Current location:business >>
Stepmom who starved four
business51People have gathered around
IntroductionA Texas stepmom who starved a four-year-old boy to death and filmed him sobbing and begging for brea ...
A Texas stepmom who starved a four-year-old boy to death and filmed him sobbing and begging for bread on the morning he died has been sentenced to 25 years in jail.
Miranda Casarez, 25, remained stony-faced and denied any responsibility for the death of Benjamin Cervera even as her punishment was handed down.
Her attorneys begged for clemency at sentencing and stressed that Casarez has another three-month-old child who she breastfed through the trial.
Benjamin meanwhile weighed just 28 pounds when he died in agony on August 17, 2021.
The cruel stepmom had forced him to drink urine, hand sanitizer and hot sauce before his eventual death just a month shy of his fifth birthday.
Texas stepmom Miranda Casarez has been sentenced to 25 years in jail for starving her stepson to death
She filmed Benjamin Cervera pleading for bread on the morning he died of starvation in harrowing footage show to the jury
The youngster weighed just 28lbs at the time of his death on August 17, 2021. His father Brandon Lee Cervera, has also been charged in connection with his death
Cervera, 28, (pictured) was faces count of injury to a child with the intent to cause serious bodily injury when he goes on trial next month
'I hope instead of laughter you hear my son's cries,' Amy Flores Zepeda said on behalf of her sister, Benji's biological mother, The San Antonio Express-News reported.
Casarez was convicted on charges of injury to a child with serious bodily injury. His father Brandon Cervera Sr is also awaiting trial next month.
On day one of the evidence, the court was played harrowing footage of Benjamin crying and pleading for food.
The video shows a tearful Benjamin in the back seat of a car pleading 'I want bread'.
Just hours later, he was rushed to the hospital and died from what was ruled as starvation.
Jurors also heard how Casarez sent text messages to her mom about deliberately withholding food from the boy, Law and Crime reports.
Prosecutors said a desperate Benjamin would often try and sneak out of his room for food but Casarez put locks on the pantries.
Casarez begged for mercy at her sentencing and blamed the boy's father for the abuse.
Benjamin's stepmom forced him to drink urine, hand sanitizer and hot sauce before his eventual death just a month shy of his fifth birthday
During the trial, Casarez wept as she was confronted with images of Benjamin's emaciated body at the hospital
Jurors heard how she placed locks on the pantry to stop Benjamin sneaking food in the night
Casarez denied any responsibility for the child's death and blamed it all on his father
She claimed to have loved Benjamin and used a memorial tattoo she got of his birth and death as evidence.
'He was like one of my kids,' Casarez said under questioning.
During the trial, Casarez even wept as she was presented with photos of the youngster in hospital.
But jurors saw through her façade, taking just under and hour to unanimously convict her.
Concerns had been raised about Benji's health prior to his death but despite involvement with Child Protection Services and a hospital visit he remained in contact with his stepmom.
The youngster died at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio just minutes after his father brought him to the facility, unconscious and in a 'condition that was indicative of abuse'.
Medics unsuccessfully battle to resuscitate him upon arrival. They raised the alarm after noting bruising on his body.
Casarez attorneys pushed for her to receive ten years or less which would allow her to apply for probation, but this was denied.
The 25-year-old begged for leniency at sentencing with her attorney noting she has a three-month-old baby who she breastfed throughout
But jurors saw through her façade, taking just under and hour to unanimously convict her. Pictured: Benjamin's bedroom area
Benjamin died at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio (pictured) just minutes after Cervera brought him to the facility, unconscious and in a 'condition that was indicative of abuse'
Prosecutor Michael Villarea pointed out that Casarez had continuously painted herself
'She should have to think about Benji every day of the rest of her life,' said Prosecutor Michael Villarea.
He pointed out that Casarez had complained to 911 operators about not being able to sleep the night before Benjamin died.
'She thinks she is a victim of Benji's death and not the perpetrator,' he told the court.
'Death by starvation is horrible and unconscionable,' Bexar County Criminal District Attorney Joe Gonzales added.
'This case paints a grim picture of neglect and abuse and highlights the urgency of justice for victimized children.'
Casarez's attorney Anthony Callard said his client plans to appeal the sentence.
'I don't think they even looked at the evidence,' he said about the jury. 'They had to blame someone, and they blamed my client.'
Benjamin's father, 28, has also been charged with one count of injury to a child with the intent to cause serious bodily injury after investigators uncovered 'alarming evidence' that he was abusing his son.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Stellar Space news portal”。http://dominicanrepublic.ultrasupramonte.com/content-60b499499.html
Related articles
These hilarious notices will make you do a double take
businessPublic signs should usually be able to point you in the right direction, but some are clearly just t ...
【business】
Read moreLady Louise Windsor dons a high
businessLady Louise Windsor was spotted mucking in at the Royal Windsor Horse Show this afternoon as her par ...
【business】
Read moreCollege protests: Police clash with pro
businessTwenty-five people were arrested Saturday for trespassing at the University of Virginia after police ...
【business】
Read more
Popular articles
- Liverpool confirms Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp's replacement
- Prince Harry's new meeting with King Charles shows a thaw in frosty relations, royal experts say
- Kentucky Derby fashion: see the splendor in photos
- Juro Kara, rebel playwright behind Japan's modern underground theater, dies at 84
- China's first intelligent offshore drilling platform installed
- Kentucky Derby fashion: see the splendor in photos
Latest articles
Yvette Fielding says her Most Haunted co
Las Vegas Aces further solidify roster beyond this season by signing All
Gausman tosses 5 1/3 scoreless innings, Kiermaier homers and Blue Jays beat Nationals 6
Chicho scores 9th goal of season, Real Salt Lake beats Sporting KC 1
Here comes the char
It's Cinco de Mayo time, and festivities are planned across the US. But in Mexico, not so much
LINKS
- Artist's creative products bring loved ones closer to the departed
- China's national legislature opens annual session
- Israel prepared for Iranian retaliation in coordination with US: Military chief
- Exhibition unveils rare masterpiece by ancient Chinese artist
- Citizens visit polar icebreaker Xuelong 2 in Hong Kong
- Chinese researchers develop immunotherapeutic agent for colon cancer
- One Extraordinary Photo: An AP photographer explains how he captured the total eclipse
- Surging popularity of Chinese books at Bangkok Int'l Book Fair
- Israeli cabinet convenes in preparation for possible Iranian retaliation
- Bodies of foreign aid workers transferred to Egypt from Gaza