Naperville Mom Killed Kids Out Of Anger: Psychiatrist

NAPERVILLE, IL — A Naperville mother accused in the horrific murders of her 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old girl she was babysitting pretended to be psychotic in the aftermath of the killings and was really motivated by anger and resentment, a forensic psychiatrist testified during Elzbieta Plackowska's trial this week. Plackowska was 40 when she was arrested in the Oct. 30, 2012 slayings of son Justin and little Olivia Dworakowski.

Police said Plackowska told investigators she was angry with her husband, a long-haul truck driver, for his frequent absences, and felt he didn't appreciate her. She also claimed she was trying to get the devil out of the children, police said in the days after the murders shocked the community.

On Monday, Dr. Alexander Obolsky spent hours on the witness stand, where he testified that she faked psychotic symptoms. Jail staff previously testified that Plackowska had done things like pretending to hold an imaginary baby in her arms, then making motions like she was stabbing the baby. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Obolsky was called by the prosecution to refute testimony from a defense expert who said Plackowska suffered a psychotic break before killing the children and two family dogs. Obolsky said Plackowska was a narcissist and heavy drinker who felt unappreciated by her husband, according to the Tribune. He said she may have been experiencing alcohol withdrawal while in jail.

Obolsky also said he didn't believe Plackowska's claim that she hallucinated and saw a black shadow and heard a voice commanding her to kill Justin and Olivia. "She knew what she had done was wrong and she needed an excuse," said the forensic psychiatrist, who claimed her jailhouse antics were "like a bad Hollywood movie."

Plackowska was arrested after driving to a friend's home, where her older son was staying. She also reportedly called her church after the killings, leaving a message saying she had done something bad and needed help.

Last week, defense expert Dr. Phillip Resnick said the death of Plackowska's father in her native Poland in the weeks before the murders contributed to a psychotic episode.

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin in 2012 called the Dworakowski home " a scene of unimaginable horror." Authorities said Plackowska slit both children's throats and stabbed them over and over after ordering them to get on their knees and pray. Berlin said Justin and Olivia begged for their lives.

Plackowska's trial started Sept. 12. Closing arguments are slated for Wednesday.

More from Patch:

• Naperville Mom Accused Of Stabbing Children To Death To Launch Insanity Defense
  
• Police Find 2 Children Stabbed to Death in Naperville Home

Main photo: Justin Plackowski and Olivia Dworakowski/Patch file