Lorrie and Thomas Boettger Murder Sixth-Month-Old Son with OTC Meds
While visiting relatives in San Diego, Lorrie Jean Boettger, 38, and Thomas Michael Boettger Sr., 39, woke up and found their baby dying. Six-month-old Thomas Boettger Jr. limbs had turned blue and stopped breathing.
Medical experts found the boy had suffered acute intoxication from an antihistamine and a sleeping aid that his parents had given him because he was “fussy.” They had crushed up Benadryl and Unisom tablets and given them to the baby.
The Boettgers have been extradited from Washington state to San Diego and will stand trial for child abuse and murder. If convicted, they could get 15 years to life in prison.
Now you must be thinking, “Boy these parents are just stupid. They didn’t mean to hurt their child.” I’m not so sure since both had medical backgrounds. Thomas worked as an EMT and Lorrie was a midwife.
Lorrie told police that her husband had given the baby meds regularly to get him to go to sleep. Sounds like he couldn’t be bothered with a fussy baby.
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September 15th, 2007 at 7:18 am
That’s just sick to me. Especially since they have medical backgrounds. I can see asking a doctor for a sedative for a long trip or something, but to crush up Benedryl and Unisom? That’s just horrible. I hope they get the maximum.
September 15th, 2007 at 7:50 am
I worked as an EMT in a hospital, he must have
known how EASY it is get info on meds. I wouldn’t
even feel safe taking Benedryl & Unsiom togther!
Poor baby.
September 15th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Their story has huge holes in it. Gaping holes big enough to drive a car through. Medical backgrounds and they still didn’t know not to give adult meds to a tiny baby? Kid suffered from acid reflux? Guess what, there are medicines specifically made for INFANTS who suffer this problem. If he had reflux how did they think a sleeping medication and an antihistamine would help that?
Finally, the lawyer says there’s no proof that the adult meds caused the baby’s death because no one knows what the lethal does is for a baby. That’s because even the soulless pharmaceutical companies won’t test drugs on infants, so NO, no one can say what the actual lethal level of those drugs are for an infant. That’s also why you’re not supposed to GIVE adult meds to children – their toxicity level has never been, CAN never be, tested on babies.
Lock them up and feed them nothing but Unisom and Benadryl for the rest of their miserable lives.
September 15th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
I wonder if they had trouble with the math: while it is possible to calculate a dosage based on body weight. Actually this is a good idea for adults, should a 300 lb person take the same dosage as an 80 lb lightweight? They might have tried to figure this for their baby and got the math wrong. Even though they should have known better, a bad idea to give adult drug anything to baby.
September 16th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
15 years?? ru serious? i sure hope they get the max!!!! my daughter is a little hyper-active and her doctor told me that its okay to give her childrens benadryl EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE to calm her down when shes uncontrolable, but UNISOM????? ru freakin serious??? i wouldnt even give my 6 year old adult benadryl. and im only a high school graduate WITHOUT a medical background but with alot of common-freakin-sense!!!!
September 17th, 2007 at 6:13 am
LAZY WORTHLESS TURDS!! Just plain laziness killed their baby. If you want baby that just lies around all day, doesn’t fuss or require any “extra” work, and looks cute, do us ALL a favor and STERILIZE yourself and go to the nearest toystore and buy a doll. They make ‘em pretty lifelike now, you can even dress them up in baby clothes. And when you tire of them , their is no need to worry about what the correct dosag of unisom or benadryl is (eyeroll.) You can just throw them in the toybox!
Once again, there are too many fertile people out there that are not deserving of the right to procreate.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:34 am
[...] This is really sad. In a nutshell, a married couple with medical backgrounds (Thomas Boettger is an EMT, and his wife, Lorrie, is a midwife) routinely drugged their six month old baby boy with Benadryl and Unisom tablets and God knows what else to get him to sleep at night and during nap time. Apparently the baby was given the medicine regularly so he wouldn’t fuss and stay up. [...]
September 19th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
How stupid do you have to be to not know that you do not give any child (most definitly not an infant) any medication unless you have cleared it through the pediatrition. And only give them the recommended dose for the recommended time period. DUH! This is quite simply a case of child abuse, that ended in death. These so called “parents” are so deserving of lethal injection.
September 20th, 2007 at 8:55 am
I agree with everyone on here that we all know you don’t give adult medication to babies. Any EMT would know that! I totally don’t understand Unisom since Benadryl has a side effect of drowsiness. I mean, how long did they want this baby to sleep?!? I would like them to serve enough time that when they come out neither one of them are fertile anymore. So what, about 30 years should do it!
September 28th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Why were they giving a baby medication to sleep regularly? OTC pills give adults massive fuzziheadedness and totally disrupt sleep cycles when taken for prolonged periods of time. Weird. They were almost into their 40’s as well, so at least they probably won’t be breeding again. Biological clock and all that…plus the possibility of lengthy prison terms.
February 16th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I’ve followed this case because I knew the couple to an extent. The reason there is a murder charge is probably because of their decision to flee. They were picked-up in Seattle in early 2007 by the Fugitive Squad after they packed and left (and told some people they were fleeing). This really makes them seem guilty.
