Fund set up for sisters of slain 10-year-old boy

Patricia Becht
Patricia Becht, 42, of South St. Paul, has been charged with murder in the death of her 10-year old son and attempted murder of her 11-year-old daughter.
Photo courtesy of Dakota County

A friend of the Becht family has set up a fund for the sisters of a 10-year-old boy who police said was killed by his mother in South St. Paul last week.

The fund is named after Michael Becht and has received several donations from family members, said an official at the Main Street Bank in South St. Paul. It will remain open indefinitely.

On Friday, Dakota County prosecutors charged Patricia Becht, 42, with first-degree murder for Michael's death, and attempted first-degree murder of her 11-year-old daughter, Erica. Police said Becht told them she planned the suicide with Michael and Erica.

A 16-year-old daughter who also lives in the home was not present at the time of the incident.

According to the criminal complaint filed last week, Becht told police she gave each child 10 pills of Seroquel, a drug commonly used to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The complaint also said Becht took 25 pills to try to kill herself.

Becht told the children they were going to Neverland, the California estate belonging to the late singer Michael Jackson, which she said was similar to heaven, police said.

The fund has been set up at Main Street Bank, 835 Southview Blvd., South St. Paul, MN 55075.

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