Woman Accused Of Driving Daughter To Suicide (Press, 30 October 1987)

On 30 October 1987, a jury began deliberations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on the case of Theresa Jackson, a 40-year-old woman accused of driving her daughter to suicide through alleged mental and emotional abuse. This case is significant as Jackson is believed to be the first mother in the United States to face criminal charges related to her child's suicide. If convicted of charges that include child abuse, procuring a sexual performance by a child, and forgery, she could face up to 25 years in prison. The prosecution, led by assistant state attorney Kathleen Kearney, argued that Jackson had coerced her 17-year-old daughter, Tina Mancini, into working as a nude dancer, thus inflicting psychological harm. Kearney described Jackson's actions as an abuse of maternal influence, emphasizing that Jackson facilitated her daughter's work, drove her to and from jobs, and passively watched her perform. Kearney questioned the morality of a mother who would engage in such behaviour and profit from it. In contrast, the defence, represented by Kenneth Whitman, maintained that Jackson was an emotionally and mentally disturbed individual who struggled to control a rebellious teenager. During the trial, Jackson spoke of possessed experiences and considered exorcism, revealing her troubled psyche. Psychiatric evaluations from previous years painted a complex picture of her mental health, with diagnoses ranging from schizo-type personality disorder to histrionic personality disorder. The case was founded on tragic events that unfolded in March 1986, when Tina Mancini took her own life using her mother's firearm, a mere three months after she had left high school to pursue her work as a nude dancer. The testimony presented by the prosecution included statements from family members, including Jackson's elder son and father, whose reports to law enforcement prompted the charges, along with testimonies from Mancini's best friend and a stripper who had briefly worked with her. A Harvard psychiatrist also contributed insights in the form of a "psychological autopsy" to underscore the mental state leading up to Mancini's death. The defence witnesses included Jackson's best friend and her youngest child, who is Tina's half-brother, whose father had undergone a sex change operation since the events. Psychiatrists and psychologists who had treated Jackson provided varying opinions regarding her mental health, adding layers of complexity to the case. The trial lasted more than 10 days, during which these numerous testimonies and evaluations were presented, leading the jury to consider the difficult decision regarding Jackson's culpability in her daughter's tragic death.

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