What Killed Rebecca Riley?

(CBS)  On Dec. 13, 2006, police responded to a 911 call and found a little girl lying dead on the floor next to her parents' bed. The autopsy revealed that she had died from an overdose of psychiatric drugs. Rebecca Riley was being treated for bipolar disorder, or manic depression, even though she was just four years old.

If that sounds unusual to you, it's not. As Katie Couric reports, until recently the disorder was believed to emerge only in adults. Now, it is estimated that there are nearly one million children diagnosed as bipolar, making it more common than autism and diabetes combined. And to treat it, doctors are administering some medications that have yet to be approved for children. In the case of Rebecca Riley, that cocktail of medications proved fatal and now her parents have been charged with her murder.

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Carolyn Riley is now in jail in Boston awaiting trial and is being medicated for depression. She told 60 Minutes her daughter's problems began when Rebecca was only two years old. Carolyn took her to a psychiatrist because she had difficulty sleeping and seemed hyperactive.

"Constantly getting into things, running around, not being able to settle down," Riley remembers.

"Did you ever think, 'Well, she's two and a half years old.' There's this thing called the terrible 2's. Did you think this could, in fact, be normal?" Couric asks.

"Yes," Riley tells Couric. "The psychiatrist said that she thought that it was more than just normal."

The toddler who could barely speak in full sentences was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after several sessions over eight months. She had just turned 3. And she wasn't the only one in the family: her ten-year-old brother and four-year-old sister were already being treated for the same illness by the same doctor at Tufts-New England Medical Center. Rebecca was eventually prescribed three medications to stabilize her mood: Seroquel, an anti psychotic; Depakote, an anti seizure drug; and Clonidine, a blood pressure medication -- medications that would ultimately prove fatal on Dec. 13th.

Riley says she thought Rebecca had just a little bit of a cold and gave her daughter "Children's Tylenol Plus Cough & Runny Nose."

In the middle of the night, Riley remembers her daughter didn't want to go to sleep. "So I brought her in the room. She was right beside me on the floor. And I laid down and went to sleep," she recalls.

Before she put her to bed that night, next to her on the floor, Riley says she gave her daughter half a Clonidine.

Asked why, Riley tells Couric, "Because she hadn't been able to get to sleep since six o'clock."

"Then what happened?" Couric asks.

"Then I woke up to the alarm in the morning. And knelt down to wake her up. And there was no waking her up," Riley replies.

Riley says she knew at that point that her daughter had died. Carolyn Riley and her husband Michael were charged with first-degree murder.

The prosecutor alleged at their arraignment in February that they were overdosing Rebecca by repeatedly giving her more medication than she was prescribed. "It was used on Rebecca, her sister and her brother for one simple purpose by these defendants: to knock them out and make them sleep," the prosecutor claimed.

But the Rileys claim that they were following doctor's orders. 60 Minutes wanted to talk to the psychiatrist, Dr. Kayoko Kifuji, but she declined. Instead 60 Minutes got a statement from her hospital: "The care we provided was appropriate and within responsible professional standards."

60 Minutes did obtain a copy of Rebecca's medical records. In them, Dr. Kifuji notes Rebecca's increased risk of mental illness because of her family history. She diagnosed Rebecca after Carolyn said her daughter was - quote - "driving me crazy" and her mood switches within a minute. She would eventually prescribe the preschooler more than ten pills a day.

Riley says she did feel that that was a lot of pills for a little girl, but she says she went ahead and gave Rebecca the prescriptions. "I trusted the doctor," she says.

Dr. Kifuji has stopped practicing, pending a ruling by the state medical board. But her lawyer has said she was just practicing mainstream psychiatry. It's now estimated that nearly one million children like Rebecca Riley have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, or manic depression. And while some psychiatrists told 60 Minutes that early diagnosis is saving lives, a growing number of doctors say it is being over-diagnosed.

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[rusureuwant2know]

She was at greater risk of "mental illness" due to family history??? People, it's learned behavior - parents teach their kids how to act. If your kids are misbehaving, either you are doing something wrong or your kid is acting out because they've been abused or neglected. They don't grow up in a vacuum.

