Monday, September 15, 2008

Caregiver murder convinction

Smyrna, Ga. - A former live-in caregiver, Madonna Whitus, 43, has been convicted on two counts of murder for the killing in December 2007 of 63-year-old Kathie Durant, a disabled Smyra woman, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. According to prosecutors, Ms Durant died on the floor of her bedroom after Ms Whitus fed her only Slimfast and Coke as well as giving her anti-depressant medication that had been prescribed to Ms Whitus. During the week that Ms Durant lay dying, Ms Whitus went on a shopping spree with money that she had stolen from Ms Whitus. Ms Durant, who lived in Ms Durant's townhouse, faces life in prison and will be sentenced on September 19.

See also: Jury convicts Cobb Co. caregiver in woman's death