Woman Gets 20 Years for Kidnapping

(Middlesex County, Massachusetts) Two weeks ago, 39-year-old Cathleen Trotta was convicted by a jury in Middlesex Superior Court of home invasion and kidnapping charges.

The jury returned a verdict after deliberating for about eight hours on convincing evidence that Trotta and boyfriend Denis Piper had plotted to abduct Trotta's two daughters and flee to Florida.

In November 2005, Trotta and Piper invaded the home of Rebecca and Chris Borey, foster parents of Trotta's daughters. They kidnapped one daughter, 5-year-old Grace Trotta, and the Borey's 3-year-old son, Christian Borey, while beating Rebecca Borey with a billy club. The other daughter, Elizabeth Trotta, was in school on the day of the kidnappings.

The kidnappings prompted a statewide Amber Alert and, later the same day, Trotta was found at a hotel near Logan Airport with her daughter Grace packed in a suitcase. Three-year-old Christian Borey was found at the home of one of Piper's co-workers.

Yesterday, Cathleen Trotta was sentenced to 20 years in prison during proceedings which included a dramatic stunt by Trotta.

Trotta, 39, let her body go limp in her chair and then put her hands around her throat in an attempt to choke herself as court officers rushed the table.

Four officers wrestled with Trotta and bent her over the table before handcuffing her and putting her back in her seat.

Piper accepted a plea deal earlier this month and was sentenced to 13 and one-half years in prison.

Trotta told the court that she was sorry for her actions in November 2005 and that she has struggled with drugs throughout her life. Her first arrest on drug charges was at 17.