Mom Charged With First-Degree Murder In Grisly Death Of Son

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - It's a gruesome case that's attracted national media attention;  a mother is accused of cutting her son into pieces and dumping his body parts near I-94 in St Clair County.

Donna Scrivo, 60, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of her adult son in St. Clair Shores District Court.

Standing before Judge Oster in 40th District Court -- St. Clair Shores Police Sergeant Jay Cohoe says Scrivo's let her attorney do most of the talking:

Sgt. Cohoe spoke to WWJ's Kathryn Larson about the upsetting nature of the case.

"Obviously it's difficult," Sgt. Cohoe said. "It's one of those investigations and the circumstances that you hope you don't have to deal with."

He says the investigation has involved several agencies:

"It's been an exhaustive investigation," he said. "We have had great cooperation with other agencies; obviously starting with the St. Clair Sheriff's Department, we've gotten a lot of help from Michigan State police, Sterling Heights."

Sergeant Cohoe says Scrivo was denied bond at her arraignment.

No current court date is set.

The matter has been referred to the Forensic Center for a psychological evaluation to determine if Scrivo is competent to stand trial.

She was charged earlier this month with mutilating and illegally removing a corpse after Ramsay Scrivo's body parts were found northeast of Detroit in St. Clair County.

Autopsy results show the 32-year-old died from asphyxiation.

Prosecutors say Donna Scrivo filed a missing person's report Jan. 27, reporting that her son left his St. Clair Shores home and failed to return. Three days later, someone reported seeing a woman dumping trash bags from an SUV in China and St. Clair townships.

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