MARIANNA – An Alford woman accused of causing the death of her stepchild just days after the child’s third birthday has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Katelyn Taylor Sutton, 30, play no contest to Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child and Aggravated Child Abuse on Sept. 19. Circuit Court Judge Ana Maria Garcia adjudicated the defendant guilty on Oct. 8 and sentenced her her to 15 years in prison. That will be followed by 10 years on probation.
Jackson County Chief Prosecutor Shalla Jefcoat was prepared to call witnesses, including the lead investigators from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and present evidence that the defendant caused the death of her stepdaughter through abuse/neglect.
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The evidence would’ve shown that Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the defendant’s home on April 5, 2022, in reference to an unresponsive child.
The child was taken to the hospital, but did not survive.
The defendant’s version of events about how she found the child not breathing and her attempts at CPR did not match the child’s injuries or the timeline in which witnesses would’ve testified they occurred.
Basford thanked the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for its thorough investigation which led to the resolution of the case and the defendant being held accountable for her actions.