Texas mother who glued child's hands to wall faces possible life term

NBC News ^ | 10/9/12 | NBC News Staff

[Clint N. Suhks]

The Dallas mother who confessed to gluing her toddler to the wall then beating her as potty training punishment was in court Tuesday for a second day of testimony in her sentencing hearing.

Prosecutors were seeking 45 years in prison for 23-year-old Elizabeth Escalona but she could spend the rest of her life in prison on the felony injury to a child conviction, the Dallas Morning News reported.

The grandmother of the girl, Ofelia Escalona, was expected to testify Tuesday against her daughter.

Barton fought back tears while testifying. It's been more than a year since she first saw 2-year-old Joselyn Cedillo in intensive care. She says the toddler was brought into the emergency room on September 7, 2011 with extensive bruising. The little girl was clinging to life.

"The child was brought in by a private vehicle with extensive trauma. It looked like the child had been abused and wasn't sure the child was going to make it. She had bruising on her belly," said Barton.

Barton also showed pictures of the little girl's injuries during the sentencing hearing.

[PetroniusMaximus]

I hope someone beats the living $#it out of her in prison.

Daily.

[Jmouse007]

Please excuse... posted on wrong thread. That is what I get for trying to read 6 FR threads at once :)

[Jmouse007]

I agree with your pronouncement/judgment. What a terrible thing for a child to have to endure at the hands of it’s own mother!

[Carriage Hill]

Hopefully, the child will heal and recover from it. The mother’s ‘term of living hell’ will begin when she enters the prison and the female GP gets a turn at her for what she did to that baby girl.

[mwilli20]

Proportionality in sentencing is important for many reasons

Why? We do not have punishment proportionality in many aspects of life. Kids are spanked for simple disobedience. People are fired for stealing meager sums. You can be killed for jaywalking. It makes more sense for sentences to be proportional to the desired effect.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This is just a cultural difference. Have we no respect for diversitah?

[ArmyTeach]

Through all the bandages and hospital equipment, a beautiful child. Thoughts and prayers for her happiness.

[Gay State Conservative]

Why? We do not have punishment proportionality in many aspects of life.

OK,an extreme example: there was a day not *that* long ago when you could get the chair (in some states) for rape.In those states where it was once true they certainly had the DP for murder.In such a situation (DP for rape *and* murder) a rapist has a strong incentive to kill his rape victim to keep her quiet,whereas if rape gets 20 years and murder gets death he has an incentive *not* to kill her.

[hope_dies_last]

This is not a mother, but an agent of evil set to harm the most helpless and innocent among us. Probably an Obama supporter...

Our prayers to the little angel... may God Bless you and Keep you and Give you Peace... although your mother and father may forsake you... I will never forsake you says the Lord... To the little ones such as these belongs the Kingdom of Heaven.

[trisham]

OK,an extreme example: there was a day not *that* long ago when you could get the chair (in some states) for rape.In those states where it was once true they certainly had the DP for murder.In such a situation (DP for rape *and* murder) a rapist has a strong incentive to kill his rape victim to keep her quiet,whereas if rape gets 20 years and murder gets death he has an incentive *not* to kill her.

****************************

I agree with this argument.

[Chode]

the neck tat says it all... burn her

[informavoracious]

The promise of abortion was that there would be no more child abuse. Every child would be a wanted child. People who did not want children did not have to have them. Instead, abortion has made life cheap. Add to it the fact that an easy way to get free housing, food, money, cell phone is to have a kid, and you end up with this.

[TChris]

I see it as attempted murder.

It's only attempted murder if it's proven that she wanted the baby to die. It seems clear that she was emotionally out of control, depraved and cruel, but I don't see any evidence that she wanted the child dead.

I think the sentence is a bit of an overreaction, when you compare it to other crimes which clearly merit death or life sentences. (i.e. Serial murder, premeditated murder, serial rape, etc..)

I'd go for aggravated battery, kidnapping and child abuse charges, but I don't see attempted murder here, personally.

[mwilli20]

there was a day not *that* long ago when you could get the chair (in some states) for rape

There is no time like the present. The death penalty for certain aggravated rape is the law in 7 states today. If there were any evidence that this caused more victim deaths I am sure liberals would cry it from the mountain tops. (Fair warning, when you espouse that point of view you are knee deep in an excercise of liberal talking-pointmaking)

Should any data arise showing that rapists are killing their victims, you can fix it thus: The penalty for rape or murder is lethal injection, for rape and murder - being burned alive at the stake.