Updated: 07/13/2009 4:51 PM KSTP.com | Print Story
By: Chris Keating

KEATING: Mom Used Pills to Kill

In a Dakota County courtroom Patricia Becht showed no emotion no expression on her face as she was charged with murdering her 10-year old autistic son Mikey and trying to take the life of her daughter.  Her eleven year old remains hospitalized. 

The complaint says Becht used Seroquel, a drug used to treat bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia to try and take her life and the two kids.  She took 25-pills she believes Cathe kids took as many as 10-each.  Becht goes on to say that she and the children had a pact of some sort to commit suicide.  In fact, she left a suicide note telling her 16-year old daughter Cara she wouldn't understand writing "we will be at peace."

And if that wasn't enough...the complaint says that during the Michael Jackson coverage the kids asked what Neverland was...and that's when she told them that Neverland is what heaven is like.

Two things aren't surprising about this court hearing.  One is that the judge immediately ordered a psychological evaluation.  And two no family members wanted to speak.  The father of Michael was there but refused to talk.  He sat right behind his wife but was warned by a sheriff's officer to keep his mouth shut.  They are understandably confused and angry.

So what's next...well the psych eval will determine whether or not this goes to trial.  And as for bail one million dollars will likely be a tall order. 

So why did she do it?  If there is mental illness involved we may never know.   What's more there likely is no good answer for family and friends trying to come to terms with how a mother could take the life of her children.  Especially when it sounds like Patricia Becht believed she wasn't being malicious this was the way to show her children love. Wherever she thought she was going they needed to be with mom.