Oh the horrible things I am thinking we should have done to this disgusting human devil!!!!!

Could save taxpayers a whole lotta time by locking her in a cell and refusing her water 'til she expires. Wouldn't have to foot so much as a water bill.

She gets 85 years, yet our courts allow known murderers to plea and get less than 20 years behind bars or charges thrown out on technicalities only to kill again. Our courts need a serious revamping.

Sentence them both to life- NO PAROLE!

Disgusting excuses for human beings- not entitled to be called as such!

Dawgfan,

Are you seriously thinking that this monster should not be sentenced to 85 years? Of course other killers get off! That has nothing to do with this case!

Sorry Laura, I didn't mean to like your comment. Calm it down. Dawgfan was just mentioning that people who plan murders get 20 years or so while this lady gets 85, see the difference now? Although despicable this person received 85 years which is 65 more years than anyone else would get had they killed some random person. All murderers sould be put away and never see daylight again, not just some of them.

Laura,

You got it backasswards. I want criminals, particularly the ones that murder at minimum in prison for the rest of their lives. No plea deals, no time off for good behavior, no parole.

That is not a mother. That is an ogre. I guess they are bigger in Texas........

85 years??? Is that called justice? Two men in another country attacked a man with a machete, and robbed him. That was in December, on January 20th they hung.

I'm not sure the man died from the attack I didn't see that he did, but that is justice.

Don't make Americans pay for the crimes of criminal through our taxes. Justice should be swift and Just. 85 years with the possibility of parole?(doesn't say) This is not justice. She killed that little boy!

thepunisher, Not all of them. There are a lot of us TX ladies who are less than 1/2 that woman's size.

Debora,

She would have fought a death by hanging citing her size could decapitate her and cause emotional distress to onlookers. That's one reason we don't have hangings anymore. An OH man was not put to death by lethal injection because it could be difficult finding the right vein in his obese body, that it could cause pain and suffering, and would amount to cruel and unusual punishment. Our liberal court system, and our Constitution would never allow such a sentence as you suggested above.

For Dawgfan. Plea deals help avoid expensive and time consuming jury trials. If you removed them, you would drastically increase the cost of the legal system and you would probably have many getting off on the technicality that their trial was delayed past the point of "speedy trial".

Debora, I understand your outrage, but we can't even think about giving our government that much power. It would be abused, regularly, and innocent people would be put to death - regularly. Even with all the safeguards in place, and all the years it takes to execute someone, innocent people still get executed. As much as some people deserve it, we just can't trust our government that far. I am opposed to the death penalty for that reason. If only one innocent person gets executed, it isn't worth all the ones that deserve it - especially if that innocent person is someone you love.

I read the other day where a Professor bludgeoned his wife to death and got out of prison in five years. The punishment for murder today is very mild. There is a long sentence imposed at first, but before you know it they are out walking the streets again.

Anybody else notice her 5 o'clock shadow?

dawgfan....I've been preachin' the same thing about our so called "criminal justice system" needing to be overhauled, and bringin' back the death penalty. Make the penalty fit the crime. If the criminal is found guilty, after NO plea deals, by a jury of their peers, take 'em out back, give 'em 5 minutes to have their last beer and cigarette, then they get to choose right then and there.....noose or firing squad. Personally, I see nothing cruel or unusual about it myself, you and several others seem to agree. Enough of the killers gettin' light sentences while the taxpayers pay, and the victim damn sure did!

I'd leave my child with something that looks like that... Just kidding.

No offense.. but to me, 85 years isn't strong enough. While she sits in prison, the American Taxpayer will be paying for her meals, cable tv... etc. As far as I cam concerned, her punishment should fit the crime. We are to SOFT on criminals.

For this young boy who was taken long before his time... RIP.

The actual sentence should have been 50 days without water.This monsters yard time should be standing in a corner holding a 50 pound bag of potatoes over her head for shade. (note of sarcasm) No she should notr get shade but we wouldn't want this consequence to be considerered cruel or unusual. Burn in Hell.

doggy,

with a revamp of the courts, so would the investigations performed by police officers. I'm sorry, but there are to many instances where a convicted felon, or a murderer who pleads to manslaughter gets out of prison in less than 20 years only to kill again, or continue their criminal ways. Here's my suggestion

1. Possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime-Mandatory 20 years, no parole, no plea deals.

2. Brandishing or use of a deadly weapon during the commision of crime where no injuries or death occur-Mandatory 30 years, no parole, no plea deals.

