Rebekah Amaya was found to be insane when she drowned her two children in a bathtub in 2003 she is now asking for unsupervised leave from the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo.
In 2005, Amaya was found not guilty by reason of insanity in connection with the Oct. 16, 2003, killings of 5-month-old Gabriel Amaya and 4-year-old Grace Headlee, a child she had from a previous marriage.
On Jan, 31, 2005, Prowers District Judge Douglas Tallman ordered Amaya to spend an undetermined amount of time at the state hospital.
On Jan. 3, 2008, Tallman issued an order granting Amaya's request for temporary removal from the hospital with supervision. Tallman said Amaya was not a threat to herself or the community.
He said mental-health experts believe Amaya's mental illness is in remission and in order for her to continue to progress in treatment, she needs to have community contact outside the institution.
According to Prowers County District Attorney Jennifer Swanson, Amaya has filed a motion with the court asking for increased privileges, which includes leaving the CMHIP campus at certain times without supervision. The court hearing has been set for April 28th, 2009 in Lamar, CO. Prowers District Judge Douglas Tallman is set to preside.
This petition is against her request to the 15th Judicial District Court for any type of extended or unsupervised priviledges that may be granted to Rebekah Amaya.
For the memory of Grace Headlee, Gabriel Amaya as well as for her own saftey - please do not grant Rebekah Amaya any further special priviledges which include unsupervised "trip" passes from the Colorado State Mental Health Institute at Pueblo.
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As family members who know Rebekah Sweigard-Amaya, we know that the brutal drownings of Gabriel, her 5½-month-old son, and Grace, her 4-year old daughter, were the result of years of drug, alcohol and emotional abuse. Her dysfunctional past definitely impacts her life; it impacts all of our lives.
Rebekah’s actions that day caused severe emotional trauma to her children that resulted in their deaths. She is NOT the victim, they were the victims, and those who loved Grace and Gabriel still ARE. Their father’s face the reality of her choices every day. She inflicted the deepest wound on them when she killed their firstborn children. They will always carry severe, emotional scars as a result of Rebekah's instability, as will we all (the families and community).
Admittedly, we still have unresolved anger, but we are also forgiving families. Part of seeking forgiveness is taking responsibility for your actions. Rebekah has not taken responsibility for murdering Grace and Gabriel. Whatever mental disorder she has (not Postpartum Psychosis) prevents her from understanding the pain she caused her children and their families. However, it doesn’t prevent her from seeking freedom. She continues to request release, on the grounds that she is healed. This is difficult for us to understand because our children are not healed! We are not healed!
Can a lifetime of Rebekah’s emotional disorders be fixed in only 5 1/2 years, when the result ended in the death of her innocent children Has she healed from murdering her babies so quickly Why would she even want to be free if there’s the slightest chance that another child could be killed or traumatized What if an insect crawls on her hand or a dog barks or a squirrel crosses her path People get longer sentences for abusing animals. Rebekah Sweigard-Amaya will always be a risk to children, to herself and to society.
The Amaya and Headlee Families
Links
REGIONAL NEWS ARTICLES
The Gazette:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20031021/ai_n10028527
The Pueblo Cheiftain:
http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/03/04/news/local/doc49ae31abcb6db510457458.txt
The Lamar Daily News:
http://www.lamarledger.com/news/2009/mar/12/amaya-speech-scrapped-amid-public-outcry/
KKTV Television:
http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/41067807.html
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