Conn. woman acquitted in son's overdose death

KILLINGLY, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut woman has been found not guilty of a manslaughter charge in her son's overdose death.

Heather Specyalski (speck-ee-AHL'-skee) of Ashford was acquitted in Danielson Superior Court on Thursday. The trial began on March 11.

Prosecutors said the 42-year-old Specyalski knew her son, Brandon, had consumed alcohol and morphine before he died in 2008, but didn't seek medical attention until after finding him unresponsive hours later.

She was acquitted nine years ago of manslaughter in a 1999 car crash that killed a prominent businessman.

The crash in Cromwell killed Neil Esposito, a prominent Republican campaign contributor. Authorities initially said Specyalski was driving. But a jury acquitted Specyalski after her lawyer raised the possibility that Esposito was driving.