Pasadena Case Continues Amid Questions about Suspect’s Mental Competency

A status hearing regarding the mental competency of a woman accused of murdering a foster mother in Pasadena was continued to another date on Thursday.

Prosecutors have charged Mary Jean O’Connor with one count of murder in the death of Jeri Douglas.

O’Connor’s son was placed in Douglas’s care after O’Connor was deemed an unfit mother. Douglas’s daughter Tanya Juhasz later adopted the boy.

Juhasz has not responded to repeated attempts to contact her by Pasadena Now.

O’Connor, 44, allegedly obtained confidential information about Douglas from the LA County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). After she obtained the information, O’Connor allegedly called Douglas and claimed she needed the foster mom to sign some papers. Once inside her home, O’Connor allegedly strangled Douglas to death.

Juhasz and her sister Lorie Hope have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county. In their lawsuit they claim that O’Connor was able to locate and murder their 75-year-old mother, due to negligence on the part of DCFS employees, who allegedly provided O’Connor with confidential information about Douglas.

“Beyond Douglas’ premature, tragic and unnecessary death, DCFS’s apparent failure to protect its foster parents is a violation of the public trust and unreasonably puts some of Los Angeles’ most vulnerable children and most selfless citizens at risk,” the lawsuit charges.

DCFS is the largest child protective services agency in the nation, responsible for ensuring the safety of 2 million children, according to its website.

Police arrested O’Connor in a mobile home in North Hollywood in late December 2018 and charged her with one count of murder. She has pleaded not guilty. O’Connor faces 25 years-to-life if convicted.

Later, O’Connor had a daughter that also became Douglas’s ward, according to a report by City News Service.

Her bail has been set at $2 million.