By Sheila Stogsdill
news@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — A Quapaw woman, hospitalized in a Vinita mental-health center after she was found insane in the drowning of her 17-month-old son, will be released on day passes, court records show.
Tonystet Elizabeth Torres, 33, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, was declared insane by District Judge Robert Haney in 2004 and unable to stand trial on a charge of first-degree murder in the Aug. 21, 2003, drowning death of her son.
In a two-page order signed by Haney, dated Sept. 14, Torres was granted nine supervised day passes so that she may attend therapeutic treatment sessions at Grand Lake Mental Health Center or another day program approved by the Oklahoma Forensic Center.
She will be under constant supervision at all times during the day passes, and will submit to drug and alcohol tests, the order states.
A letter dated June 29 from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services states that after completing a minimum of successful visits over a six-month period, Torres will be reviewed for further privileges.
Torres’ day passes were not set up for specific days but are to be coordinated with the Oklahoma Forensic Center staff.
“The order was agreed on by everybody,” Haney said. “I wouldn’t let her go (without supervision) anytime.”
Last year, the state mental-health department requested that the court grant Torres several one-day passes. District Attorney Eddie Wyant objected and later was notified by the state agency that Torres would not be released from the Oklahoma Forensic Center in Vinita.
Wyant was unavailable for comment Wednesday.
The second request for day passes was specifically related to therapeutic treatment sessions.
The body of Torres’ son was found submerged in about 20 feet of water in Spring River, about four miles north of Twin Bridges State Park in northern Ottawa County. His 10-year-old brother was found sitting on the riverbank screaming for help. Tony Torres was found on the opposite side of the river.
According to Torres’ statement at the time of her arrest, the toddler was clinging to her as she waded across the river. She tired and pushed the child away to save herself, making no effort to save him from drowning, according to statements she gave to investigators.
Torres reportedly confessed to the child’s drowning, saying that “God told me to do it.”
She holds a master’s degree in psychology, according to court records, and at one point worked as a counselor for troubled youths.
Intake sheet
In a county intake sheet, filled out Aug. 23, 2003, Tony Torres wrote: “God shed his blood for me. All they do is ask me, and I will tell them the truth, even if it sounds crazy. I won’t let people corrupt my spirit with the law. Amen.”
Under the space for a defendant’s name, she wrote: “God.” Under legal guardian, she wrote: “God.”
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