3. Use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime where injury or death occur-Mandatory LIFE in prison, No parole, No plea deals. Death Penalty will be on the table based on State's laws concerning the Death Penalty.

4. Causing the death of another which is not Self-defense should carry a mandatory Life sentence, no parole, no plea deals. Obviously there are extinuating circumstances in this category which would classify as manslaughter, such as motor vehicle accidents (not to include Drunk Driving), accidental discharge of a firearm, etc.

I think everyone can agree that we need to come down on criminals in this country. They are the ones committing all the violent acts that make people consider places such as Detroit, Chicago, LA, and similar cities places to avoid or high crime centers of our country. I'm so sick of hearing about repeat offenders and gang activity. Take for instance in GA a person with 23 felonies on his record was allowed out on bond in the death of a person only to murder a police officer that pulled him over for a traffic violation and wounded another officer. This should never happen. Our courts are way too soft on people that live a life of crime, and it teaches their offspring and associates that there isn't any real punishment for most of their crimes.

She and this boy's father knew that they were slowly killing him.They thought that his cause of death wouldn't be detected.5 years is too lenient when I believe that the death penalty for she and her husband as one or both of them are psychopaths.

85 years is not long enough!

Where was the boy's father? How could he allow his son to die this way? I find it difficult to comprehend how two supposed adults could be so cruel and heartless to make a child suffer what must have been a slow agonizing death. In her case 85 years is equivalent to a life sentence, unless she is paroled. It's a shame to consider that if she suffers from ill health from her obesity the State will be required to give her medical treatment in a hospital.

An obese person's life expectancy is about 12 years less (sometimes more) than the average person. She should be off the taxpayers dime in less than 20 years.

LOL at El_Duderino's 5:00 o' clock shadow remark......

@ El_Duderino - No kidding!! You beat me to posting that exact same thing. Yikes!!

Nice! Love it! Next...

Yea hanging may not work in Texas, i could find a strong enough branch here though.. Thought Texas was all about the death penalty?

She doesn't look like she's missed a meal herself.

Dawgfan, again I agree with ya, but in my humble opinion, ya left out a couple. Rapists and child molesters should get to visit the gallows or firing squad as well, and people who've, by their own decision, left someone physically and/or mentally disabled for life by the crime. Even though they may have "survived" whatever ordeal they went through, but everyday for them is hell, which is where we should send people who commit such crimes. I personally have PTSD from just bein' in the wrong place at the wrong time, and was shot from 12 feet with a 12 gauge shotgun. I was fodder for some fool as gang initiation is the best the police dept and myself could figure since I didn't know either of the guys, and there was no robbery attempt at all. The shooter thought I was dead, and by all rights I should have been, but I knew not to panic, stay calm(which ain't so easy to do especially when they came back and put the shotgun on the back o' my head!), and play dead. Months later, I was talking to a former prison warden, and he told me that if I ever DID find the two guys, to NOT have 'em arrested because they'd learn in court my name, address, etc. After servin' maybe 2 years, they'd be out to finish what they started if one of their thug friends hadn't already got the same info and taken me out beforehand. This coming from a former warden blew my mind, but when he broke it all down, how the system really works, I couldn't believe it. A person, at least in my state, sentenced to, for example, 10 years...is automatically reduced to 5 years the second he/her steps foot in the prison. Wait, it gets better. For everyday they serve, another day is erased. If they exhibit "good behavior", another day comes off, and if they volunteer for a work program,....guess what? Another day comes off. So...10 becomes 5, then for everyday, in reality 4 days are erased, and even though judges are well aware of how it works, even they don't have the balls to stand up and say or do anything. Sooner or later, all hell's gonna break out in this country, and sadly it's not gonna be the bad guys that do it, it's gonna be the good guys who've just had enough of everything the govt does being assbackward and favoring the wrong people. Criminal Justice? Yeah...the way it is now, it's only justice for the criminal. A neat lil revolving door policy, and the catch and release program. If one state would bring back real capital punishment like I described in my earlier post, and one judge had the balls to sentence the way it should be done, I'd be more than happy to buy the first rope. They're pretty cheap, they're reusable, and it's one size fits all !!! Hell, I'd even buy the first round of ammo. When criminal minds start seein' with their own eyes, what happens when you're really stupid and kill, rape, or molest a kid, then the courts are gonna be less clogged, tax money will be saved, some lawyers will go out of business(boohoo)we'll all feel a bit safer, and violent crime WILL drop. It'll never go away, but if we all pull together and demand changes from our govt in one loud deafening protest that they can't ignore, it will definitely drop by a tremendous amount. Queen did a song called "Another one bites the dust". It should be the theme song at every hanging or firing squad. One last lil note.....we spend over twice as much to keep a criminal fed and all the lil goodies in a year than we spend on own kids in school(tax money that is) We can't control were our tax money goes unless we make a concerted effort to change things. I'd rather my tax money goes to schools, or the help people in desperate poverty or something GOOD, but feedin' a killer, rapist, or child molester. That's just how I see it though.

