Jillian McCabe, mother of a 6-year-old boy who had autism, recently had an apparent breakdown while she was caring for her son. McCabe allegedly drove her son to a bridge in their home state at night on Monday, November 3. She then threw her son off of the bridge, then called 911 and turned herself in.
McCabe is said to have told the 911 responders that she just threw her son off of the Yaquina Bay bridge. McCabe described her son's appearance and the clothes he was wearing.
The son's body was reportedly recovered later that night, about a mile from the bridge where he fell to his death.
A year ago, Jillian posted happy videos of her son on YouTube. In one video, her son holds a stuffed lion and tosses coins into a fountain. Jillian also posted videos of her husband Matt, who had been recently diagnosed with MS and a mass on his brain stem.
Jillian McCabe appears to have been under a great deal of stress, caring for her son, London Grey McCabe, who was autistic, and her husband, Matt, who had recently become disabled, struggling to walk or talk. After developing MS, Matt was no longer able to work at his business.
Jillian wrote to the public months ago, asking for help on YouCaring.com.
"If you are a praying person, pray for us. I love my husband and he has taken care of myself and my son for years and years and now it's time for me to take the helm. I am scared and I am reaching out," Jillian wrote in the YouCaring appeal.
The appeal reached a $6,831 out of the $50,000 that Jillian set as a goal.
Jillian had also spoken on YouTube videos she posted of herself about wanting to pull a "Thelma and Louise," referring to a film where the protagonists escape their problems by driving a car off of a cliff.
Jillian appeared in court via video call. She was in restraints to stop her from hurting herself. A preliminary hearing date has been set for November 12.
The autistic community is split over this case. One man, Rob Gorski, who knew Jillian, said that he was speechless when he heard about this, but that he sympathized to an extent with a parent who had reached a point of desperation.
