A Milwaukee mother is calling for changes in mental health laws after her daughter, Katelyn Librizzi, was arrested for stealing a van with kids inside after having a mental health crisis.Prosecutors charged 27-year-old Librizzi with abduction and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent after they say she stole a day care van with four kids inside on Dec. 16. The day before, body camera video provided by her mother and verified by 12 news Investigates shows Christy Librizzi pleading for Wauwatosa officers to help her daughter while at a mental health facility in Wauwatosa. “She needs f****** help,” video shows her telling officers on Dec. 15 while her daughter can be heard yelling in the background. “I don’t know what you guys need to do to make this happen, but she needs to be somewhere,” Christy Librizzi says to officers on body camera video. “She’s going to hurt somebody or herself.”Video shows Katelyn, speaking to officers for roughly 50 minutes, banging on furniture, the ceiling and walls, standing on a desk and an officer chair.”I hold the earth,” she says at one point. “Right, but I don’t want you to fall,” an officer responds while she’s standing on a chair.”I will never fall!” She responds.Eventually, the video shows her signing papers to voluntarily admit herself into the facility on Dec. 15, the next day, her mother says she signed herself out and was released. Christy says Katelyn showed up at her dad’s house and later went for a walk on Milwaukee’s northwest side. Prosecutors say she stole the van around 4 p.m. on Dec. 16 near Appleton and Burleigh with four kids inside. Milwaukee Police stopped her roughly 13 minutes later near 60th and Burleigh and arrested her. The kids were unharmed. “This could have been tragic,” Christy Librizzi said. “What if she had crashed that van or if something happened to those kids?”Christy Librizzi says she’s been trying to get her daughter help for months, telling WISN 12 news she was diagnosed as bipolar in October. “She’s like my hippie flower child, artist show girl,” Christy said, describing her 27-year-old daughter as a talented artist and honor student. Previously, she had no mental health struggles, according to her mother. Librizzi says she tried to get her daughter help in Oregon and in Washington, where she was staying, before trying to get help in the Milwaukee area. Also, trying last week to have Wauwatosa police officers commit her daughter under the state’s law, Chapter 51.15. The law says a person must meet criteria that they are affected by mental illness, drug dependence, or are developmentally disabled, they must have “substantial probability” that they’re going to harm themselves or others, and are deemed treatable. Wauwatosa police say the criteria were not met, and declined an interview with 12 news Investigates. A spokesperson also says the law does not allow them to involuntarily detain someone who is voluntarily seeking treatment.”Katelyn voluntarily admitted herself for in-patient mental health treatment, and her later release would have been at the discretion of Aurora staff,” Wauwatosa police said, in part, via email.”Due to patient privacy laws, we cannot comment on any individual’s medical information that may have been in our care,” said an Aurora spokesperson via email. “We remain deeply committed to providing safe, compassionate behavioral health care and supporting patients and families during times of need.””The system failed her,” Christy said. “She needed help. She was in a place that could have given her help, and they couldn’t because of the law.”Hours before the alleged crime, a video shows Christy back at the Wauwatosa police speaking to officers. “If she actually hurts herself or others, that’s the only point where someone is going to do something at this point?” She asks.”Yes,” an officer responds.”We’re trying to prevent that,” Christy responds.”Yeah, it’s kind of the unfortunate part with the Wisconsin law,” the officer can be heard saying on body camera video.”It’s really unfortunate, because it’s my daughter,” Christy responds. “She had people there that could have made her be there or somewhere else to get the help she needs,” Christy said to 12 news Investigates. “But all anyone can say is ‘it’s the law’ and ‘there’s gaps in the law'””You believe there’s a gap in the law?” Investigative Reporter James Stratton asked.”It’s a huge gap in the law, because she’s an adult. So, in theory, she should be able to make her own decisions,” she responded.Christy said she believes her daughter is safer in jail than out of jail, saying that shows the system is broken. Instead of having an intake hearing on Sunday, which is typical for people charged with crimes, Librizzi is being held awaiting a doctor’s report for her mental health. The return of that report is set for late January. Top Headlines Franklin strip club human-trafficking ring linked to at least 24 victims, search warrants revealPowerball jackpot jumps to $1.7 billion after another drawing with no big winnerWatertown father killed in hit-and-run; driver arrestedWATCH Never-before-heard audio released following Judge Dugan’s guilty verdict
A Milwaukee mother is calling for changes in mental health laws after her daughter, Katelyn Librizzi, was arrested for stealing a van with kids inside after having a mental health crisis.