Mo,

50 days without water probably wouldn't have done any good. She looks like she could store water like a camel.

This kind of senseless suffering was caused by a parent who cared more about himself than his child! When you are a parent you need to be extremely careful about who you allow your child to be cared for... just because you like someone between the sheets that doesn't make them fit to be around your child!! People need to get their heads out of their butts and grow up!!

For Dawgfan. What you gave were suggestions for punishments. What you missed was the necessity of having a jury or bench trial in each of those cases. The punishment changes you suggested require at best the same length of time for a trial as before and the same costs. The punishment changes you suggested would likely increase costs because it would encourage those accused to fight at a trial instead of accepting a lighter sentence.

You can't really get around such time or cost involvement because our justice system is geared towards avoiding incarceration of innocent individuals. You also can't simply skip the step of due process to get around costs of the trial. Even in the most careful prosecution category (death penalty cases), you still have individuals proven to be innocent decades after they were found guilty. In the general category, the rate of incorrect incarceration is higher. So, you're left with due process and the way to do it cheaply is to allow plea deals at the discretion of the prosecutor. This way, individuals who are guilty and know they will likely lose a court case can accept the lighter sentence, give partial closure to families, and some measure of safety to the community. It then allows the court system to focus on individuals for which their crimes are so heinous that the time/money saved in a plea deal is not worth it. It also allows the court system to focus more on individuals who are likely guilty but the evidence against them is not as strong or they have hired an extremely good attorney.

This is a standard distribution of labor/funds problem. Limited labor/funds for cases.

Example: You have 5 individuals accused of murder, you only have the funds or time to really prosecute 3 of them. In your suggestions, it's likely that 4 or 5 of them would be found not guilty due to shoddy prosecution or shoddy investigation, but with plea deals, 2 may accept the lighter sentence allowing you to focus on the 3 other cases. More likely to win perhaps 2 of them resulting in a higher conviction rate.

The reason the court system can appear to be soft on such crimes is because they are working with limited funds to do a particular job. A real solution may be to reduce the salaries of judges or prosecutors allowing you to hold more trials. But, that comes with it's own set of problems.

Somebody married that?

I'd have to disagree with some of what you said, even though on the surface it sounds, well.....sound. You mentioned having 5 cases, but only enough funds to prosecute 3. WHY should the other 2 murderers be given a lesser sentence like, I don't know, say manslaughter. Still a bad crime, not a light sentence IF the court system works correctly. If all of those 5 are guilty of the same exact crime, shouldn't the punishment be exactly the same as well? And if funds are a problem, put 'em in solitary while they're not our doin' hard labor, or being on a chain gang, with no taxpayer funded TV and all those neat lil prison perks WE pay for. Three meals a day? Sure why not. But why not make it bread and water and a vitamin, nothing else. Then when new funds are allocated, then prosecute them just as the first 3 were, and NO time off the sentence for time served. If they hadn't committed the crime to begin with, they wouldn't be in that predicament in the first place. We have to create a deterrent, and right now we have none, zero, zilch, nada, and even if I or you aren't direct victims of a violent crime, we're ALL still victims of the revolving door system. Two of you murderers were released from prison yesterday, and chances are within a year they'll be right back IN the system after possibly another violent crime with a possible death involved, they're back in court again, another jury is paid, the investigators get paid again and so on, so your choice really isn't as sound as it sounds either. One point I will agree with you on is that yes, we finding prisoners now that have served years, sometimes decades, and were found innocent, and my heart goes out to them and their family that had to endure it, but in the vast majority of those cases, it was because of DNA tests that proved the original court findings to be wrong. DNA is in wide use now and is about as common as a kid gettin' their tonsils out, so the probability of a wrong conviction has dropped drastically in the last decade or so, and the science involved gets better everyday. Also, we've got a LOT more sophisticated surveillance cameras and the technology that crime labs have to work with them is amazing, so again, the chances of a wrong conviction gets slimmer all the time, but we still need the deterrent.

