for the defense, Bourbeau and Darrell stated that Riley had died of a "fast-acting pneumonia," rather than overdose. They primarily focused the blame on Kifuji: they argued that the parents—low-income, disabled, and lacking higher education—trusted a doctor who should not have been prescribing psychotropic medications to young children. Both attorneys characterized Carolyn and Michael as troubled but loving parents who were unable to prevent their daughter's death. Bourbeau defended Carolyn's attempts to obtain extra pills, arguing that the clonidine tablets were small and easy to lose when halved. On February 9, 2010, Carolyn Riley was found guilty of second-degree murder. She was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 15 years. Michael Riley was found guilty of first-degree murder on March 27, 2010. Per Massachusetts law, he was automatically sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Aftermath Riley's death spurred discussion among psychiatric practitioners about pediatric mental health diagnosis and treatment. Controversy centered on the safety of prescribing psychotropic medication to children, as the medications prescribed to Riley and her siblings have only been FDA-approved for adults. There was additional discussion about whether young children can be diagnosed with conditions like bipolar disorder, which are usually diagnosed in adults. Actions against Kifuji Immediately following Riley's death, Kifuji voluntarily surrendered her medical license. The Tufts-New England Medical Center released a statement in support of Kifuji, stating that the medication she had prescribed to Riley "was appropriate and within professional standards." Some psychiatrists voiced concern over the fact that she prescribed medications to young children who were not receiving behavioral treatment; others stated that her method for diagnosing the children was not unusual. The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine ruled against indicting Kifuji on September 2, 2009. Her license was reinstated, and she returned to practicing psychiatry. In 2008, Riley's estate filed a medical malpractice claim against Kifuji for her role in administering psychotropic medications to Riley. The suit was settled for $2.5 million in January 2011, with Tufts Medical Center stating it did not wish to cause further distress to Riley's siblings. Massachusetts Department of Social Services reform The 2005 death of Dontel Jeffers and near-fatal abuse of Haleigh Poutre in 2006 had already placed the Massachusetts Department of Social Services under public scrutiny. Riley's death led to further criticism of DSS's failure to protect vulnerable children: despite multiple reports of abuse, neglect,