AP Features, September 28th, 2007
A mother charged with killing her 4-year-old daughter with an overdose of prescription drugs now believes her daughter was probably misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder, she said in her first interview since her arrest.
Carolyn Riley said she believed a psychiatrist's diagnosis of her daughter, Rebecca, but now has doubts. Riley was interviewed by Katie Couric for a story on the increase of bipolar diagnoses in children, scheduled for broadcast Sunday on "60 Minutes."
When Couric asked her what she believed was wrong with her daughter, Riley said, "I don't know. Maybe she was just hyper for her age."
Prosecutors claim Riley and her husband, Michael, gave their daughter more pills than the psychiatrist prescribed to keep her quiet and make her sleep for long periods of time. They have claimed they were only following the doctor's orders. Both are charged with first-degree murder in their daughter's death.
J.W. Carney Jr., the attorney for Rebecca's physician, Dr. Kayoko Kifuji, has said his client did nothing wrong and did not overprescribe medication for Rebecca. He did not immediately return a telephone call after business hours on Friday to comment on the "60 Minutes" interview.
Rebecca Riley was found dead on the floor of her parents' bedroom in Hull on Dec. 13. The medical examiner determined she died of a lethal combination of prescription drugs.
Prosecutors allege that Carolyn Riley concocted symptoms of bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in an attempt to qualify Rebecca for government benefits.
Rebecca's two older siblings were also diagnosed with bipolar and ADHD and were receiving Supplemental Security Income, the program administered by the Social Security Administration for disabled children.
Prosecutors say that in one year Carolyn Riley got over 200 more pills than should have been prescribed for Rebecca by claiming she either lost or ruined bottles of pills, and by telling a pharmacy she had run out.