For Chuck. You don't know that they're all the same severity. Presumably you would focus on those with higher severity. But, again, you are focusing on the punishment stage and not the trial stage. For each individual, you will have a costly trial in terms of money and time. That is what is limited here. Time is arguably more limited as they still have the right to a speedy trial. Recall each individual is presumed innocent before a conviction so each is still entitled to all rights of a citizen including due process. So, the justice system only really works correctly if it has the funds to function and give each individual accused due process which includes a trial. If it does not have enough funding for exhaustively giving every case a trial (almost always the case), then you are still left with that situation of having 5 murders of equal or varying severity but only funds to prosecute 3 of them properly. Cruel and unusual punishment is banned so many of the cost saving things you suggested is outlawed.

Second. Your statement "If they hadn't committed the crime to begin with, they wouldn't be in that predicament in the first place." is false. We can see many examples of incorrect prosecution in even the most strict of cases. You also do not have DNA evidence for all crimes and rely instead on eye witness accounts which has been shown to be horrible especially across racial lines. So, not every case is as cut and dry as you would like nor does it have DNA evidence. Another thing to consider is that you can get around surveillance techniques by hiding identities and surveillance is not present in every area. That is unless you want to remove privacy rights. I doubt you have a surveillance system in your home.

Finally, your statement of "Chances are they'll be arrested for another crime a year later" needs to have some backing if you're going to make it. Here is the recidivism rate for 3 years after release from prison.

http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=1134

This is a 1994 study and one of the highlights was the recidivism rate for murderers released from prison. 1.2% were in jail for another murder 3 years later. When you look at rates for being returned to prison, that group had a 41% rate. However this includes being returned to jail for any reason including violation of parole so it's more informative to break down the numbers based upon the next crime committed. Lots of good information in the study regarding various rates and stats.

Finally, you have not removed the deterrent with by allowing plea deals. This is because there is still the threat of a full trial with the severe sentence. It's up to you to show that plea deals act as less of a deterrent. Data on that hasn't even been able to show that the more severe sentence is a deterrent to a lighter one so you would be hard pressed to find data that supports that the possibility of a plea deal results in higher crime rate. Additionally, plea deals are often offered to provide a witness for another prosecution. So, you may in fact have less prosecutions if you remove the plea deal.

Take a look at this useless waste of carbon - I'm surprised she didn't EAT the kid.

What a piece of crap. I hope she dies of something like diabetes within a few years and spares the taxpayers a long drawn out squandering of money on her pathetic hide.

ItsAboutTime-3704531

No offense.. but to me, 85 years isn't strong enough. While she sits in prison, the American Taxpayer will be paying for her meals, cable tv... etc. As far as I cam concerned, her punishment should fit the crime. We are to SOFT on criminals.

The things is, If we give her like a death sentence ( Which we couldn't) She wouldn't have to suffer, and even though we are paying for her to be in prison, think of it as paying for her to suffer..

Dogfan and Michael.

You are both right in your comments.

Dogfan, I cannot even imagine them trying to hang her!!

