BOULDER — Court documents released by Jefferson County District Court reveal some of the disturbing details of a Whitehall woman accused of murdering her five-year-old son.
Kathryn Garaas was charged in District Court on May 6th with deliberate homicide.
John Emeigh reports - watch the video here:
The affidavit alleges Garaas used a plastic bag to smother to death her son Reign the morning to April 24th.
On the day of the incident, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 34 Tatanka Trail just north of Whitehall on a medical emergency involving a child.
Garaas answered the door and told deputies, “He’s in his room.”
Deputies entered the room and found the small child with a plastic bag over his head, according to court documents.
The deputies tried to revive the child, but it was too late.
When asked why she did this, court documents state that Garaas responded, “To save him because things would have only gotten so much worse.”
Garaas is expected to be arraigned on the deliberate homicide charge on June 10 at 9:30 a.m.
She remains jailed on a $5 million bond.
A GoFundMe has been created which states:
I am asking with all of my heart for help for this wonderful Father, Tyler. The pain he carries is immeasurable, and no resolution can come that will ease it. Reign is his purpose, his love, and his life from the moment he took his first Breathe. There are no words for the kind of strength it takes for a man to be a single father, and the life he built for Reign is one we take solace in knowing was fulfilled with love, laughter, and precious joy. The worst days are yet to come, and the last thing Reign’s loved ones need added to this nightmare is the weight of simply trying to survive day to day.
Click here if you would like to donate.
Colleen Much, who is organizing the GoFundMe and speaking on behalf of the victim's family, said that Reign's mother has been separated from his father for years, but would occasionally spend time with her son.
She said the family never noticed Garaas being a threat to the child.
Much said Garaas had been staying with the boy for the past couple weeks without incident.
According to Much, the boy's father left for work on April 24th and later that morning received a disturbing text message from from Garaas.
He called 911 and first responders later found the boy dead, according to Much.
