Horsham Mom Accused Of Strangling Son Files Insanity Defense

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —The attorney for the Horsham mother accused in the strangulation death of her 11-year-old son has filed a motion for an insanity defense.

A "Notice of Defense of Insanity or Mental Infirmity and Notice of Expert Evidence of Mental Condition" was filed last week on behalf of Ruth Dirienzo-Whitehead, Eugene Tinari, the Philadelphia lawyer who is representing her, told Patch Monday morning.

"That's just what it is, a motion," Tinari said. "As we said from the start, there's just no explanation for it. We will have multiple witnesses at the trial to support that argument."

Dirienzo-Whitehead faces first-degree murder, third-degree murder, and possessing an instrument of crime in the death of her son in April.

Following the incident, Tineri called his client "delusional."

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

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.

In late August, she agreed to waive her preliminary hearing before District Judge Charles Baum in Horsham Township District Court during an appearance attended by a dozen family members.

It was announced in late October that the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office would not seek the death penalty.

A trial date has been set by Judge William R. Carpenter for Feb. 12.

DiRienzo-Whitehead continues to be held in the Montgomery County jail.

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