Katherine McCarron

Katherine "Katie" McCarron was born on July 22nd 2002, at Saint Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois. She was diagnosed with autism in May 2004. In September of that year, Paul and Katie moved to North Carolina to live with her paternal grandmother. This move was made in order for Katie to attend Mariposa School in Cary, North Carolina, a special school for autistic children. Paul and Katie returned home to Ilinois on holidays. Karen, who was a pathologist with the Peoria-Tazewell Pathology Group, stayed in Peoria with their younger daughter Emily, and visited North Carolina occasionally.

After 20 months, the family decided to return full-time to Illinois. Paul McCarron took Katie to their home in Illinois on May 3, 2006. On May 7, 2006, Paul returned to North Carolina to fulfill the last three weeks of his work commitment. Katie remained in Illinois under the care of her mother and maternal grandparents, along with her younger sister. On the afternoon of May 13, 2006, Karen allegedly killed Katie by suffocating her in a plastic bag.