Three members of Marin County 'family' plead guilty
Tuesday December 17, 2002
By KIM CURTIS
Associated Press Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Three people who lived together in Marin
County with two other women and 13 children, pleaded guilty to
felony charges of child neglect after one of the children starved
to death.
Winnfred Wright and Mary Campbell, the biological parents of the
19-month-old boy who died in November, pleaded guilty Monday to
child endangerment that ends in death, along with other neglect
charges, said Marin County Prosecutor Ed Berberian.
They originally pleaded innocent to charges of second-degree
murder, manslaughter and child neglect.
Wright now faces a maximum 16 years, eight months in prison and
Campbell faces 14 years.
Deirdre Wilson pleaded guilty to a series of abuse charges
involving her children, none of whom died, he said. She faces a
maximum 11 years, four months in prison.
Manslaughter and child neglect charges against Kali
Polk-Matthews were dropped, Berberian said. She had been free on
$100,000 bail.
Carol Bremner, the fourth woman indicted in the case, died of
leukemia in August.
Phone messages left after-hours for defense lawyers were not
immediately returned.
``We would not have entered into this discussion if we didn't
feel it was in the interest of justice,'' Berberian said, adding
they were relieved to avoid forcing the children testify during a
lengthy trial. Wright, Campbell and Wilson also waived their rights
to appeal.
Authorities began investigating the cult-like family when
19-month-old Ndigo Campisi-Nyah-Wright was brought dead to a local
hospital in November. A coroner concluded the baby died of
malnutrition and neglect.
The children allegedly lived in a home where they were lashed
and force-fed chili peppers if they misbehaved, according to papers
filed with the court. They also reportedly were deprived of
sunlight and suffering from rickets, a bone-softening disease
caused by a lack of vitamin D. The dozen surviving children have
been placed in protective custody.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 3.
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)