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An Oregon mother is facing murder charges after allegedly subjecting her 4-year-old son to deadly beatings because she thought he was gay.
As the Associated Press is reporting, Jessica Dutro, 25, has been charged with murder, murder by abuse and second-degree assault in connection with the 2012 death of her son, Zachary Dutro-Boggess. (Watch a 2012 KOIN news report on the case above)
Prosecutors say Zachary died on Aug. 16, 2012 of blunt-force trauma to his abdomen and a delay in medical treatment, according to reports.
Dutro, who is on trial in Washington County Circuit Court, allegedly pointed to her perception of her young son’s sexuality in a Facebook message addressed to her boyfriend, Brian Canady, at the time.
Using a slur, she wrote that she believed Zachary was going to be gay, and suggested Canady, 24, “work on” her son: “He walks and talks like it. Ugh.”