SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS DOING. SHE HAD THE SENSE ENOUGH TO LOCK THE DOOR AND GO TO A BATHROOM TO WHERE SHE KNEW SHE WOULD GET CAUGHT.I THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO DO DRUGS THINK THAT THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW AND DO THESE THINGS SO THAT THEY WIIL SAY IT WAS THE DRUGS OR I WASN'T IN MY RIGHT MIND. THAT BULL AND THEY KNOW IT. IF ANYTHING THEY NEED A HARDER SENTENCE BECAUSE THEY NEED TO REALLY WAKE UP AND SEE THAT THEY ARE MAKING IT HARDER ON THE TAXPAYERS AND WE PAY THE BILL FOR THINGS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A HARDER SENTENCE FOR THE DRUG USERS. JUST BECAUSE THE PARENTS ARE STRUNG OUT ON DRUGS THEY TAKE IT OUT ON THE KIDS AND THEY ARE THE ONES WHO IS REALLY PAYING FOR ALL OF THIS. SHE NEEDS TO BE PRISON FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE IF NOT GIVEN THE DEATH PENALTY.

Posted by: CHARLIE on Jan 7, 2009 at 05:24 PM
Anyone who chooses to murder their kids or another person is INSANE, but they are still guilty. To me it's INSANE to say she is not guilty of that murder. Now, we will probably see more of this happen.

Posted by: law Location: Thomson on Jan 7, 2009 at 04:22 PM
was she receiving government benefits for the kids? If so, she must have been insane because now she won't get money.

Posted by: PR Mami Location: Augusta, GA on Jan 7, 2009 at 04:04 PM
That is ridiculous. She is not insane. She needs to be in prison. She took out her anger on her kids, and that is unacceptable

Posted by: well damn Location: unknown on Jan 7, 2009 at 03:49 PM
wrdw yall spelled january wrong. its not Januiary but **** yall might be shocked by the news so i would have spelled it wrong too.

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