Autistic Teen Accused Of Killing Mom

(CBS/AP)  A Kent State University professor who was fatally beaten in her home was devoted to caring for her 18-year-old, severely autistic son, friends say.

He is charged with attacking her, but should he stand trial in his mother's death? The question was raised on The Early Show Saturday Edition.

There was a memorial service Friday night on the Kent State campus for Gertrude "Trudy" Steuernagel, 60.

She struggled to raise her son, Sky Walker, but she loved him and would want people to know that autism doesn't equal violence, said Steven Hook, chairman of the school's political science department, where Steuernagel taught political theory and women's studies.

Steuernagel died a week after she was severely injured in a beating.

An autopsy showed bruises around her head and chest, said Gary Guenther, an investigator with the Summit County medical examiner's office. The cause of death had not been determined.

Walker, who is being held in jail on $2 million bond, was scheduled to be arraigned on charges of attempted murder and assault on a police officer. Portage County Sheriff David Doak said the charge might be upgraded to murder.

Errol Can, an attorney representing Walker, declined to comment. Authorities have not discussed a possible motive.

Walker was diagnosed with autism before he turned three. His father lived with the family until the mid-1990s, and in recent years was completely removed from Walker's life, said fellow Kent State Prof. Molly Merryman, a colleague and close friend of Steuernagel's.

"I really, more than anything, want to say that these were a mother and son who loved each other deeply," said Merryman, who hosted Steuernagel and Walker at her farm on weekends.

Steuernagel wrote op-ed articles for the campus newspaper, the Daily Kent Stater, about the challenges of having an autistic child. Sky can barely speak.

"I had no patience with good and decent colleagues who told me how busy they were," she wrote last March. "Busy? Try spending an evening sitting in a closet with your back to the door trying to hold it shut while your child kicks it in."

Her son may have been a source of stress, but Steuernagel wrote that she also found him to be a source of joy.

"Sky, as he always does, showed me the way," she wrote. "Even on the worst of days, Sky would find something to enjoy, even if it lasted less than 30 seconds ... So I started to look for my joy."

As he got older, Sky became more difficult, and sometimes violent, Merryman says, adding his mom never gave up, and instead always stayed focused on those good moments they had. Indeed, Sky is a "delightful" boy, Merryman told CBS News.

"Sky and Trudy had an incredible full and loving relationship," Merryman told co-anchor Chris Wragge on The Early Show Saturday Edition. "And, despite Sky's inability to speak, it was always very evident to those who were privileged to associate with them that Sky was devoted to his mother. They both had a wicked sense of humor, and it was always evident that their jokes went back and forth, that there was just an absolute faith and level of love. And I don't think necessarily we need words to convey the love."

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[Tybugsmommy]

Some of these comments sicken me. This is a tragedy for the boy and for the mother(as well as the entire family). I am positive there were signs to indicate this could be a reality one day. I do believe her love blinded her and she thought she could raise her son herself I am a mother of 4, and one of my children happens to have a form of Autism. He also has bipolar disorder. He was once considered severly autistic. I was told he would not walk, talk or communicate with us. We were given little hope. I refused to listen to these "specialists"(with regard to whether he would walk, etc.), who were considered some of the best in our part of the U.S. We tried everything to help Tyler, I worked with him every day(And I STILL DO). Many parents are not advocates of medication, and I do think many doctors over-prescribe behavioral meds. But I will say this--My son NEEDED medication. It isn't a "cure", but he is able to function very well. We don't see the aggression that I have seen first-hand in other autistic children who have bipolar disorder. Working with him by helping with his behavioral and sensory integration therapy has made so much of a difference in my relationship with him. Most people don't have any idea what it is like to look in your own childs' eyes and see nothing...Just a blank stare. My son finally broke past that barrier, and it's as if a veil was lifted. But people have to keep in mind-EVERY CHILD, autistic or otherwise, IS DIFFERENT. Life and how each of us respond to it, is DIFFERENT for every person. I feel for this child and his poor mother. I pray that he gets the help he needs and he ends up in a nuturing place that he can get proper care in. This is a tragedy.