While I don’t believe they intended to kill their child, they are certainly guilty of really bad decisions. It is upsetting that this whole thing happened and your prayers should be with Lorrie’s 9 year-old that is now staying with her father. These people were good, but they didn’t make good decisions.
November 7th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
The dynamic duel is back in the prison system due to parole violations. That’s strike TWO in California. If these two don’t smart up, they may NEVER see the children they left behind in Washington.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I see knewthemtoo is here as well spreading his lies. There are no news accounts nor does the posted give any place for the violations. Just as many here have their head up ther azz, so does knewthemtoo. Parole Violations ARE NOT STRIKES in California.
Second, their parole is in ***Washington**** where they live.
Having said that, no one is reporting they have violated parole, and the gossip does not provide any details or links.
BTW it’s Dynamic duo, adult meds are no differnent than kids meds — it’s the dosage that changes — chemicals are chemicals, it’s sad that the “medical personnel” don’t get that. Maybe that is why so many EMT’s make so many deadly mistakes?
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:46 am
Hey Mark, you never change. You’re still an idiot. Their parole is in California and that is why they are in a California prison. Isn’t it obvious that their parole had not been transferred yet to Washington? My guess is this dynamic duo will violate again as soon as tyhey get out….After all “Stupid is as stupid does”….
January 7th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Wow…I guess I’m curious as to why so many people here have the guts to spread a shocking degree of misinformation, error, and pure unfounded speculation…but don’t have the guts to disclose who they are? Anyone want to have a real conversation with someone who actually has the facts?
January 7th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Says the person that isn’t using their real name or linking a website or email addres. You can talk the talk… but not walk the walk. Shut the fuck up then.
January 7th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Are you being serious right now? I thought “Me” would be a strong enough hint… So…April, is it? Wanna talk? Because obviously there are very few real facts here on this message board, other than the names of the individuals involved with this case and perhaps their genders…beyond that point, reality checks its brain at the door and the rest of this is pure garbage.
*Lob*…ball’s in your court. Sheesh! You really oughtta see this transcript! Wow…
January 7th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
So “Me” is Lorrie and I’m supposed to buy whatever you spew on her to be fact? Go ahead. HIt me with your best shot. What’s your side…..
January 7th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Nah…you don’t have to believe a single word I, or anyone else says. It’s up to you. If you wanted to, you could actually look at all the court and medical documents, which are public record and available to anyone willing to go get them…assuming that you really want the truth and not just to continue slinging mud. The simple truth is that these two parents adored their son and continue to grieve his loss. It’s easy for people who weren’t there to second-guess motives, actions,and character traits of people they have never even met. But you are so off-base it’s almost unbelievable.
January 7th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Firsst off – Where, in this thread, did I sling mud? My defense was directed to the fact that you claim people here are hiding behind screen names and not willing to listen to facts. I simply pointed out that YOU are hiding behind a screen name and have YET to post any facts. So before you talk shit, you need to check yourself – otherwise you look like a complete dumbass.
Now, that being said…. Feel free to post all you want. Members here have been known to change thier position on certain cases. Hey – maybe you’ll get lucky. Maybe not. But you chose to post here, so make it worth your time. Up to this point you have don’e nothing to prove your case.
January 7th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
BTW – I don’t need to go searching for public records to believe that these people are innocent. You came here to prove that, remember?? Get busy. I’m still waiting.
January 7th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Whoa…I came here to prove someone was innocent? Maybe you forgot that here in Amerika – oops, I mean America – it is not up to the innocent party to prove themselves so…it is up to the prosecution to prove them guilty.
I didn’t come here to prove anyone innocent, I merely suggested that before you start posting thoughts and opinions as if they were indeed fact, you should check out the information you are relying on to make sure you are discussing facts and not just spreading more rumors and unfounded heresay.
So, you don’t want to go to all the trouble of seeking out the information yourself, but would rather I or someone like me spoon feed it to you? Your busy schedule probably doesn’t permit you to actually seek the truth, but I have given more than enough time to the whole situation… MORE than enough.
C’mon, April. Woman-up and do your homework.
January 7th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Okay, first of all – This is a blog. Full of opinions and thoughts. Bummer if you don’t like it.
Here let me “woman-up” for you. I think these two are fucking morons! Who gives a baby sleep medication? I’ll tell you who – lazy, ignorant, selfish fuckheads. That’s who. I wouldn’t even give my 9 year old sleep medication (unless it was a perscription from a Dr – even then I may not feel so comfortable doing it). I am not looking for anything to chance my stance on this one. You want my mind changed – give it your best shot. Otherwise, I think we are done here.
January 7th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Such language.
Did I say I wanted your mind changed? Nope. Again, I said you should check the information upon which you are basing your thoughts and opinions…unless you prefer to come across as hopelessly uninformed and groundlessly opinionated. You’re discussing a legal case, which makes truth and fact somewhat critical, wouldn’t you say?
You’re right on one thing…we are done here.
