Defense Attorney Questions CPS Actions After Carsner Sentencing

Life in prison without parole.

That was the sentence for Laura Grisle Carsner on Tuesday for killing her mother and stepfather two years ago during a custody battle over her then 8-year-old daughter.

Just before the sentence was read, an emotional Carsner addressed the court and finished up by saying, “I’m ready. I give my life for my child.”

Shortly afterward — outside the courtroom — defense attorney Joe Spencer called for a review of the way Child Protective Services handled the case of Carsner’s daughter, which he says “triggered” the murders back in 2009.

“I think there has to be an overhaul of the CPS system,” Spencer said. “It needs to be looked at. There has to be accountability.”

Spencer said the Carsner trial raised many concerns about the way Child Protective Services handles some cases.

“I think somebody needs to go down to CPS and ask them a whole lot of questions about the type of investigation they did, the type of protocol that they do,” Spencer said. “The state of mind that you’re putting somebody in that is so vulnerable, without any compassion whatsoever, is frightening.”

Spencer pointed out a number of potential problems, including Carsner allegedly being drunk at the time she was asked to sign a CPS legal document concerning custody. And not being allowed by the agency to see or speak to her daughter for four months prior to the murders.

“There’s time limits and they should move quickly,” Spencer said, before being asked if he thinks the way the CPS case was handled led to the murders. “That’s what triggered it! Absolutely! She had never been away from her daughter. She went four months without the most precious thing in her life.”

Lead prosecutor Denise Butterworth said, “This was a sad case for everybody involved.”

Butterworth also disagreed with Spencer about how CPS handled the case.

“I think that was part of what they needed to argue for their defense and respectfully I disagree with that,” Butterworth said after the sentencing. “I thought CPS did a great job in this case.”

ABC-7 tried to ask CPS questions about how the custody case was handled, but a CPS spokesman referred us to a statement released last week, which read in part:

“(Carsner) was not protective of her child, and she was not cooperating with CPS or the court. In light of the tragic killing of the child’s grandparents, separating the mother from child was clearly the right decision at that time.”

Carsner’s brother, Rene Carsner, who also testified in the trial said afterward, “I’m numb still. I’ve been numb for two years.”

He had little to say when asked about how CPS handled the case and whether that’s what led to the murders.

“I don’t know what to say about CPS,” Rene Carsner said. “I don’t want to speak for them.”

Spencer said Carsner’s daughter’s future remains in the hands of CPS, which he said “scares” him. For now, she’s living with family.

Butterworth told ABC-7 that she was inspired by the girl, who testified against her mother at trial. She described her as “an amazing, inspirational and very brave little girl.”