Nanny Convicted in Murder of 2 Children in Their UWS Apartment; Family Releases Statement
A memorial in front of the Krim’s building in 2012.
A notorious case that took six years to get to trial is over, as nanny Yoselyn Ortega was convicted on Wednesday of killing two children in her care at their apartment on West 75th Street on October 25, 2012. Marina Krim came home that night to find her children — Leo, 2, and Lucia, 6 — dead in the bathroom. Ortega was in the process of stabbing herself.
Ortega’s attorney had argued the nanny was insane and hearing voices when she stabbed the children to death and then tried to kill herself. But prosecutors said that her actions before the brutal crime made it clear that she had been planning to do this. She had set aside personal documents and other items for her sister and son and told her sister to “raise him well.” In the end, jurors didn’t find Ortega’s story credible.
Ortega will be sentenced on May 14 and faces life in prison.
The family released the following statement after the verdict. In it he explains why the family started a foundation supporting creative programs for kids, and advocates for a law that would make falsifying a caregiver job application or reference a crime.
I hope this brings some solace to the family.
For the unrelated, please remain vigilant about caregivers.
I have mixed feelings about the death penalty but if there was ever a case for it, this is the one. There is zero chance that she did not commit the crime.
This evil woman murdered two innocent children in cold blood, then had the audacity to put the family through the hell of reliving the experience by going through this trial. I don’t care if she was insane or not (though I’m glad they found that she wasn’t) – she has no place in society.
Use some of the money that will be wasted on supporting her in jail to provide for her family.
“Use some of the money that will be wasted on supporting her in jail”
That why we have a system of criminal justice and not citizen vengeance.
I am not advocating the death penalty here, but – ever since Pataki first ran for governor, we have the death penalty in NY state.
Never once was anyone found guilty of murder 1, and was sent to their death.
Either we have it or we don’t.
If it’s not being done lets repeal the death penalty.
I am a liberal Democrat who is normally apprehensive about the death penalty for fear that someone could be wrongfully convicted, and there is no turning back – there are too many of these situations. In this case, there is no doubt that she committed this heinous crime.
I also believe that people can be rehabilitated, but again, in this case I think she has waived that right and does not deserve to be placed back in society.
Though this decision should not be made solely on financial terms, tens of thousands of dollars a year are spent on inmates – I saw an article stating that NY City spends $168,000 a year per inmates. Why waste money keeping this evil woman alive? The money could better be spent on schools, feeding and housing the underprivileged or mental health programs to help those who are at risk.
It is a slippery slope when you write:
“I saw an article stating that NY City spends $168,000 a year per inmates. Why waste money keeping this evil woman alive? The money could better be spent on schools, feeding and housing the underprivileged or mental health programs to help those who are at risk.”
Taxes are spent on many things that are not the ultimate. For example there are people who believe that National Security is their top priority. Does that mean we should devote the entire Treasury to Defence?
We’re trying for democracy.
The handle is “dannyboy”.
Haste makes waste.
I resent that my taxes will be keeping this animal alive for decades.
Lethal injections were made for cases like this.
Jane, that is why we have a system of criminal justice. It’s to prevent those who pay from deciding the fate of another.
Huh? A jury decided this woman’s fate in a fair trial.
According to you, there should be no such thing as jury trials since those too decide the fate of another.
Put her to death. The world will be a better place for it.
Jane, you completely misinterpreted what I wrote. I wrote nothing about: “According to you, there should be no such thing as jury trials since those too decide the fate of another.”
I do hope that you are not serving on jury duty. Your comprehension skills would make that dangerous.
6 years too long to wait for justice
She should have gotten the chair for this
heinous crime
What a kind, positive and brave message. This time the justice system worked although it took a VERY long time. Your efforts on behalf of under-served children in remembering LuLu and Leo show just what kind of people you are and that you have not let this inconceivable evil act turn you into better hate-consumed people. God continue to bless you in this work.
I am a Holocaust survivor with sixty members of my extended family who were murdered. My immediate family was saved by Catholic friends who risked their lives and saved us. But I understand your pain and your loss. You will never forget it, but I wish you strength and may no one experience it again. So let us all say Never Again! May God bless you and the memory of the innocent victims.
This crime still haunts me and I cried throughout the trial. The choice they made, to look forward and to help others, shows such strength and courage.
So glad they found that woman guilty. It was clear she waited until the mother returned home before attempting to hurt herself because she wanted to see her face. Pure evil.
I agree, the death penalty is very appropriate in this case. And for all you liberals who say life in prison is just as good, Google Winston Moseley, the killer of Kitty Genovese. Escaped from prison and raped a woman while on the run.
I am not a Liberal, but neither of us can decide the penalty of death.
Dannyboy – you don’t need to comment on every single post you don’t agree with. Resist the urge.
reply to Stewart:
what is it your responsibility to lecture Dannyboy on what he doesn’t and doesn’t “have to” reply to?
isn’t a comment board made for commenting?
maybe you object to the SUBSTANCE of his comments, and not their frequency?
Bruuuuuuuuce,
All Stewart was saying is that dannyboy indeed has a comment for just about any comments that does not meet his opinion
head on. Period.
And I think dannyboy can fend for himself without you jumping in to help him.
I hear he’s a big dannyboy, rather than a small dannyboy.
reply to Zeus:
it’s a little ironic that you criticize me for sticking up for dannyboy, instead of letting him defend himself… in the very same email where you stick up for STewart, instead of letting him defend himself!
What i was objecting to was the frequent bullying and dismissive attitudes that conservative and right wing commenters on this page direct towards outspoken progressives. it is an attempt to marginalize us.
you wouldn’t know that we represent the vast majority of opinion on the UWS!
Zeus,
Why write “Bruuuuuuuuce”?
What’s with the: “he’s a big dannyboy, rather than a small dannyboy.”?
Is it childish, being cute?
What is it?
I hope they find a way to bring charges against her family, who lied about her references so she could get this job. All criminals.
This horrible crime took place blocks away from where we live. We are as horrified by it now as we were then. We wish this family peace, and are moved by the dignified way they have chosen to honor the memory of their two beautiful children. As for this monster of a nanny, I would like to see her get the death penalty. Our tax dollars should not be spent feeding her another day!