Q: In the Oct. 20 AJC article, “Woman charged in hot grease death returns to Texas,” it says the woman was charged with “murder by omission.” What is that?
-- Bob Sullivan, Canton
A: "Murder by omission" is the crime Mary Ann Rivera was originally charged with in 1970, when she allegedly killed her husband, Cruz Rivera, by throwing hot grease on him. That charge "will in all likelihood" be changed to first-degree murder when Rivera goes before a grand jury, said Donna Hawkins, spokeswoman for the Harris County District Attorney's Office in Houston. Hawkins told Q&A on the News the charge of "murder by omission" is no longer valid in Texas, adding that the most similar current law is "injury to a child, elderly individual or disabled individual." It states: A person commits an offense if he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, by act or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly by omission, causes to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual: serious bodily injury; serious mental deficiency, impairment or injury; or bodily injury.
Q: Did Jennifer Valdez from Channel 46 ever have her baby? If so, when and what did she have?
-- Linda Ashby, Duluth
A: Valdez has returned to her meteorologist duties at Channel 46 after giving birth to Annelise Katherine at 8:18 p.m. on Aug. 4, she told Q&A on the News in an email.
Andy Johnston wrote this column.
Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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