Hartford Woman Pleads In Manslaughter of Her Son

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford woman charged with manslaughter last year in connection with the death of her 17-year-old son pleaded guilty Tuesday under the Alford doctrine.

Katiria Tirado, 34, was originally charged with cruelty to persons in connection with the death of her son Matthew, 17, who died in the early morning hours of Feb. 14, 2017 after a medical emergency call at the family's Park Street apartment.

On April 19, 2017, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner notified the Hartford Police Major Crimes Division the cause of Matthew Tirado's death was fatal child abuse syndrome with dehydration and malnutrition, and the case was officially declared a homicide. In May, the charges against Tirado were upgraded to first-degree manslaughter, police said.

According to judicial records, Tirado has been held in custody since her initial arrest, first on $200,000 bond, later upped to $750,000.

A plea under the Alford doctrine means a defendant does not necessarily admit guilt, but acknowledges enough evidence is present to warrant a conviction.

Photo courtesy of Hartford Police Department