Saturday, February 27, 2010

NY mother and son indicted for abuse, death of disabled daughter

From WKBW-TV:

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- An Erie County Grand Jury returned a multi-count indictment against 51-year-old Eva Cummings (pictured) and her son, 31-year-old Luke Wright on Feb. 26.

The two are charged with the following crimes, all of which were allegedly perpetrated against 23-year-old Laura Cummings, the mentally disabled daughter of Eva Cummings and sister of Luke Wright.

WARNING: The following charges contain graphic material.

Eva Cummings is charged with Murder in the Second Degree, after allegedly suffocating her daughter to death. She is also charged with Sexual Assault, after allegedly assaulting her daughter with a broom stick; Assault in the First Degree, where she allegedly scalded her daughter; Unlawful Imprisonment as a Hate Crime, wherein it is alleged that she unlawfully restrained her daughter because of her daughter's disability.

Cummings is also charged with Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent Person or Physically Disabled Person, where it is alleged that she knowingly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to her daughter's welfare by repeatedly beating her, repeatedly tying her to a chair, repeatedly placing a hood over her head, and repeatedly pushing her face into her own feces.
If convicted, Eva Cummings faces a sentence of 83 years to life in prison.

Luke Wright is charged with Predatory Sexual Assault, Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree as a Hate Crime and Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent Person or Physically Disabled Person.

It is alleged that Wright perpetrated the same or similar acts as his mother, Eva Cummings, against his sister.

Wright is also charged with several sex offenses, including Rape, Criminal Sexual Act and Incest, where it is alleged that he forcibly engaged in sexual acts with his mentally disabled sister.

If convicted, Luke Wright faces a sentence of 133 years to life in prison.

The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on March 1, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.