Murder Zoloft 20/07/2006 Texas Postpartum Depression: Mom Drowns 1 Year Old Summary:

Paragraph 7 reads: "Michael Maxon told the operator that his wife had been prescribed Zoloft, an antidepressant, and had been having mental problems for three or four months."

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/15081277.htm

Dad: 'He's gone, I mean he's cold'

By HEATHER ANN WHITE

STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
MICHAEL MAXON

MANSFIELD -- When Michael Maxon came home from the grocery store, his son's small body was already cold, he told a 911 dispatcher in a call released Wednesday.

"Why? Why, Valeria? Why? ... Yeah, he's dead now, but he was fine before," he yelled at his wife.

Valeria Maxon, 32, was arrested on suspicion of capital murder after 1-year-old Alex drowned in the family's backyard hot tub. She is being held at the Tarrant County Jail with bail set at $1 million.

Michael Maxon declined to comment Wednesday.

In the 4:45 p.m. call on June 30, the 52-year-old father tells the operator that his wife killed their son.

"She's been having mental problems. ... I went out for an hour and a half to get some groceries and things, came back, she put him in the Whirlpool and drowned him," he says.

Michael Maxon told the operator that his wife had been prescribed Zoloft, an antidepressant, and had been having mental problems for three or four months.

Neighbors in Walnut Creek Estates have said Alex was having problems crawling and lifting his head. They have said that the Maxons were concerned with Alex's health and that Valeria Maxon believed her son's problems were her fault.

On the tape, Valeria Maxon can be heard sobbing in the background as her husband yells.

"He was fine. He was fine. He was fine. There's nothing wrong with Alex, until now. ... He's dead, now."

As officers arrived at the Maxons' home at 4:48 p.m., Michael Maxon tells the dispatcher he thought his son had been dead for about an hour.

"He's gone, I mean he's cold," he said.

Heather Ann White, 817-548-5494 hwhite@star-telegram.com