Mom charged with manslaughter of underweight autistic teen

HARTFORD, Conn. – A Connecticut mother whose autistic teenage son died after being taken to a hospital with what authorities said was severe malnutrition faces a manslaughter charge.

Hartford police obtained a warrant charging 33-year-old Katiria Tirado with first-degree manslaughter. A judge Monday ordered Tirado held on $750,000 bond.

Tirado was first charged with cruelty to persons in connection with the death of 17-year-old Matthew Tirado.

Matthew was taken to the hospital in February after his mother called 911. He was 5 feet, 9 inches tall (1.75 metres) and weighed less than 90 pounds (41 kilograms). He also had cuts and bruises on his body.

In April, the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.

Katiria Tirado remains jailed. Her public defender didn’t immediately return a call for comment.