On Friday night, I got an email from Dr. Sarah Callen of the PPD Illinois Alliance letting me know that Illinois Governor Pat Quinn was granting Debra Gindorf clemency. Since then, the news has spread like wildfire.
Gindorf, now 45, was 20 years old when she killed her two children, and attempted to kill herself, with overdoses of sleeping medication. When Debra woke up after the first suicide attempt, she tried to kill herself again. When that wasn't successful, she turned herself in to the police. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that all of the nine mental health experts who evaluated her now believe she was suffering postpartum psychosis at the time of the murders.
Chicago Tribune reporter Eric Zorn writes:
"She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1986. But that sentence was a miscarriage of justice that needed a humanitarian touch to correct given the justice system's poor understanding of post-partum illness at that time.
Said who? Dr. Ronald Baron, the Highland Park psychiatrist who testified against Gindorf at her trial but later weighed in on her behalf."
The Lake County prosecutor's office also offered no objection to her release.
Carol Blocker and Dr. Callen, as well as Gindorf's attorney Kathleen Hamill, are thrilled with this news as all have been vocal supports of Gindorf. Many are hailing this as an important recognition of the severity of postpartum psychosis and the importance of making sure these women are properly recognized and treated so such tragedies can be avoided.
More detail from:
The Chicago Sun-Times
Let's hope Ms. Gindorf has family and friends to support her as she emerges from prison after so many years.
I don't even have words to sum up my feelings. I send quiet gratitude to Dr. Ronald Baron for being willing to learn and understand the devastating illness of postpartum psychosis. Not all doctors are willing to admit that they still had some learning to do. Big Props to him. And best wishes to Ms. Gindorf as she enters a new life. My thoughts are with her, her family, and her friends.
Are you praying for the other side of the family who lost those two beautiful children at her hands
Debra does have friends supporting her as she makes this transition. She is very excited about this turn of events and is looking forward to stepping into her new life. My prayers are with her and those around her during this time.
wwhat wonderful news. I pray she has an easy time rentering society.
I am thrilled about this although I know the transition will be hard.It is scarey for me to remember having a small part in this case as it is a testimony to how long I have been involved with all this…progress is slow..at least we are seeing changes.God Bless Debra and her family and friends….she has mnay friends…even those she will never meet.