Child neglect charges added for woman in death of diabetic daughter

Monday, Oct. 4, 2004 | 9:19 a.m.

A 38-year-old woman accused of killing her diabetic daughter now faces child neglect charges as well after being indicted on Friday for allegedly dragging the girl out of a vehicle by her hair.

Cheryl Musso, previously known as Cheryl Botzet, was charged with one count of felony child abuse neglect in an indictment unsealed in front of District Court Judge Kenneth Cory. Cory issued a warrant for Musso and set bail her bail at $10,000.

On Sept. 23 Musso posted $35,000 bail to be released on the first-degree murder charge that alleges she killed Ariel Botzet by failing to care for her diabetes. She is scheduled to go to trial on the charge in March.

Authorities allege that in June 2003 Musso was infuriated after seeing her 11-year-old daughter, Ariel Botzet, with her estranged husband's girlfriend, Amy Hanlon. At the time of the alleged incident Musso and Randall Botzet were in a heated custody battle over their two children.

Ariel Botzet died of diabetic ketocidosis, a condition involving an acidifying of the blood caused by a lack of insulin. The condition can be mistaken for a cold or flu, the report says, and parents of diabetic children are instructed that if their child appears ill, immediate medical attention should be sought.

An autopsy found that Ariel's death was a result of chronic medical neglect.