[nansxt]

I am a mother of a 8 yr old autistic boy..whom i dearly love with all my heart. When i first seen this story in a magazine at work, I could'nt stop crying... the picture i seen of Sky in jail made me sick..He had no clue what was going on and i would like to know where was his shirt? When i saw that picture all i could see was my Johnathan. I can't even imagine something like this happening to my son and how scared he would be, Hurt's me to even think of something like that. I've been keeping up on this story. And reading all the comment's on alot of different sites. And i can't belive the ignorant people...It's discusting what they are writing. I think that people need to step back and think how much Autism is out there and how much more to come in the future. they better start thinking it could effect there live's at some point. Maybe not thier children but maybe thier grandchildren.What are they gonna do then....put them out of thier live's just because they are autistic..Then again GOD only give's these wonderful kid's to special people. So those that don't have any kind of heart will never experiance this joy. If something like this would ever happen to me, I've already told my Daughter to take her brother out of this country away from all the vulthurs and idiot's.

[sisterofavalon]

I am having a problem with understanding all of this. If the Mom was a teacher, and taught a program on Autism....she should have been more educated on autism and even the medication issues concerning behavior problems. This child could have been helped! And still can.
I am so sorry and saddenened about what came about causing the Mom's death..I dont think this child fully understands what he has done and I truly dont feel that he should stand trial for this. I feel that Sky and his mother have been let down and failed by the system itself.
My grandson is autistic, he is 21 years old now and is 6' 1'' and weighs 340 lbs. He is a gentle giant. Sure, there have been issues through the years that we have dealt with on behaviors, where changes in routine or even an illness has brought on some behavior issues. We educated ourselves and with help from doctors, teachers and the Autism Society we were able to control these issues with proper behavior modification and medication and special teaching methods used, along with alot of love and patience.
My heart goes out to Sky, he is going to be even more traumatized by the fact that his Mom is no longer in his life now. I really dont think he remotely understands that it is because of what he did, that she's no longer there for him. I hope with all my heart that this child can get the help that he needs and is with caring individuals to help him.
My heart goes out to him and all who are involved.

[indamiddle]

fyi andie autistic children do not have brain damage, why don''''t you read up on autism befor you run your mouth, my son has autism and he is amazing and far from being brain damaged


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Posted by autiemom111 at 08:17 PM : Feb 16, 2009
+ report abuse


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so you are saying that this 18 year old boy committed 1st degree murder?

[indamiddle]

this is the part where science should step in and save us...

early detection of such defects IS A GOOD REASON to abort..but again raises different kind of argument

[indamiddle]

this is the part where science should step in and save us...

early detection of such defects IS A GOOD REASON to abort..but again raises different kind of argument

[eggy1620]

Obviously he believed the Force was with him.

[onlythereal-]

He most definitely should have been in an institution that deals with this type of violent behavior. I think my first clue would have been hiding in the closet while he was trying to kick the door in. She could have visited him regularly and made sure he was taken care of properly. If she insisted on keeping him at home, he should have been on some meds. He should not be in jail. He should be in a mental institution. How are you going to put someone with a mental disorder in jail. It is not his fault that his mother was in denial concerning his violent behavior.

[kansas1946]

He is charged with attacking her, but should he stand trial in his mother''s death? The question was raised on The Early Show Saturday Edition.
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Of course not!! He is severly mentally limited and needs to be in an institution for mentally handicapped people, not in prison. What is the matter with people.

[mlu103169]

It saddens me that so many adults are so ignorant when it comes to understanding autism. These are not "lunatics". These are individuals with a neurological disorder. The only "brain-damaged" people I see are some of you blogging about this tragic incident. I am the proud mother if a 16 year old autistic child. I did not know this mother or child but I AM an expert in autism. Until you have lived it 24/7...don''t shoot off at the mouth degrading these individuals and their parents. You have no idea what it is like for these children OR their parents. You can sit here and say "My friend has a friend blah blah blah...so I know". NO! YOU DONT KNOW. YOU HAVE NO IDEA. I am so appauled by the ignorance in this blog that I am going to apologize to every autistic individual and their parents for YOUR ignorance. My thoughts and prayers go out to the young man and the remaining family and friends of his mother. I pray she is at peace now and I pray that this young man is treated fairly and given the proper care and help that he deserves. I pray to God that if my son ever harms me, that he is treated fairly and with respect...because I know my son loves me and he knows I love him ALWAYS.