Michael, to give that much power to our current 21century government would be very dangerous. It is already too dangerous in my book.

fyte 4 justice stated: "It's a shame to consider that if she suffers from ill health from her obesity the State will be required to give her medical treatment in a hospital." Well, I bet in prison she won't have time to lay around the house, she won't have easy access to junk food and the refrigerator. She may actually lose some of that weight. She might actually become more healthy in the big house. Maybe it'll give her more time to reflect on the heinous crime she committed.

doggysaywhat

For Dawgfan. Plea deals help avoid expensive and time consuming jury trials. If you removed them, you would drastically increase the cost of the legal system and you would probably have many getting off on the technicality that their trial was delayed past the point of "speedy trial".

From your own admission, the system si seriously flawed. No system of justice should be manipulated by financial reasons.

The justice system does have serious flaws and will likely always have serious flaws but that doesn't change the fund distribution problem. When you are working with limited resources, you must prioritize where those resources are spent. That is unless you want to drastically increase the amount of resources allocated to the justice system. What's far more likely is a reduction in the amount of funds available. So, can you come up with a better solution to provide some measure of justice for 5 individuals accused of murder with only the funds to properly prosecute 3 of them without violating due process? Possible solutions would be a reduction in the salaries of those in the justice system but, as I mentioned before, that comes with its own set of problems. The plea deal is arguably the best solution to better focus resources.

The plea deal also has the added benefit of providing an incentive for those accused of a crime to flip on those higher up in the group. For example, the fall of the mafia was assisted greatly by offering plea deals to lower level criminals to provide a witness for the prosecution of those higher up.

Well, this controlling, castigating, and punishing dragon lady, evidently for whom this poor kid could do nothing right, will get her own toilet and sink. I would deny her the sink. Hell, there's plenty of water in the toilet, right? It's still more than the poor boy got.

Where the hell does our judicial system come up with the number EIGHTY-FIVE? How about LIFE in prison, being that she TOOK a life, of an innocent child before he ever even got to experience how great life CAN be. She is disgusting. 85 makes no sense. I hope they starve her.

amused- that sounds quite generous!

Good Lord, no sane person would do that to a Taliban terrorist!

Sentencing is at the discretion of the judge, provided they hand down at least the minimum.

85 years of free food, shelter and water. Why can't we go back to hanging or firing squads.

85 years of free food.... !!!! .... for this fat pig ???? This country for sure will go bankrupt feeding her.

cory1980

How about 8 years with no water...

That might not be enough time ...... it looks like she's retaining plenty.

If we're gonna have people in prison, they should at least be self sustaining as far as food. Make 'em ALL get out in the hot sun and grow it if they want to eat. You don't work, you don't get any food. Simple. I'm tired of knowin' that I'm helpin' to keep people like that alive with a full belly when we've got too many people with nothing to eat because parents lost their jobs or something. They committed no crime, but our tax dollars are spent on aholes instead. Truely needy people, innocent of nothing but hittin' hard times, I have no problem helping to feed, but criminals... screw 'em. Bread, water and a vitamin is all I'd give 'em if it was up to me.

and how many tax dollars would that save us hardworking, sane Americans....

depends, "In 2003 among facilities operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, it cost $25,327 per inmate"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States

so maybe +$2mil. BUT maybe shes only going to a Texas state prison so only Texans pay for her.

She's not worth the money.

I say put a syringe in her cell. Give this repulsive liability a choice every morning.

A few days of a regular diet should convince her.

rswall,

She It will definitely get what It deserves in prison. Plenty of good mother's in prison.

It's no different then when a child molester is in prison, plenty of good fathers in there.

"No place to run or hide:)"

Foghorner...do you remember back '95, in S.C. a woman named Susan Smith put her own two young boys in the car, locked in their seats, and stood and watched while it rolled down a boat ramp? She stood there hearing the screams and seein' them try to escape, never making any attempt to save them....just stood there and watched 'em both drown. She's in prison alright, but they keep her in solitaire, so the genpop women won't kill her! Totally ludicrous!! Not only are taxpayers keeping her fed and clothed, medical treatment, etc., we're payin' to PROTECT her sorry a$$. Please tell me what's wrong with that picture. I HOPE that this case turns out different and she's MADE to be in genpop. Her fat face will hopefully become part of a sink like Jefferey Dahmers did! RIP Michael and Alex.

You better crawl back in your hole before someone steps on your head...

Well that explains a lot about you mr. michael. Now go take five in your corner, no blue ribbon for you today.

