Wyoming officials say mother institutionalized after daughters’ mutilation ready for release

Mom charged in children’s mutilation may be freed

EVANSTON, Wyo. — Wyoming mental health officials are requesting the supervised release of a woman who was institutionalized for the beheading and mutilation of her two young daughters.

Fifty-eight-year-old Laura Lee Rice has spent the last 20 years in the Evanston mental hospital. She was found not guilty by reason of mental illness after prosecutors said she killed her daughters because she thought they were clones of real children.

Rice told doctors at the time that the children, who were 15 and 4 months old, were clones “taking bites” of her body using their eyes.

Wyoming health officials told a judge that Rice has not shown signs of violent behavior and is a low risk to re-offend. Officials suggest she be placed in a group home or a hospital campus apartment.

A court hearing is set for July 21.

Information from: The Gillette News Record - Gillette, www.gillettenewsrecord.com