Kelly Silk

Background

Kelly Silk had a history of mental problems and struggled with depression. Friends and relatives described Kelly Silk as an upbeat person who seemed cheerful, but police and friends also said she had long struggled with depression, with another bout after the birth of her last child. Neighbors described her as depressed after her father died of cancer in 1994.

Kelly Silk’s mother, Marilyn Mullen, committed suicide at home when Kelly was 7. Kelly Silk’s father, Edward F. Mullen Jr., a pipefitter and East Hartford native, raised his three children, Kelly, Kimberly and William, in a house at 55 Mohawk Drive. Kelly Silk’s grandfather, Edward F. Mullen Sr., was an assistant fire chief in Hartford for 42 years.

The Silk family were religious and active in the Truth Baptist Church in South Windsor. A family friend described the Silk family as "born-again believers." Kelly Silk prepared regular Sunday meals each week for older church members and other friends, and stopped after Joshua’s birth, telling friends she was depressed. The Silks belonged to the church and lived across the street from the Prigges, who rescued the children the night of the fire.

Family relationships and history mentioned

Kelly Silk’s husband was Charles Silk, 39, and the couple had been married in a civil ceremony in December 1995 after meeting at a singles meeting. Jessica was Kelly Silk’s child by a previous relationship.

Kelly Silk was estranged from her sister, Kimberly, for several years. Charles Silk had a previous marriage to Sally K. Welch that ended in divorce in early 1994, and Welch later committed suicide in California. Charles Silk had also been estranged from his mother and half-brother for more than a year.

Charles Silk filed for bankruptcy in 1994, with liabilities of $17,029 (mostly credit-card debt) and assets of $3,000; the case was discharged on May 12, 1994. Charles Silk was working as a production manager for Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance.

Charles Silk worked at The Pyne-Davidson Co., a Hartford offset printing company, as a cutter operator and inventory supervisor three years before the June 11, 1999 reporting, as described by Dan Davidson, the company vice president. Feliciano said Charles Silk used his printing skills to make vacation Bible school fliers for the church and also taught Bible lessons. Davidson said Charles Silk was quiet and often came in a little early so he could get out to help drive his children around. Charles Silk had religious sayings and quotations at his work station.

A neighbor, Beverly Goldberg, said Kelly Silk was depressed after her father died of cancer in 1994. Goldberg said she always seemed happy to her.

Charles Silk’s half-brother heard about the deaths from a radio news report. Charles’ mother, Gayla Sanborn, said she learned about the deaths from a neighbor and that she never saw Jonah and had to bury him.

Kelly Silk’s sister and brother-in-law, Kimberly and Gary Wilson, learned of the deaths from a television news report.

The offence

On Thursday morning in East Hartford, Kelly Silk stabbed her husband to death and attacked her daughter Jessica. Police said she stabbed and slashed Jessica more than 60 times. After killing her husband and attacking Jessica, authorities said Kelly Silk poured a flammable substance over herself and set the family home on fire.

Kelly Silk’s killing of family members resulted in the deaths of herself and two of the couple’s four children. Police believed she killed her husband and then set herself aflame shortly after 1 a.m., possibly because of depression and other psychological problems.

The fire quickly spread to a bedroom occupied by two more of the children, Jennifer and Jonah.

Victims named

• Charles Silk, 39 (husband, killed)
• Jessica (daughter, 8) (stabbed and seriously injured; escaped)
• Jennifer (3) (died of smoke inhalation and burns)
• Jonah (2) (died of smoke inhalation and burns)
• Joshua (2 months old) (survived; transported to a burn unit in Boston)

The fourth child survived and was taken to a burn unit in Boston; the source identified the surviving sibling as Joshua, 2 months old.

Investigation

Police said Kelly Silk had a history of mental problems and that they were looking into whether she was suffering from postpartum depression when she killed her husband, two of her four children and herself. Police Chief James W. Shay said during a morning press conference, "We're looking at things like postpartum depression,"

A later discussion about postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis included statements by psychiatrists and professors. Dr. Angela Cappiello, a psychiatrist with the Hartford-based St. Francis Care system, said:

"She may have become so psychotic that she was frightened by all the world around her,"
"The person that you love becomes the person that you want to destroy."

Dr. Neill Epperson, an assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, said:

"In the typical postpartum depression, women do not hurt themselves or anyone else,"

Dr. Epperson also said:

"Was she psychotic? Did she have a personality disorder? Did she have substance abuse problems? There are a lot of questions we don't have answers to."

