'I deserve death penalty,' mom in son's death says

'I deserve death penalty,' mom in son's death says

Senta Scarborough

The Arizona Republic

Apr. 5, 2006 12:00 AM

The adoptive mother of a 10-year-old boy found dead in his home asked an officer for his gun so she could shoot herself after telling police she struck and killed the boy, according to court records released Tuesday.

"I deserve the death penalty for this," Vicki Lynn Hulsey, 45, said to the first officer to arrive at her Mesa home, according to records.

Hulsey was arrested Monday night on suspicion of first-degree murder and child abuse after her son, Jarod "Jerry" Hulsey, was found dead in their home in the 7200 block of East Lakeview Avenue, near Sossaman and Baseline roads. She is being held on $500,000 bond. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 13. advertisement 

Mesa police received a 911 call about 5 p.m. Monday from a woman later identified as the boy's grandmother, saying the boy was unresponsive and cold to the touch, Mesa police Sgt. Chuck Trapani said.

When the officer arrived, the boy was found in a bed, lifeless and with bruises on his back, side and arms. He was pronounced dead by Mesa fire officials.

The officer described Hulsey as having a "cold and lethargic" demeanor. He asked Hulsey with what she hit her son, and she replied, "My hand. Look at it." Her right hand and arm were bruised and swollen, police said.

When the officer asked Hulsey if she killed her son, she said, "Yeah, I guess so."

She told the officer she was raising her son on her own and had taken pills because she wanted to die, court records show.

When a detective attempted to interview Hulsey, she refused and asked for legal counsel and made no more statements.

The boy's grandmother told police her daughter called her and told her to go to her house. When she arrived, she found her grandson unresponsive and called 911.

In January 2005, state Child Protective Services investigated a low-risk physical-child-abuse claim involving Hulsey and her son.

The allegations were unsubstantiated because of a lack of visible injuries, CPS spokeswoman Liz Barker said.

Police wouldn't say whether the boy had been beaten to death, but according to records, there was trauma all over his body.