Metro Detroit Woman Charged In Son's Dismemberment

DETROIT (WWJ) - A psychiatric assessment has been ordered for a 59-year old woman facing charges after her adult son's body parts were found discarded in garbage bags.

Donna Scrivo is charged with dead body disinterment and mutilation — a 10 year felony. She also faces a misdemeanor charge of removal of a body.

She has not been charged with murder, however, in her son's death.

Detective Margaret Eidt spoke with reporters about clues in the case, following Scrivo's arraignment Monday afternoon in 40th District Court.

"Blood evidence, as well as bleach stains," Witnesses observed the defendant carrying out black garbage bags and placing them in a silver Chevy Blazer on January 30th, 2014, prior to the discovery of the body," Eidt said.

It's alleged that Scrivo drove her son's body parts up into rural St. Clair County, off I-94, and dumped them there — about 50 miles northeast of Detroit.

Macomb County Probate Judge Carl Marlinga told the Associated Press that Scrivo was named legal guardian of her 32-year-old son, Ramsey Scrivo, because of his severe mental illness.

Marlinga said Scrivo had petitioned the probate court last May for "temporary guardianship on an emergency basis because her son was suicidal and despondent over the illness of his father" who later died. Marlinga said doctors determined that Ramsey Scrivo had "psychosis and that he was a danger to himself."

Donna Scrivo was arrested over the weekend.

Friends are stunned.

"I knew that she loved Ramsey a lot; she really did. She doted on him, you know, like all mothers do with their sons," said Doris Odren, who's been the Scrivos' next-door neighbor for 18 years. "I just ... can't get my head around that. I can't see her ... I know her."

Donna Scrivo will be held on a $100,000 cash bond pending a preliminary hearing set for Feb. 14.

TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.