A 13-year-old Hardwick boy whose mother is accused of his murder was formerly in the custody of the state, officials confirmed Friday.
Isaac Robitille died in August after police say his mother and her boyfriend poured vodka into the disabled boy’s IV bag. Walter Richters and Melissa Robitille, both 38, were charged this week with second-degree murder in the case. Isaac Robitille suffered from various medical conditions and disabilities that kept him confined to a wheelchair.
Ken Schatz, commissioner of the Department for Children and Families, said in an email Friday that “there was no open DCF case” at the time of the boy’s death. But he said that Isaac Robitille had been in DCF custody for a period in 2007 and 2008.
Schatz said the state returned custody to his parents "after experts recommended that Isaac remain with his parents due to in part to the very close relationship he had with his father.”
Isaac Robitille’s father, Dana Robitille, died earlier this year, according to the Associated Press.
Schatz declined to provide any additional comment Friday.
Robitille’s blood-alcohol level at the time of his death was twice the legal limit for driving.