Dr. John Goethe, director of the Burlingame Center for psychiatric research and education at Hartford's Institute of Living, said:

"If she had a pre-existing problem, she didn't have to have postpartum depression to become more severely distrubed,"

The state medical examiner’s office ruled Kelly Silk’s death a suicide, with her death ruled asphyxia from a flash fire. The medical examiner’s office said the children Jennifer and Jonah died of smoke inhalation and burns.

Prior police call mentioned

In May 1998, police were called to the house and told Silk suffered an overdose of Prozac, an antidepressant.

Joe Amato, a member of Truth Baptist Church who described himself as Charles Silk's best friend, said:

"I knew she was depressed,"
"I don't think she sought help at all."

Arrest

No arrest information was included in the provided material.

Trial

No trial information was included in the provided material.

Sentencing

No sentencing information was included in the provided material.

Appeals

No appeals information was included in the provided material.

Outcome

Kelly Silk stabbed her husband Charles Silk to death and set the family's home on fire. Kelly Silk attacked her daughter Jessica, stabbing and slashing her more than 60 times, before setting fire to the house. Jessica escaped to a nearby house to call for help.

Officials said Kelly Silk’s death was ruled a suicide. The fire killed Kelly Silk and two of the couple’s four children, Jennifer and Jonah. Jessica survived and was in serious condition at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford. Joshua, 2 months old, suffered burns and was transported to a burn unit in Boston, where he was described as in serious condition.

Kelly Silk died of asphyxia from a flash fire, according to the state medical examiner's office.

Aftermath

Emergency response and witnesses

Assistant pastor at the family’s church, Chad Prigge, said he was awakened about 1:30 a.m. by the young girl's cries. Prigge said:

"I looked out the window and saw someone running to the door, and I saw a strange light,"

Prigge said his wife Sara answered the door and it was Jessica and:

"My wife answered the door and it was Jessica and her hair was ablaze."

Prigge said Sara told the girl to drop and roll and got water to put out the fire. Prigge said the girl told him:

"My mommy had a nightmare."

Officer Gary Cooper, one of the first officers to respond, said he watched firefighters carry one child after another out of the house. Cooper said:

"It was probably the most horrific scene I've seen,"

Police officers transported children because there weren't enough ambulances at the scene. It was described that one child died in a police officer’s arms. The surviving infant Joshua shared the parents' bedroom and suffered burns.

Hospital and custody details

Jessica was in serious condition at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford. The state Department of Children and Families had not taken custody of Jessica at the time of the reporting, and it was described that the department was assessing whether it needed to take custody of her and was looking into relatives able and appropriate to take care of her.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Children and Families, Donna Jolly, said:

"What the department has been doing is assessing whether or not we need to do that, and we are looking into whether there are relatives who are able and appropriate to take care of her,"

A later report dated March 25, 2004 described legal ramifications over custody of Joshua, including that the Silks left custody of their children to Chad and Sara Prigge in their wills. It stated that Chad Prigge was a minister at Truth Baptist Church in South Windsor and that the Prigges rescued the children the night of the fire.

The March 25, 2004 report said two custody decisions and related litigation involved the state Department of Children and Families, including claims about discrimination based on religious beliefs. It also stated that the wills left custody to the Prigges and that DCF ultimately awarded custody of Joshua to another family. The earlier report said the older daughter went to live with her biological father.

Chad and Sara Prigge attempted to gain custody of Joshua, and the material described legal challenges. The narrative stated that a Superior Court judge harshly criticized the DCF's methods, including destroying evidence sought under subpoena, yet upheld the agency’s decision because the child had already formed a bond with the adoptive family. It further stated that the state Supreme Court decided against the Prigges, ruling that wills are not ultimately binding when it comes to child custody. It described a separate civil suit alleging discrimination and a Waterbury Superior Court judge resisting dismissal in its entirety, ruling that many of the Prigges' claims were specific enough to be considered at trial.

A DCF spokesman, Gary Kleeblatt, said:

"We know the families we serve are very diverse,"
"We are very aware of the need to respect those differences. We train for it, and we emphasize them."

A quote from the Prigges’ legal complaint was included. It said:

"Chad ... and Sara Prigge awoke to screams for help and a blaze of fire coming toward their house,"
"Sara recognized the person as Jessica, threw water on her, and had her roll on the front lawn to put out the fire in her hair."

A quote from an attorney was included. Phyllis Bossin, a Cincinnati-based attorney who is chairwoman of the family law section for the American Bar Association, said:

"Social service agencies cannot make placements solely on the basis of religion,"
"They can't have a policy to refuse to send a Catholic child to a Jewish home."

