Millionaire Pharma Exec Convicted of Killing Autistic Son Found Dead in NYC Home

 By:  Ellen Cans

Gigi Jordan, who was convicted of manslaughter in the death of her autistic 8-year-old son, was found dead inside her Brooklyn home.  As reported by the NY Post, police say it may have been suicide.  The 62-year-old millionaire pharmaceutical executive’s body was found dead at about 12:30 a.m. on Friday in her apartment on MacDonough St. in Stuyvesant Heights, law enforcement sources said.  Only hours before her body was found, US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor had issued an order that would probably send Jordan back to prison.

As per the Post, the cause of Jordan’s death has not yet been confirmed, but sources say there was a note left at the scene.  An investigation is underway.  The tragic, twisted and prolonged saga began in February 2010, when Jordan was accused of force-feeding her autistic son, Jude Mirra, a lethal dose of pills inside a luxury suite at New York City’s luxury Peninsula Hotel.  During the strange and suspenseful six-week trial in Manhattan, Jordan’s defense lawyers argued that she killed the boy while in a state of extreme emotional disturbance, and did so because she was afraid he would be murdered by her ex-husband.  Jordan testified at the trial that she also took the pills, and had tried to kill herself as well, but was not successful.  “I didn’t see any way out of this situation,” Jordan said during the trial. “I made a decision that I was going to end my life and Jude’s life.”

Finally in 2014, Jordan was found Jordan guilty of manslaughter, but was acquitted of the murder charges.  The mother was sentenced to 18 years in prison, however in 2020 after she already served 11 years in jail, a federal judge threw out the conviction due to a procedural misstep.  The ruling said that Jordan’s Sixth Amendment right to a fair ‘public’ trial had been violated, when the trial judge, retired Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon, had sealed the courtroom briefly, clearing out the jury and press. So, Jordan was freed from prison in Dec 2020.

The court ordered her into home confinement on a $250,000 bond, while the case continued in court.  The conditions stipulated that Jordan stay in NYC under electronic ankle monitoring, commit no further crimes, and stay away from illicit drugs or firearms.   “Our Office strenuously disagrees with the ruling,” spokesman Danny Frost had said, speaking for then Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance.  “We will promptly appeal this decision and if it becomes necessary we will re-try Ms. Jordan for the premeditated killing of Jude Mirra, her 8-year-old son.”

On Thursday, just hours before her body was found dead, the court ruled to reverse the order which had allowed Jordan to stay at home, while her lawyers continue to fight for her case in court.  US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued an order that was expected to send Jordan back to prison while the high court considered her appeal.

Authorities urge anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis to call 1-888-NYC-WELLfor free and confidential crisis counseling in NYC, or call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255.