Mother who threw children from bridge pleads guilty to murder

Mother who threw children from bridge pleads guilty to murder

Amada Jo Stott-Smith changes her plea in circuit court

The Portland Tribune, Apr 13, 2010, Updated 52 minutes ago


Amada Jo Stott-Smith 32, pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder charges in connection with the death of her 4-year-old son, Elson Jay Rebhan Smith, and the attempted drowning of her 7-year-old daughter.

Amada Jo Stott-Smith, the Milwaukie woman accused of throwing her two children off the Sellwood Bridge in May 2009, pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Stott-Smith, 32, pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder charges in connection with the death of her 4-year-old son, Elson Jay Rebhan Smith, and the attempted drowning of her 7-year-old daughter.

In May 2009, Stott-Smith pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder. She was accused of throwing both children off the Sellwood Bridge into the cold Willamette River at about 1 a.m. May 23.

At the time, Stott-Smith was in a dispute with her husband, who was supposed to pick up the children at 5 p.m. May 24.

According to Portland Police, at about 1:20 a.m. people along the Willamette River began hearing screams near the Sellwood Bridge. Police responded after several 9-1-1 calls, but they could not find where the screams were coming from.

A man and woman living in a houseboat were able to find the children around 2:10 a.m. and pulled them to shore. The boy was already dead and the girl was rushed to a hospital.

Portland police homicide detectives were assigned to the investigation. They were contacted by the Tualatin Police Department about a missing person case possibly involving Eldon and his sister. Detectives then received a phone call from someone saying he thought the children found in the river might be his relatives. Detectives were able to confirm the identity of the children based on information provided by family members

http://www.oregoncitynewsonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=127118931685188400

http://www.kval.com/news/local/90791619.html

Killer mom gets life for Sellwood Bridge drowning

April 13, 2010

A Tualatin mother accused of throwing her two children off the Sellwood Bridge last May was change her plea to guilty in a Tuesday afternoon court hearing, KGW has learned.

Amanda Jo Stott-Smith got a life sentence with the possibility of parole in 35 years.

She pushed or threw her two children from the bridge in Southwest Portland in the early morning hours of May 23, 2009.

She was found a few hours later threatening to commit suicide in a downtown Portland parking garage.

Stott-Smith faces eight counts of aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder for the death of her 4-year-old son and the near-drowning of her 7-year-old daughter.

Eldon Smith drowned from the 75-foot plunge. His sister was rescued from the Willamette River by nearby residents who heard moans in the darkness and took their motorboat out to investigate.

Stott-Smith initially pleaded not guilty at her arraignment, last June.

Without a plea arrangement she could have faced the death penalty, according to Oregon statute.

http://www.kgw.com/news/Mom-in-09-Sellwood-Bridge-murder-reportedly-switching-plea-90780084.html

Amanda Stott-Smith pleads guilty, avoids death penalty

http://kdrv.com/page/169875