According to the court documents, the 48-year-old mom, Denise, was found guilty of second-degree murder and child abuse in connection to the death of her 1-year-old daughter Miriam. Denise was found guilty on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. The defendant faces a mandatory sentence of at least 23 years behind bars and a maximum sentence of life in prison, court records say.
During the trial, the woman told the jury that her religious beliefs kept her from seeking medical care despite the child weighing only 9 lbs and suffering from a rare condition that affects bone development in children (Rickets) at the time of her death. The woman called 911 and told the dispatcher that her daughter was not responsive. First responders rushed the child to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was malnutrition. The doctors also told investigators that the child was suffering from a rare condition that affects bone development in children (Rickets), per reports. Authorities discovered that the 48-year-old mom intentionally fed her daughter an inadequate diet and deprived her of any medical care. At the time of her death, the 1-year-old child weighed only 9 lbs.
During an interview with investigators, Miriam’s mom and dad reportedly said that they took their baby to a doctor once following her birth but had not sought additional medical care for the girl due to religious beliefs. The baby also suffered multiple broken ribs and other bones, court records say. The baby’s dad, Ernest, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and child abuse. Ernest and his wife had 6 other children before Miriam. All children were placed in foster care following Miriam’s death. Denise will be sentenced in January 2024.