January 7th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Meh – It’s a blog. I will stay with my opinion since you aren’t interested in proving otherwise. I’m not on the jury so I don’t really need to pursue outside information. You came here wanting people to see “your” side. You should have to do the work.
Sorry you don’t approve of my language. You know, I was really trying hard to impress you. Bummer.
January 7th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Umm, both these assholes plead guilty, so what “misinformation” is being spread here?
http://justfixit.uniontrib.com/uniontrib/20080726/news_1m26couple.html
January 7th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
And look what we have here. SIDS? These worthless pieces of trash have the nerve to say that innocent little baby died of SIDS?
http://www.sidsfamilies.com/index.php?sec=nursery3&id=2417&Thomas_Michael_Boettger%20II
January 7th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
jj – an infant can suddenly dies when the shitheads parents overdose it. MAybe that’s thew point she’s making….
January 7th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Sixteen months locked in a 10×6 foot cement cell would convince just about anyone to plead guilty to just about anything in order to get out. Once again, dynamics involved in the situation that you don’t know anything about.
Incidentally, when one finds one’s otherwise healthy infant already passed away in their crib, SIDS is usually the first thought…makes you wonder if both of these parents were on the same page, doesn’t it?
Hmmmm…food for thought. Oh, but only if you care about facts. Otherwise, I guess pre-judging is the way to go and the facts can go hang.
Either way, if I got anyone here to THINK a little bit and consider looking for the true facts instead of standing on rumor, hearsay, and gossip, then it’s been a good foray into cyberland. For now, I personally have given enough time to this particular forum…time has indeed become quite precious to me these past few years.
I wish you all the very best.
January 7th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Nothing in this world could ever make me plead guilty to killing one of my children… not unless it was actually MY FAULT! But then again, I don’t drug my children up with sleeping medications either!!
January 7th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Just what this cunt deserves.
http://www.king5.com/news/local/62930917.html
January 7th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Why would anyone plead guilty to a crime they didn’t commit? That make no sense. None. If the facts are that she didn’t give the baby over the counter medication that was not meant for and infant, that would have come up in the autopsy? Right? So are you saying that they didn’t give the meds to the baby? That the baby did, in fact, die of natural causes? If that’s the case, she wouldn’t have need to plead guilty. That’s a no brainer.
January 7th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Boo fucking hoo, bitch. All I’m hearing are excuses, when I’m giving you facts. And they’re idiotic excuses, at that. If I was unfairly accused of killing my child (which these two punks WERE NOT), I would die in that 10×6 cell before admitting guilt. But I guess to selfish whores, such as yourself, physical comfort is more important, right?
January 7th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
She’s got great taste in men. THe one she skipped town with was on parole for DV. The other one was the fucktard that murdered the baby with her. Maybe the baby is in a better place. Can you imagine going through life with these asshats for parents?
January 7th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Not at all. Hope her older child is not allowed anywhere near her, especially considering her taste in men. Who the fuck knows what might happen to her.
January 7th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Yep – NO kidding. She’s likely to grow up to be a skeevy, baby murdering whore. I hope her father has enough sense to keep her away!
January 7th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
jj, April, sorry ‘Me’ is “all show and no go”
but, the bottom line is that
-they pleaded guilty (in spite of that mean ‘ol jail cell)
-jj supplied ample facts to support the guilty side
-April continuously requests facts, “ME” can’t or won’t do anything but shoot her mouth off
-again, jj did alot of work and supplied the facts
Who wins?
No one.
Who loses?
The baby.
These were medical professionals, they knew JUST what they were doing.
January 7th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Medical Professionals or not, any adult with a lick of sense KNOWS you dont do that shit.
January 7th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Listen to the nurse!!!
January 7th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
And I worked pediatrics for 4 years
January 7th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
I think these are your run of the mill selfish fucktard parents that we tired of listening to the baby cry. Plain and simple. There is no defense.. No need for prrof. It is what it is. As Kathy said, the only one who loses is the baby.
January 8th, 2010 at 2:31 am
wow….where have i heard “me” before? very, very familiar sing song defense.
January 13th, 2010 at 9:07 am
this story is so sad. my 2 yr old daughter still does not sleep thru the night and i could not fathom the idea of drugging her to make her sleep. i just deal with the sleep deprivation and move on because I love her and she is NOT a burden to me. then to have the nerve to place his picture on a SIDS website, where parents of children who truly did pass from is SIDS is just disgusting and disrespectful to those parents. This poor baby… sounds like he neevr had a chance.
January 14th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
OMFG AM I PISSED!!!!!!! Look at this whore’s website:
http://tlclimited.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html
January 14th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
It’s blocked from work. I’ll look at home. Thank’s for continuing to update this storry, jj. You are truly a gem!!
January 14th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Well, it seems Lorrie’s bullshit ass blogspot has been deleted. I was just there before I posted here, and now it says blog not found. What a coincidence, hey?
Lorrie, you whore, you are going to get exactly what you deserve. If someone doesn’t get you here on earth,there’s a special place in hell for creatures like you.