Mother Convicted Of Drowning Children Released On Parole

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(September 9, 2008)—An Illinois woman convicted in the drowning deaths of her three children has been released on parole after serving part of a 10-year sentence, prison officials said Tuesday.

An Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman said Amanda Hamm left prison Tuesday morning.

Hamm was convicted of child endangerment in 2006 in the deaths of 6-year-old Christopher Hamm, 3-year-old Austin Brown and 23-month-old Kyleigh Hamm who died after the family's car sank in a lake in central Illinois.

Hamm's boyfriend is serving a life sentence after being convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths.

Prosecutors alleged Hamm and the boyfriend planned the drownings at the lake near their home in Clinton because the children were in the way of their relationship.

The couple has claimed the deaths were a tragic accident.

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Posted by: susiebw Location: kempner on Sep 17, 2008 at 12:54 PM
"Confused" no one has EVER got sent to prison for seven years for having cereal on the floor and a knife laying on a six foot tall chest. Either your daughter is putting the shuck on you, or you are trying to put it on us.

Posted by: trial Location: swit on Sep 11, 2008 at 06:03 PM
I hope she doesn't drowned in an accident...

Posted by: People First Location: Waco on Sep 11, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Its sad that these kids lives were only worth part of a 10 year sentence. Its funny how the justice system works, I bet if those kids were famous or had famous parents the punishment would have been harder!?! May they rest in peace!

Posted by: st Location: gville on Sep 11, 2008 at 09:33 AM
She gets 10 yrs, he gets life????? What happened to equal rights for women, sounds pretty weak to me that you could give a tramp like that 10 years for killing her kids. I hope they tied her tubes while she was in prison!!!!!!!! Now that she's out she'll be shacked up and having more if they didn't.

Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Sep 11, 2008 at 07:24 AM
Confused...Im confused. What was the deal with the cereal? And knife in the chest? Who went into the chest to find the knife and why? And as far as her punishment...that has a lot to do with the state statutes. I guess Illinois just doesnt take killing your kids as seriously as we do here.

Posted by: Anon Location: Waco on Sep 10, 2008 at 05:41 PM
There is something definately wrong with this picture. I don't understand how any mother could kill her kids (especially drowning them) and then get released and I'm sure she doesn't feel any remorse for it. It says that the kids were messing up their relationship. If that was the case then they shouldn't have been together in the first place. This story just sickens me. Those babies will be in my prayers.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 10, 2008 at 05:37 PM
There is something definately wrong with this picture. I don't understand how any mother could kill her kids (especi

Posted by: chris Location: waco on Sep 10, 2008 at 04:14 PM
only one remark wheres justice when you need it they should have done got rid of her no excuses

Posted by: El Diablo Location: Hell on Sep 10, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Who says I don't believe in God? But just because I believe something doesn't necessarily make it true. I believe I should get a big raise, too.

Posted by: confused Location: usa on Sep 10, 2008 at 02:43 PM
my daughter got 7 ys in state pen for having cereal on the floor and a knife on the chest that is 6 ft tall and that endangerment and this crazy lady kills her kids and gets less than 2yrs jail time and is released?

Posted by: Funny haha on Sep 10, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Reading this article just makes me sick, she deserves what she gave her kids. To "Just Saying is All" thanks for noticing that, you crack me up. lol

Posted by: Shari Location: Temple on Sep 10, 2008 at 12:32 PM
To seriouly...I to think it is crazy how they did the punishments. BUTTTTT... you should never ever say maybe something should happen to there kids or grandkids so they would want to punish to the full extent. regardless if you want a judge to feel what it feels like just to give a good punishment. I would never wish that on anyone or any child.....PERIOD!!!!!!!

Posted by: Katherine Location: Round Rock on Sep 10, 2008 at 09:58 AM
I agree with everyone. She kills her children and is sentenced 10 yrs does only 2 yrs. No justice, she should of gotten life in prison with no parole. What hurts is imagining those kids faces in the car as mom and boyfriend let that car go in the lake and they drown. How in the world do you pick an idiot over your children. Children are a gift from God for us to protect and take care not to harm them. Let's pray she does not have more children because who knows what will happen to them. It is sad to say but some parents don't deserve to be parents. People who want to children have a hard time having children or can't have children and some of those people who can have children, have children but either mistreat and abuse them or kill them and get away with just serving 2 yrs of prison like this lady. She should have gotten life in prison just like the boyfriend with no parole whatsoever. The children are with God in heaven and he is watching over them and he is taking care of them.

Posted by: Mother of Three Location: Temple on Sep 10, 2008 at 09:54 AM
There IS a God and one day you will regret your current way of thinking El Diablo. I agree totally with "Malya." Like I've said before, if anyone tries to hurt my kids they better hide somewhere good because I will come after them. A parent should NEVER hurt a child.

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Sep 10, 2008 at 09:50 AM
THEN WE JUST DIE. SO BE IT. BUT WHEN YOU DOE AND FIND OUT THERE WAS A GOD. YOU WILL BE SORRY.

Posted by: Me Location: BE on Sep 10, 2008 at 09:29 AM
I think the adults responsible for the deaths should be locked in a car and drowned in a lake. They obviously have no remorse. Any woman that would choose a man over her children is insane!