Punisher, I was beaten plenty growing up. I know, firsthand, the emotional damage it causes. That's why I'm opposed to it.

Michael...

Typical Texas white trash redneck...

You are seriously on the wrong track, buddy....first look at the woman's pick

You can tell by her rotund form that she is probably not accustomed to rigors of work that are implied from the term redneck.

I don't think white trash really describes her either..perhaps she is one of those folks who would be more apt to check the Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin box on the census form.

Again she is certainly not a typical Texan and I don't quite understand how you equate refusing water to a child in extreme heat with a spanking. These are just apples and oranges in this conversation. The article did not even mention a belt or whacks...

Perhaps you are just projecting your own pain as somehow as diar as this poor childs death. But then you are here and open to reply where this young man won't ever have the same opportunity.

Well, from my perspective, there's spanking and then there's beating. A swat on the butt which is covered with a diaper is meant to get the attention, not inflict pain.

And yet spanking or beating were not mentioned in this death...being denied water for several days is the case against this woman and her husband.

She should have received the greater charge of murder instead of the lesser charge of child neglect. This woman should be sitting on death row. Instead she will be sitting in a prison on taxpayer support. We can only hope her husband is eligible for the death penalty for his part in the death of his son.

Typical Texas Trash??? And just where do you live????? HUH?????

Michael, there's a huge difference between spanking and beating, and any parent who does spank their child knows the difference. I was spanked as a kid when I deserved it, over the knee with a hand on my butt..... stung like hell and made me cry, but I learned not to repeat that behavior. I also grew up to be a teenager that didn't get in trouble, respected my elders, and became a healthy, responsible adult. Spanking is not the evil all the politically correct people try to make it out to be

Abuse, no; deny food and water, no. But spank, hell yes! Spare the rod, spoil the child! Not enough proper child rasing in this country, that's part of why it is heading down the crapper!

It costs more to go through the process, and execute someone, than it does to imprison them for life. And that process is necessary, in order to avoid executing innocent people - which still happens, especially in Texas.

Yes, the sad fact is, it costs even more to execute someone in part because of the appeals process, and Texas does not have a good reputation with regard to executing innocent people. However, I'm not concerned about a mistaken conviction in this particular case.

Muse, she denies the charges. What if the coroner is wrong? She COULD be innocent...

Yes, to be strictly realistic, one has to acknowledge that possibility, however low. But Santa Claus could really exist, too; one can't prove a negative, after all. Given the testimony from the grandmother, I am not going to lose sleep over this conviction.

Taking away the death sentence actually works against her. When a criminal scumbag is sentenced to death they are awarded a plethora of RIGHTS. Not so when sentenced to 85 years.

Even if she didn't purposely deny the child water, she's still guilty. When you are in charge of a child's welfare you would ensure the child had water to drink, especially during a heatwave.

Either way, she's a monster.

Micheal, I think you are on the wrong track as well. I don't know what Texas did to you, but we are nothing like this woman. We don't do anything different here than you where ever you are. I for one am a proud Texan, and you grouping us all together is Neanderthalish, so get a grip. We don't wave around guns everywhere and beat our kids for fun. Yes, we do have a death penalty, but if you commit the crime that is what you deserve. Plea deals are bogus, they should execute anyone that tortures or hurts some with premeditation doesn't deserve my tax dollars, or the air I breathe. Texans are just cooler than you so get over it, and don't group a whole state of people with this horrible example of humanity. She could have been from your crappy state and moved here 2 years ago.

So let's chop it off and weigh it.. ;)

You know, this woman should be given only, say, 1500 calories of food per day. She'd be in for months of suffering just from the fact that she couldn't stuff her fat face whenever she felt like it.

I'm in Texas. I believe the law (in Texas - you know where the redneck neandethals who beat all the children in the state according to Michael above) states that it is a capital murder offense if the child is under 6 years of age - assuming negligence or some sort of direct action on the part of the adult. If the child is over 6, one crime has to be commited upon the child before he/she is killed for it to be capital murder (the degree necessary to get the death penalty).

somebefuddledperson: Thank you for the clarification. It's just so horrendous. By the way, I am quite sure that most people in Texas are not "redneck neanderthals" who beat all the children. Child abuse happens in all states.