[celiabrent]

The one sided reporting of this story and the subsequent flood of ignorant responses is appauling. Someone even called people who medicate thier kids fat *** who won't get off their "lazy butts to spend time with their kids. The girl was a 21 yr old mother who said that. I've got news for you sweetheart, I am a master's level teacher with expertise in behavior modification. You can do all the behavior mod. you want with an unstable bipolar child and it does NOT work til they are stable.
Couric didn't have the guts to show video or interview parents of kids diagnosed with this severe illness. There was NO mentioned of the fact that suicide is the #1 killer of these kids - not parents.
My daughter is 6 and bipolar. She has had hallucinations of fish eyes in her head which she solved by beating her head to a pulp. We restrained her for 2 hours to stop her. Lazy? She has pulled half her hair out, scratched her arms til they bleed, draws pictures of murders on the roof, has threatened to kill herself, cut my guts out til I bleed, smash my head in, and her strength from the adrenaline during a rage is incredible. She acts out sexually, is self centered, craves sugary foods, and is afraid of her own shadow.
We have spent HOUR researching, reading, keeping behsviral diaries, and have often been injurred while restraining her to keep her from hurting herself. So is medicine the easy way out? Heck no. We have to spend tons of money because psychiatric care is so poorly covered, educate ourselves all the time on new meds and new behavior mod. ideas, monitor everything that goes in her mouth. We have to call the pharmacist before she takes a cold medicine! Lazy?
You have NO clue unless you have lived with a bipolar child what it is like. It is NOT "typical kid stuff", and the LAST thing any parent would want to do is give their kid psychotropic drugs, but sometimes, they just might save their lives.
And the stigma? Screw that. I proudly say she is bipolar. Because along with her illness comes an unusual brilliance, and an artistic talent that rivals some professional artists. She has friends, does well in school, has two parents who would die for her. We view her as a child who "just happens to have bipolar disorder". She'll probably always be on medications, but so are alot of people with manageable chronic illnesses.
What this parent did was abominable, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. There are still truly ill kids, and what they need is NOT some stupid petition to hinder their treatment. They need more money for research for a cure to this insidious and poorly understood illness. Katie was all over Colon Cancer. How about joining Glenn Close in a fight for a cure for Bipolar Disorder?

[rollingflintstone]

"She has had hallucinations of fish eyes in her head which she solved by beating her head to a pulp. We restrained her for 2 hours to stop her. Lazy? She has pulled half her hair out, scratched her arms til they bleed, draws pictures of murders on the roof, has threatened to kill herself, cut my guts out til I bleed, smash my head in, and her strength from the adrenaline during a rage is incredible. She acts out sexually, is self centered, craves sugary foods, and is afraid of her own shadow."

You need an exorcist instead of a doctor!!

[drtaco]

Just because your daughter has a legitimate condition doesn't mean all kids are accurately diagnosed. I'm an MD, and I see about 70-100 kids per month in conjunction with psychiatrists at a mental health hospital, so I've seen a lot of these kids, though not many under 5. Your daughter sounds more like a schizophrenic than bipolar. The meds used to treat this can be identical. As to saying you are proud of her diagnosis, that's ridiculous. Being bipolar dosn't make one any more likely to be talented than one without that diagnosis. It's fine and admirable to be proud of one's child, but not their illness. And just because you are not lazy parents dosn't mean that many others aren't. A large majority of the kids I see are from broken homes, have sufferred physical, sexual or mental abuse and basically are screwed up because of direct or indirect actions of their parents.

[major_psych]

Carolyn Riley to me seems like the textbook definition of a neglectful mother. She says that Rebecca had cold-like symptoms and couldn't fall asleep so she gave her Tylonel... oh and Chlonidine, because that combination is the best for curing a sick child. NOT. And how is it that a teacher who spends what, 6 hours or maybe less with a preschooler was able to notice symptoms of lethargy and even described Rebecca as a "floppy doll" while Carolyn didn't even notice any changes in Rebecca's behavior? Maybe because the whole reason she wanted Rebecca to be on those medications was for the child to be out of her hair, and also, in her own words "she's driving me crazy." Um, I've got news for you lady, a two-three-four-heck five-year old WILL drive you nuts AT TIMES but you need to spend time with them, provide them with activities, with love, with patience. NOT with drugs. And yeah, I'm sure that there are a few of children out there with severe mood disorders that do need therapy, but drug therapy especially ones that we don't know the effects they might have on children should be out of the question. There's this wonderful thing called behavior therapy! Instead of running to a doctor's office and getting your child a prescription, try looking into the background of your child's diagnosis so you can fully understand the prognosis and prevent another tragedy like this from ever reoccuring. By the way- Carolyn's teeth looked rather decayed... I'm guessing meth-addict, but that's only my opinion.

[ashleyaddams]

