A judge told a Louisiana woman she was the “monster” in her toddler son’s life, and sentenced her to life in prison for killing the 2-year-old boy.
The Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office said in a news release that Judge Danyelle Taylor sentenced 29-year-old Twyena Thomas on Sept. 30 for the murder of her son, Chase Thomas.
A jury convicted Thomas in August for second-degree murder—after just a 30-minute deliberate—which carries a mandatory life sentence.
Taylor said the child’s weight, broken skull, scars and bruises showed that he died scared of a “monster.”
“Chase died alone in his room, scared not of the imaginary monster in his closet, but you. You were the monster. Chase’s scars, scabs, bruises, his broken skull and his 15-pound body tell us that you were the hateful monster,” Taylor told Thomas at her sentencing.
Prior to the sentencing, Thomas told the Court that Chase didn’t deserve all he had been through.
The judge sentenced Thomas to life without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence on the second anniversary of Chase’s death in September 2017.
Taylor said she wished she could do more than just sentence Thomas to life in prison.
Chase Was a Victim of Child Torture
Two years ago, authorities received a 911 call on Sept. 30, 2017, that Chase was having breathing difficulties. They found him lying on his mother’s bed, extremely malnourished and dehydrated.
When authorities found Chase, the toddler was merely 15 pounds, half the normal weight for his age, according to NOLA.
Despite his malnourished and dehydrated condition, the attorney’s office said Chase died from blunt force trauma. NOLA reported that the boy received 15 blows to the head that caused a brain bleed.
During the trial, jurors reviewed photos of Chase. Jurors said the pictures and the condition the boy was in were shocking.
Prosecutors said Thomas prepared meals for her other children and also posted pictures on Facebook with her eating together with her other children, but denying Chase any food and water.
Experts in child abuse said Chase was a victim of “child torture,” which includes psychological, emotional and physical abuse, and starvation.
How to Report Suspected Child Abuse
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, contact your local child protective services office or law enforcement agency so officials can investigate and assess the situation. Most states have a number to call to report abuse or neglect.
To find out where to call, consult the State Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Numbers website.
The Childhelp organization can also provide crisis assistance and other counseling and referral services. Contact them at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