Prosecutors charged 27-year-old Librizzi with abduction and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent after they say she stole a day care van with four kids inside on Dec. 16.
The day before, body camera video provided by her mother and verified by 12 news Investigates shows Christy Librizzi pleading for Wauwatosa officers to help her daughter while at a mental health facility in Wauwatosa.
“She needs f****** help,” video shows her telling officers on Dec. 15 while her daughter can be heard yelling in the background.
“I don’t know what you guys need to do to make this happen, but she needs to be somewhere,” Christy Librizzi says to officers on body camera video. “She’s going to hurt somebody or herself.”
Video shows Katelyn, speaking to officers for roughly 50 minutes, banging on furniture, the ceiling and walls, standing on a desk and an officer chair.
“I hold the earth,” she says at one point.
“Right, but I don’t want you to fall,” an officer responds while she’s standing on a chair.
“I will never fall!” She responds.
Eventually, the video shows her signing papers to voluntarily admit herself into the facility on Dec. 15, the next day, her mother says she signed herself out and was released. Christy says Katelyn showed up at her dad’s house and later went for a walk on Milwaukee’s northwest side. Prosecutors say she stole the van around 4 p.m. on Dec. 16 near Appleton and Burleigh with four kids inside. Milwaukee Police stopped her roughly 13 minutes later near 60th and Burleigh and arrested her. The kids were unharmed.
“This could have been tragic,” Christy Librizzi said. “What if she had crashed that van or if something happened to those kids?”
Christy Librizzi says she’s been trying to get her daughter help for months, telling WISN 12 news she was diagnosed as bipolar in October.
“She’s like my hippie flower child, artist show girl,” Christy said, describing her 27-year-old daughter as a talented artist and honor student.
Previously, she had no mental health struggles, according to her mother. Librizzi says she tried to get her daughter help in Oregon and in Washington, where she was staying, before trying to get help in the Milwaukee area.
Also, trying last week to have Wauwatosa police officers commit her daughter under the state’s law, Chapter 51.15.
The law says a person must meet criteria that they are affected by mental illness, drug dependence, or are developmentally disabled, they must have “substantial probability” that they’re going to harm themselves or others, and are deemed treatable.
Wauwatosa police say the criteria were not met, and declined an interview with 12 news Investigates. A spokesperson also says the law does not allow them to involuntarily detain someone who is voluntarily seeking treatment.
“Katelyn voluntarily admitted herself for in-patient mental health treatment, and her later release would have been at the discretion of Aurora staff,” Wauwatosa police said, in part, via email.
“Due to patient privacy laws, we cannot comment on any individual’s medical information that may have been in our care,” said an Aurora spokesperson via email. “We remain deeply committed to providing safe, compassionate behavioral health care and supporting patients and families during times of need.”
“The system failed her,” Christy said. “She needed help. She was in a place that could have given her help, and they couldn’t because of the law.”
Hours before the alleged crime, a video shows Christy back at the Wauwatosa police speaking to officers.
“If she actually hurts herself or others, that’s the only point where someone is going to do something at this point?” She asks.
“Yes,” an officer responds.
“We’re trying to prevent that,” Christy responds.
“Yeah, it’s kind of the unfortunate part with the Wisconsin law,” the officer can be heard saying on body camera video.
“It’s really unfortunate, because it’s my daughter,” Christy responds.
“She had people there that could have made her be there [at the mental health facility] or somewhere else to get the help she needs,” Christy said to 12 news Investigates. “But all anyone can say is ‘it’s the law’ and ‘there’s gaps in the law'”
“You believe there’s a gap in the law?” Investigative Reporter James Stratton asked.
“It’s a huge gap in the law, because she’s an adult. So, in theory, she should be able to make her own decisions,” she responded.
Christy said she believes her daughter is safer in jail than out of jail, saying that shows the system is broken.
Instead of having an intake hearing on Sunday, which is typical for people charged with crimes, Librizzi is being held awaiting a doctor’s report for her mental health. The return of that report is set for late January.
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