Man Charged With Murder in Mother’s Death

STAMFORD, Conn. – A man accused of repeatedly stabbing his mother was charged with murder Wednesday after prosecutors concluded the victim’s refusal to accept a blood transfusion was not a substantial factor in her death.

Stephen Ferenz, who suffers from bipolar disorder, was originally charged with two counts of first-degree assault. Authorities did not seek more serious charges until they could evaluate the victim’s decision to refuse a blood transfusion.

“He intentionally set in motion the chain of events,” prosecutor James Bernardi said. “That is not changed by anything that happened at the hospital.”

Ferenz, 42, is accused of stabbing his mother, Carol Ferenz, in the chest and arm with a household knife Dec. 31 in her home. She died a day later after refusing a blood transfusion on religious grounds because she was a Jehovah’s Witness.

Ferenz is being held on $1 million bond. A telephone message was left Wednesday for Susan Hankins, a public defender who was appointed to represent him.

Andrew Ferenz, the victim’s husband, opposed the murder charges. He said his son has been on medication for 25 years.

Read Another Article

Robidoux entering treatment for cult recovery in Lakeville
Mel Gibson cuts scene but Jewish groups are still angry

Related News Articles Topic(s): Jehovah's Witnesses Subscribe to Religion News Blog updates Subscribe to Religion News Blog [What is this?] Get Religion News Blog's headline by Email [What is this?] Follow Religion News Blog at Twitter Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults: ApologeticsSearch.com: Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs. CounterCultSearch.com: Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, and cults experts -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support. Find Related Religion & Spirituality Books at Amazon.com Jehovah's Witnesses Possibly related... or Most Popular Religion News Articles Kent Hovind: Evangelist arrested on federal charges Beast’s real mark devalued to ’616′ Muslim Woman Gives Sex Advice on Arab TV Michael Jackson Confirms Conversion to Islam Kent Hovind, ‘Dr. Dino,’ guilty on all counts The fall and rise of Carlton Pearson Search False prophet Harold Camping sets another date for rapture: May 21, 2011 Watch the film Theo van Gogh was murdered for Kent Hovind — Dr. Dino — sentenced to 10 years in prison

Search Religion News Blog