Mother’ Killed Mentally Disabled Son and 7-Month-Old Granddaughter Because They Are Better Off Dead’

Sylvia Marie Majewska was arraigned in a Michigan court on Monday after killing her 29-year-old son and his 7-month-old daughter because she believed they would be better off dead. Majewska, who lived with her son, has been charged with first-degree murder after she slit her son’s throat and bludgeoned her grandchild on November 22. The following morning, deputies from the Oakland County police department found the 65-year-old sitting on the couch with a slashed wrist “bleeding into a bucket” after an attempted suicide. “For whatever reason, (Majewska) came to the conclusion that son and her grandchild would be better off dead,” said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.

Bouchard also added that the baby’s body was found “dressed and tucked away like it was going to sleep.”Police believe the murders were premeditated, including evidence of a new car seat bought for the baby with a receipt with Majewska’s writing indicating she planned on returning the item. Investigators also found a video of Majewska yelling at her son on a retail store’s video security system.“We certainly have information that she was an angry woman and a controlling woman,” the sheriff said. “She was very much in charge, berating him, in that encounter in the store.”Majewska’s son, Daryne Gailey, suffered from cognitive learning disabilities and a seizure disorder and took medication that made him sleep soundly and difficult to wake. Deputies found a trail of his blood starting in his bedroom and ending in the bathroom where his body was found. Gailey’s daughter, 7-month-old Charley Lillian Hendrick, was with her father for an overnight visit at the time. Amanda Hendrick, Charley’s mom, grew worried about her baby when Gailey failed to return the child to her home and notified Majewska’s ex-husband who called police, prompting the police to knock on Majewska’s door. Her great-uncle, David James, told the Free Press Amanda is mourning and does not have a public comment about her baby and ex-husband’s deaths at this time. “Amanda and the family are heartbroken but will have no comments until the criminal process is concluded, but would like to thank the public, friends and family for their prayers and support.”