I would have been all for her getting the death penalty and am kinda surprised she didn't get it. I'm just glad she will never get out of prison. And I hope the people around her make her life hell. There is no forgiveness for what she did. She dehydrated that baby to death in 100 degree weather for days. Can you imagine how he must have been begging for water? And she let him die. She is a disgusting piece of human trash. I'm not a skinny girl, but look at her - she doesn't look like she's wanted for food or water, but she let a little kid die of thirst...she is the epitome of what's wrong with the world and there is no punishment imaginable that would be good enough to be called justice.

May she rot in prison for murdering this child.

But I have to comment on why writers expect some sort of display of emotion by the convicts. Should we feel sorry for a woman that delivers a river of tears? But most importantly, will her sentence be reduced more than a man's ? Women in general get a Pussy Pass when it comes to doing hard time.

Elise,

The recent rulling in OH would have played in her favor. That Death Row Inmate was granted a life term instead of being put to death, because a court ruled that he was too obese, and finding an artery for the lethal injection would be hard to do, and could cause pain and suffering during his death, which would amount to cruel and unusual punishment. Our courts suck.

I'm just glad she will never get out of prison.

Elise - the news story that I read said nothing about never getting out of prison. Just because she was sentenced to 85 years doesn't mean she won't be out on parole in 10.

You are correct, Ian - women get lighter setences than men do, and are rarely sentenced to death. Female criminals are said to be "mentally ill" more than men are - it makes me sick, too. It's retrograde, and insulting to everyone's intelligence. Women fought for equality before the law; we should be held equally accountable for our actions! That was the whole point of the women's movement, at least at one time.

Amused-wonderful comment there. I have a lot of respect for you after reading that.

DawFan: if you're talking about Ronald Post (too fat to execute), he actually LOST his court case saying he was too fat to execute. Ohio Governor John Kasich commuted his sentence.

There are plenty of court rulings that have run contrary to justice, but that wasn't one of them.

It looks like she might be a he. Whales love water.

Texas, and the Republican party...

I can see your not bigoted one bit! They are in every state and nation around the world or have you not been reading the news. How do you even know who lives in Texas or any other state you don't reside in? Does NOT matter the Party you for for or Religion or the color of your skin. What matters is that every one is responsible for their own actions period! Borders do not make the kind of person you are.

Michael1601 - Florida voted for the Democratic Party in this last election, yet the state failed to convict Casey Anthony for murdering her daughter. How do you explain that, Einstein? Is it better for the Democrats to let a child murdered run free than it is for the Republicans to convict one?

Dear Alan and 962575 and any others who are commenting today: Question: Where do these monsters come from? Below is my answer.

I have been a Social Worker for over 40 years and have worked with many people like her. She was born an innocent baby who deserved to be cared for and loved by her parents. Instead, she experienced the opposite at the hands of parents who also had never been loved, taught how to make good choices, etc. In short, she never learned positive ways to lead her life, how to make good decisions, and so perpetuated the cycle of ignorance she was born into. I am NOT excusing her, just offering a psychological and sociological explanation for her behavior. When people are never given the "tools" to lead a healthy life (ie. a strong work ethic, moral conscience, empathetic and nurturing feelings, positive self esteem, etc.) they end up like her or worse. When adults mess up, children bear the brunt of their stupidity...

Down, boy. Back under the porch.

Obama Lies

You sound like a real Peach. Your online name says it all.

A good Christian would acknowledge that God will punish her.

Poppa, would that be the same God that let the kid die???

This woman probably thought she was being a "good Christian" by disciplining the child. That term doesn't mean anything anymore. People have perverted the crap out of Christianity. Don't preach to people poppacharlie.

tina tot

I'd hit it.... Like a pinata with a baseball bat in the literal sense.

He was granted clemency because of poor legal representation and doubt of his guilt (according to the governor), not because of his obesity.

The 85 years may be enough, but ---

"an injury to a child, a second-degree felony" ?????

Is that the worst they could come up with?

Always amazing how many people come forward after the fact and say they knew something was wrong. They're almost as guilty. Of course, they could never be held accountable, because then no one would ever have seen or suspected anything.