Posted by: Texan Location: Texas on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:44 AM
Any Mother, who harms her children, much less MURDERS her children, does not deserve another breath here on earth. Children are gifts from God...nothing is more Precious! It's sickening that this woman is out of prison.

Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Sep 10, 2008 at 07:30 AM
Hey Chris D. Texas Revenge, err, Justice sounds like just the ticket for this waste of air. El Diablo - If there is no God, there is no Diablo....think about it...lol

Posted by: El Diablo Location: Hell on Sep 10, 2008 at 06:37 AM
What if there IS no god to deal out punishment? We should take care of punishments just in case.

Posted by: CK Location: McGregor on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:36 PM
This made my skin crawl...I try not to be so judgemental, But this takes the cake. She killed 3 children served 2 years and now she is free...Lets just pray she cant have anymore babies.She doesnt deserve to ever be around any children ever again.

Posted by: Leslie Location: Cove on Sep 9, 2008 at 07:21 PM
How is it that the murders were obviously planned (1st degree) and they did not get the death penalty? She is a free woman after killing her babies? This would not happen it Texas! Those kids deserve justice.

Posted by: malya Location: texas on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:59 PM
First off, a mother KILLS HER 3 CHILDREN, was CONVICTED, but was only sentenced to 10 years... Then this monster is now released... WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE??? Can someone please explain this to me because I am at a complete lose. What is this world coming to that innocent percious children are dying by their parent's hand??? I am a mother of 5 children (3 by marriage) and these parents sicken me. We as parents are suppose to PROTECT our children from monsters. We aren't suppose to be the monsters. If you don't want your child(ren) GIVE them to someone who does. They don't have to die because you don't want them anymore. Im sick and tired having to constantly read and hear how a child dies because of the parent for one reason or another. I just take comfort in knowing she WILL have to answer to GOD one day. HE will have the final judgement and then and only then true justice WILL be served!!!

Posted by: ginny Location: cove on Sep 9, 2008 at 05:30 PM
this is just wrong this monster is free after murdering her innocent children

Posted by: Misty Location: Texas on Sep 9, 2008 at 03:00 PM
I say put them in a car and drown them! We should go back to the old way.... an eye for an eye!

Posted by: Chris D Location: Chaulk Bluff on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:51 PM
I'm not suprised. What suprises me is they only gave her 10 years to begin with. That wasn't a very strong signal on punishment. Here they give 17 year olds with a couple of lines of meth 10 years all the time. She's lucky she didn't have to go to Texas courts and had to deal with fanatical Texas revenge...erm I meant justice.

Posted by: Joe Location: Waco on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:44 PM
This country is to Liberal when it comes to cold blooded killers.

Posted by: susiebw Location: kempner on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Why in hell is she out?

Posted by: SHari Location: Temple on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:26 PM
OH OKAY!!! She and her boyfriend kill HER kids and she gets out and his still in jail. Something is wrong with that. I think they both should have at least gotten life in prison without parole. Well she'll have her final judgement in the end to the man upstairs. God bless the little children that were killed!

Posted by: seriously..... Location: not here on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:10 PM
are you serious??? you let a women go for DROWNING her kids and put the man in prison for life...she had just as much to do with it!! you know what maybe some of this crap needs to happen to judges kids and grandkids and see what the h@*& that punishment may be...bet theyll think twice!! stupid ediotS!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Linda on Sep 9, 2008 at 02:01 PM
What Tha Heck is wrong with this court system. It makes me sick and ashamed.

Posted by: Me Location: Central Texas on Sep 9, 2008 at 01:51 PM
The "justice" system is a joke. Criminals are given more rights than victims. In this case (as in many others), the perpetrator should have been executed.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 9, 2008 at 01:28 PM
HA! It seems that people are more worried with drug convictions than anything else like murder, rape, or even just endangering a child!! I can not understand why they have her boyfriend serving a life sentence and then she is let out with a slap on the wrist.? I guess she wasn't as guilty as he was?? I just don't get it well, now I no it isn't just Texas that is worried about the the wrong things...(MOST of the time)!! I just can not understand how they her out? I would hate for her to have anymore children lord knows what will happen....

Posted by: LYN Location: KILLEEN on Sep 9, 2008 at 01:14 PM
So she went to prison for 10y and got out in 2ys after killing 3 children what a crock no wonder people are not held accountable for there actions. So she has more children and drowns them who is held accountable then. Why is she not serving life !

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:35 PM
YOU GUYS ARE SO STUPID LETTING HER OUT. OH WELL HOPEFULLY SHE'LL GET SOMETHING BAD HER WAY FROM SOMEONE THAT HATES CHILD KILLERS.

Posted by: Ang Location: Waco on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:30 PM
So why is she out on parole! Hello she killed her three kids. Wow what a great justice system we have.

Posted by: Sandra Location: Temple on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Who do you have to sleep with to get the punishment for the murders of your own 3 children reduced to just over a year in jail? She should be in jail for life, or at the very least she should have to serve the 10 years sentenced to her. Why has she been release so soon?

Posted by: Bob Location: Belton on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:24 PM
This is a travesty of justice..pure and simple. Letting someone like that out of prison....

Posted by: ray Location: killeen on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Illinois Department of Corrections what a bunch of idiots that women should be doing life or even better she should be put to death.

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