Bossin also said:

"Nevertheless, every custody case turns on the best interests of the child,"
"And even though parents can express a preference for who gets custody of their child -- as the Silks did in their will -- it is still only a preference, she says."

Bossin said:

"That means the Prigges have no real rights to Joshua, making their chances of prevailing against the DCF very difficult, Bossin says."
"I don't think they're going to win this suit," she says, adding: "There's not a lot of law on their side."

The March 25, 2004 report also described allegations about a DCF investigator interviewing witnesses, notes taken by a DCF caseworker and notes destruction after subpoena. It stated a DCF investigator began interviewing witnesses, some of whom described the church as a cult that reportedly did not believe in taking medication, and said the Prigges employed corporal punishment. It stated the Prigges’ complaint said the DCF based its custody decisions on those allegations despite “overwhelming evidence” that they were false statements.

It stated that shortly after the fire, Prigge called DCF caseworker Kelly McVey and declared his intention to pursue custody of Joshua. The report said McVey took notes but when subpoenaed she destroyed them, and a typewritten version stated that Prigge was unsure about whether he wished to pursue custody. It said:

"Neither the defendants nor any other DCF representative has ever conducted an inspection of the Prigges' home or interviewed the Prigges,"

Funeral and ongoing uncertainty

It was described that funeral arrangements probably would be made. Gary Wilson said it was still uncertain who would take custody of the surviving children. He said:

"It's a very sad and regrettable situation,"
"Now our concern is for the children."

Wilson also said:

"What made her do it? Nobody knows at this point,"
"There are so many questions and not enough answers."

It was reported that the date of the funeral was still uncertain because little Joshua’s condition was touch-and-go.

Church community statements

A prayer service was held with about a hundred members of Truth Baptist Church to remember the Silks. Paul Creech of Hebron led the assembly in prayer. Creech said:

"Words can't express the grief that is felt tonight,"
"This family that is gone from us has touched each and every one of us here."
"We just don't understand. We don't have answers. We have to come to [God] and ask for the peace that passes understanding."

Reports of depression, medication and prior child-welfare concerns

Several neighbors and friends were emphatic about Kelly Silk’s kindness and love for her family. Maurice Dumas said:

"The woman who committed this crime is not the Kelly Silk that I knew,"
"I've never seen that girl do anything but help people."

Dumas also said Kelly Silk left a pre-printed message from the Bible under his dishes when she dropped off meals, including:

"Do you believe you've been saved?"

Dumas said she told him she was on Prozac, an antidepressant medication. Dumas said:

"I honestly believe somewhere along the line this medication wasn't being administered,"

The account also described social workers investigating concerns about abuse in late 1997. It stated Charles’ mother Gayla Sanborn was worried about the family and about abuse she said she witnessed in late 1997. She told her sister-in-law Teena Bump about her concerns. Teena Bump said she called DCF because of concerns about Kelly Silk's mental condition. Social workers investigated but determined that the concerns were unfounded. The Department closed the case, but Sanborn was cut off from her son and his family. Sanborn said:

"I wish I could have talked to him before this happened,"
"I never saw Jonah, and I've got to bury him."

The reporting said Kelly Silk told investigators she had problems with depression "in the past," but neither her statements nor her behavior indicated the issues were a current problem. It said the department closed the case.

Survivor Jessica’s condition and coping

James Bump visited Jessica on Thursday. It was stated that Jessica seemed surprisingly adultlike as she described the violence she had witnessed and endured. Bump said:

"She wanted to cry, but she held it in. It's so embedded in her,"

It was described that her condition improved from serious to fair by Friday. Bump said:

"For now, she seems to be coping, he said."
"It's times later you have to worry about,"
"I don't want her to think the world is no good."

Hospital access was described as limited. Connecticut Children’s Medical Center spokesman Tom Hanley said Jessica had "limited visitors" and that some people had dropped off gifts at the front desk. Hanley said:

"Our top concern is her well-being and recovery,"
"She needs quiet, rest and time to heal."

James Bump said the funeral date was still uncertain because Joshua's condition was touch-and-go. A spokeswoman at Massachusetts General Hospital said Joshua was still in serious condition and would not say whether he had visitors.

Statements about guardianship and uncertainty

The narrative said no one knew yet who would take custody of the surviving children when Jessica was ready to leave the hospital. The surviving sibling Joshua was many miles away at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, fighting to recover from serious burns.