West Virginia Mother Drugged Her Two Children Before Setting Their Beds on Fire
A mother from West Virginia was sentenced to two life imprisonments without the possibility of parole for killing her two children, the Department of Homeland Security stated. Molly Jo Delgado was convicted for burning her two sons Justin “Little Judd” Delgado Jr., 5, and Delmer Delgado, 3, to death at their home in Berkely County, West Virginia, Department of Homeland Security stated.
In January 2017, firefighters were called for assistance at a Berkeley County house that had caught fire, the Department of Homeland Security added. During the rescue effort, the firemen carried the three-year-old Delmer Delgado from the burning house in a futile effort to save him while the team found his five-year-old brother Justin on the bedroom floor, where he had collapsed trying to flee the flames on his bed.
The State Police performed a forensic analysis of Molly Jo Delgado's phone, which revealed that the mother was allegedly involved in an extramarital affair with a man, the Department of Homeland Security stated. Call records showed that she talked with her boyfriend for almost an hour, before setting the house on fire.
In the interview with investigators, Molly Delgado confessed that she used a lighter to set fire to each child's bed, the Department of Homeland Security added. Autopsy reports showed that the younger boy had been drugged with cough syrup before his death.
Molly Delgado did not contest the charges of first-degree murders brought against her in February 2019, Herald Mail Media reported. The following month a jury was brought together to decide whether she should be allowed to apply for parole during her imprisonment.
The investigating officer noted distinct burn patterns on the younger boy's body, implying that the child still was on his bed when the fire started, the Department of Homeland Security revealed.
Justin Delgado, the father of the victims testified in court and said that he knew about the affair but forgave his wife as he wanted to keep his family intact. He filed for divorce after Molly Delgado's arrest, Herald Mail Media reported. Psychiatrist Timothy Thistlethwaite testified that although Molly Delgado had some intellectual impairments and personality dysfunction, she had the ability to distinguish between right and wrong when she set fire to the house, Herald Mail Media reported.
The prosecutors in their argument for the jury stated that since Molly Delgado did not show any mercy to her children, she did not deserve any mercy from the law, Herald Mail Media reported. Molly Delgado was given two life sentences without parole by 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge Laura Faircloth after the jury decided not to recommend parol for the accused.
West Virginia State Fire Marshal Ken Tyree said he was glad that justice has been served, the Department of Homeland Security stated. "I am proud of the diligent work of so many to bring justice to a family facing such a large loss," Tyree said. "Any fire-related death is tragic, but one done with such malicious intent to two young children is horrific. I believe this was a just and proper verdict."