Horsham Mom Accused Of Strangling Son Gets New Judge

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —When the township mother accused in the strangulation death of her 11-year-old son goes to court Wednesday for her preliminary hearing, it will be with a new judge.

Ruth Dirienzo-Whitehead is expected in Magisterial District Court for her preliminary hearing at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday on charges of first-degree murder, third-degree murder, and possessing an instrument of crime.

She was to appear before Magisterial District Judge Harry Nesbitt III, but a court clerk told Patch Monday that Magisterial District Judge Paul Leo of neighboring Hatboro will now handle the hearing.

The hearing will remain in Horsham Township, the court clerk said.

An April 27 date was initially scheduled but that was continued, according to court records.

Dirienzo-Whitehead is being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after being extradited last month from Cape May Prison.

There is no bail available for first-degree murder charges.

Dirienzo-Whitehead said that she strangled her son with her husband's belt at the family's Privet Road home early last month after he had been "upset and crying off and on all day" over the family's financial difficulties, according to an affidavit.

The boy was found dead by his father, who found the door to the master bedroom locked and his wife and the family’s Toyota Highlander missing.

Authorities said after DiRienzo-Whitehead left her home, she drove the family’s SUV to Cape May, N.J. There, she proceeded to drive the vehicle into the ocean just off Beach Avenue, where it was found by Cape May Police. She then walked to Wildwood Crest, where she was taken into custody by Wildwood Crest Police.

Late last month, DiRienzo-Whitehead underwent a mental health evaluation, said Eugene Tinari, the Philadelphia lawyer who is representing her.

"She was delusional and has mental health issues," Tinari said at that time. "We're convinced this occurred from a severe mental illness because there's no explanation."

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