I have read the responses and I am a parent of an ADHD and Autistic Male Child. He was diagnosised when he was 3 but didn't start medication until he was 5. My mother is manic depresive with a bi-polor disorder. I have seen her go from a very gorgous aggressive independant woman to a shell of a person from over stimulated drug use. Oh I also worked in the Pharmacutical industry for 12 years as well (to this day she takes about 20 pills a day). I can't even leave her alone with her grandchildren even on good days for fear of a lapse, I love her but I can't always trust her. The other things they don't tell you is how many also use NON PERSCRIPTION drugs which in my case unfortunatly my mother also did.The problem is most people (including parents) don't have total disclosure with there doctors this prevents the doctor from being affective in your treatment.I do believe there are children with these disorders, I mean a child breaking a door off hinges absolutly has some mental problems, but medicating them into zombies is NOT the answer. Riddle me this how is ZOMBIE like behavior normal childhood behavior???It isn't and unfortunatly I have read all the articles on this case and I have to agree with the law, I believe she KNEW she was over medicating the child and DID nothing to correct it. My son weighs 65 pounds he takes 0.02mg of clonidine per night (Which little Becky at 4 was taking .35mg)that is enough to knock out a 150 pound person for at least 12 hours.My mother takes seriquel she weighs approx. 165 and she is like a ZOMBIE for hours after taking the stuff.My son takes Focalin 20mg time release capslues for his ADHD he takes Zomig (only when a migrain is on-set)1 or 3 times per month, chyproheptadine (annahystamine to trigger Zomig) 1/2 in morning whole at night(also helps him relax NOT CRASH)and clonidine 0.02mg per night. I have tests done on his liver and kidneys and regular physicals.You have to be responsible when administering drugs to your child, watch the child don't just pop them a pill and walk away use good judgment and just care about your children and LISTEN to them as well they also can identify when something isn't right.Also I don't know any 4 year olds that go to bed at 6pm at night my daughter is 4 and sleeps very little but she has no troble consintrating or focusing she gets into soooo much but to be honest it won't hinder her abilities in school she at age 4 can count to 10 and know almost all her ABC's, her brother barly spoke at her age and I just knew something wasen't right.

[Liz_Kelly]

There are also a number of helpful public radio stories at The Infinite Mind

http://www.lcmedia.stores.yahoo.net/infinitemind.html
http://www.lcmedia.stores.yahoo.net

[lmshaker]

I just found out about Rebecca. I am ABSOLUTELY Disgusted.
How could any doctor in their RIGHT MIND diagnose a TWO year old with bpd?? How? This doctor should be....ashamed...have hislicense revoked/be educated in the least. Her mother should have read some books on raising children. Two years old. Unreal...

What kind of symptoms could Rebecca have exibited to be diagnosed?

Sexual Promiscuity?
Impulsivity? Did she take a credit card buy 20k worth of goods while manic??
Drug use?
Weeks of depression, weeks of mania? Or could it be that she is two years old and needed mothering and become acclimated and better adjusted?

WIth what experiences did this child have for anyone to measure an ADULT illness?

I'm sickened over this.

[sharinginc]

Look at Rebecca''''s forensic evidence, look at the lack of attempt at Bi-Polar education of the parents. Also, look at the horrific facts on over medicating by physicians today.

I will ask everyone on this blog to do a poll and ask other parents at their child''''s school if their children are on any meds. My husband coaches 11-12yr old rec football. Half the team is on something and so are the parents. His father teaches middle school and has for 30+ years. The statistics would blow you away, just at his school.

We all know the real issue here and we need to get a handle on it NOW. It is not bi-polar that is the epidemic problem. It is the mis-diagnosis in children and others, over-medication in all areas and the root causes/triggers of these supposed RAMPANT illnesses.

The doctors are not just doing this to children ask any senior citizen you pass on the street the same questions. It is the power of the drug companies, medical field and the lack of public education and misguided trust in those systems. See our earlier posts.

We are now asking that you help us petition to STOP this abuse of our children and families. We need your support to be able to act on this epidemic NOW.

www.sharinginc.com

[jonjojo777]

My Daughter is in a similar situation living with her BI Polar mother. She is 5 years old and is currently taking
Seroquel.I believe she has been misdiagnosed and am very concerned and worried.She,s the most well behaved child in the world when she,s with me. I think [ the system] has wrapped her up in their little game.The mother goes to a mental health service for parenting skills, and then all the sudden she has Bi Polar disorder. What does a duck say ? If anyone can help me and my daughter, or have any info, please contact me at my [e-mail] thankyou

[jonjojo777]

My Daughter is in a similar situation living with her BI Polar mother. She is 5 years old and is currently taking
Seroquel.I believe she has been misdiagnosed and am very concerned and worried.She,s the most well behaved child in the world when she,s with me. I think [ the system] has wrapped her up in their little game.The mother goes to a mental health service for parenting skills, and then all the sudden she has Bi Polar disorder. What does a duck say ? If anyone can help me and my daughter, or have any info, please contact me at my [e-mail] thankyou

[jonjojo777]

My Daughter is in a similar situation living with her BI Polar mother. She is 5 years old and is currently taking
Seroquel.I believe she has been misdiagnosed and am very concerned and worried.She,s the most well behaved child in the world when she,s with me. I think [ the system] has wrapped her up in their little game.The mother goes to a mental health service for parenting skills, and then all the sudden she has Bi Polar disorder. What does a duck say ? If anyone can help me and my daughter, or have any info, please contact me at my [e-mail] thankyou