Jury selected for Houston woman who alledgedly cut off son's penis

[SplitDik (imported)]

Continuing saga from 2007 ... article has picture of former cheerleader -- too bad she didn't realize there are plenty of guys who would pay for cheerleader to cut them.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bre ... 62232.html

Jury chosen for mom in baby mutilation case

By BRIAN ROGERS Houston Chronicle

Aug. 6, 2009, 6:10PM

photo

Brett Coomer Chronicle

Katherine Nadal, now 28, tested positive for cocaine, methadone and a tranquilizer the day after the 2007 attack, a Child Protective Services spokeswoman said. 

A jury has been chosen in the trial of a Houston woman accused of cutting off her infant son's genitals in 2007 and then blaming the family dog for the injury.

“Miss Nadal did not inflict those injuries,” said Allen Isbell, one of Katherine Nadal's attorneys. “I hope the people will listen to the evidence objectively and not be swayed by the horrendous injuries that the child sustained.”

Katherine “Katie” Nadal, 28, said the family's dachshund mutilated her son when he was 5 weeks old.

Investigators said they ruled out dog bites and accused the former Anahuac High School cheerleader of using a sharp instrument to remove his penis.

The boy's aunt said she does not believe Nadal's story. She said the dachshund was adopted by another family and is doing well.

The aunt, Patches DeShazo, said the toddler is still recovering and will be for a long time.

“He has a long road ahead of him. He's still waiting for reconstructive surgeries,” she said.

DeShazo and her husband, who have three other children, ages 22, 15 and 12, took in the boy.

“He's been a gift, a blessing,” she said.

DeShazo is the sister of the child's father, Camden Gothia. Gothia was at work when the boy was injured and immediately ended his relationship with Nadal. He could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

The district attorney's spokeswoman, Donna Hawkins, said prosecutors plan to prove Nadal caused serious bodily injury to her son.

She declined to comment further.

The boy was injured March 13, 2007, at the family's Clear Lake-area apartment while Nadal was home alone with the child, police said. None of the severed parts was ever recovered.

The baby's wound had straight edges and an even base, leading investigators to rule out a dog bite, investigators said.

The day after the attack, Nadal tested positive for cocaine, methadone and a mild tranquilizer, Child Protective Services spokeswoman Estella Olguin has said.

Nadal has been arrested twice before on drug-related charges that were later dismissed.

The seven-woman, five-man jury will hear opening statements on Monday. The trial, in state District Judge Denise Collins' court, is expected to last longer than a week.

If convicted, Nadal faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. She remains in jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.

[Hash (imported)]

Was it just the penis? It isn't specific. They should consider this powder to regrow the boy's genitalia. It works! I was watching this last night and couldn't believe it. If this powder or patch becomes available, I'd like someone to try it after a penectomy. If it worked on a finger tip, why not try it on a young boy with a horrible mother.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7354458.stm

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2 ... tes-finger

[leftbehind33 (imported)]

Was it just the penis? It isn't specific. They should consider this powder to regrow the boy's genitalia. It works! I was watching this last night and couldn't believe it. If this powder or patch becomes available, I'd like someone to try it after a penectomy. If it worked on a finger tip, why not try it on a young boy with a horrible mother.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7354458.stm

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2 ... tes-finger

Holden Gothia's genitals (penis and testicles) were removed: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 72853.html

Katherine's cocaine use and mention of wanting to circumcise Holden should have been a giveaway. I recall reading elsewhere that Holden had colic (what becomes of a cocaine user's self-control when tested by a screaming baby?). Katherine should never have been " his caregiver" in the first place.

Castration/penectomy by choice is one thing; involuntary mutilation is another.

[Paolo]

I hope she gets life, if not the death penalty.

[lildick (imported)]

death would be too good for her. they should sentence her to a life of having things involuntarily cut off of her until she dies maybe sew her asshole closed and feed her 4 meals a day

[billyd1 (imported)]

She did get convicted after a rather short jury deliberation. I believe the sentencing is this coming week. The best defense was that the miniature dachshund MIGHT have done it.

Several members of the Grand Jury that indicted Nadal were so disturbed by the crime that they attended the trial which is considered unusual. Sorry I don't have citations. The sentencing part of the trial will start Monday.

[Hash (imported)]

Using drugs has caused all kind of terrible mutilations. I remember reading about a woman who cut off the fingers of her daughter during a cocaine party and back in the early 90's a man who was using cocaine cut off his penis. Later when the effects wore off and he realized what he had done, he jumped out of a building and killed himself. Don't know what he did with his penis, I seem to think he flushed it. I'm sure that things like this will happen, especially to those who use drugs. Protecting the innocent is a hard job, especially when people are out of their minds, literally.

[HairyHarry (imported)]

As money raised by producing, and dealing in, cocaine and heroin goes mainly to fund crime and warfare, is it time to start executing those involved in selling it around the world?

[billyd1 (imported)]

She just got 99years, without parole too, and a $10K fine. Prosecutors asked for life.

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/ ... ccd0c.html