KAREN DIEHL LOSES APPEAL, MUST RETURN TO PRISON

Jim Haner

The Virginian-Pilot

Karen Diehl, sentenced to 31 years in the beating death of her adopted son, was ordered by a Circuit Court judge today to return to prison after an unsuccessful appeal of her 1987 conviction.

Diehl, who has already served 24 months of her sentence, must return to the Virginia Correctional Center for Women in Goochland by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Circuit Judge Alan E. Rosenblatt ruled.

Rosenblatt had allowed Diehl to remain free on bond until then because she has never failed to comply with court order in the three years her case has been in the court system.

"I have no doubt she will turn herself in," said her attorney, Robert G. Morecock.

Another appeal - this time to the state Supreme Court - was filed Monday.

Diehl was freed on $60,000 bail Sept. 21 while her attorneys argued before the Virginia Court of Appeals that Rosenblatt, the judge who presided at her trial, made a mistake in not removing a biased juror.

On April 3, the appeals court upheld Diehl's conviction by a 5-5 vote. Under appeals court rules, a tie vote automatically affirms the original verdict.

Diehl was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, abduction, assault and child neglect in the death of her adopted son, Dominick J. "Andrew" Diehl, 13. Her husband, Michael J. Diehl, 44, was convicted in a separate trial of premeditated murder, abduction, assault and child neglect. The appeals court upheld his 41-year sentence in October.

Andrew died Oct. 29, 1986, five days after he was found battered in a converted bus, where the Diehls lived with their 16 children - 12 of them adopted.

Barring a successful appeal, Karen Diehl will be eligible for parole in about three years.