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Updated: 10:20 PM Jan 14, 2009
Mother Found Guilty in Child Neglect Trial
A jury has found Elizabeth Thornton guilty on the charge of child neglect causing death.
Posted: 12:11 PM Jan 14, 2009WEB EXTRA: watch the unedited reading of the verdict in court Reporter: Amanda Barren Email Address: amanda.barren@wsaz.com |
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85 Comments 
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UPDATE @ 6 p.m.
The courtroom was very quiet Wednesday as Elizabeth Thornton learned she will head to prison for possibly as long as 15 years.
Her late son Alex Washburn, who was not even 2 years old, died from child abuse, a jury decided.
Only 22 months old when he died, Alex liked music and the children's TV program "Dora the Explorer." The injuries he suffered were so severe that his brain hemorrhaged.
"It's heartbreaking; this case is heartbreaking all the way around, but again, I am pleased with the result," Kanawha County Prosecutor Mark Plants said.
Defense lawyer George Castelle referred to the verdict as, "deeply disappointing, (but) we have to respect the judicial process." He said he plans to appeal.
The jury deliberated nearly nine hours before delivering the guilty verdict. Jurors mapped out the days and hours leading up to the toddler's death.
Alex's father is set to go to trial in April. Christopher Washburn also faces the same charge -- child neglect resulting in death. It carries a penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment.
UPDATE @ 3:33pm
A jury has found Elizabeth Thornton guilty on the charge of child neglect causing death.
Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for more information.
UPDATE: Wednesday 1/14 @ 12:06pm
The jury is continuing deliberations Wednesday in the case against a mother accused of not getting her young son the medical help he needed in time to save his life.
Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for updated information as soon as the verdict is given in court.
UPDATE: Tuesday 1/13 @ Noon
The defense rested its case shortly before noon Tuesday. The last witness to testify was Elizabeth Thornton. She testified that she had every intention of getting her son medical help
Closing arguments are scheduled for after lunch. The case is then expected to go to the jury.
Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information
Update: Monday 1/12
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- There was graphic testimony Monday in the trial of a mother accused of not getting her young son the medical help he needed in time to save his life.
West Virginia's chief medical examiner took the stand Monday in the trial of Elizabeth Thornton. Pictures were shown to the jury of her son Alexander.
His mother's defense lawyers said he was autistic, and he had head injuries from banging his head. But Dr. Steve Kaplan testified that the explanation doesn't fit what he saw on Alexander's body.
Kaplan said Alexander's brain had moved violently within the skull, and it was clearly not accidental.
Latest Comments
To Mr. Right -- if you're going to call yourself Mr. Right you should probably try to be right. You posted to Kyman & Jillie when you should have posted: This comment is for TO Kyman & Jillie. Read dude or change your posting name to Mr. I don't pay attention. That's all I'm saying.
To Bev: I am really sorry to hear you lost a child to cancer. That really saddens me. I don't know why you addressed the things you said to me. I did not accuse you of losing a child, accident or otherwise. I did not say you sickened me. I don't believe I was blood thirsty. I was only saying that you overdid your posts on professionals. That was my only point. I did stress that they proved she did not get help for an unconscious child, but I did not say what I thought her punishment should be. That was for a reason, because I don't know. I prayed for her this morning as I knew what she is probably facing. I am not holier than thou or anybody. I recently finished chemo & radiation myself & was left deformed. I have had a family member who was a child die accidentally (gun accident). Not my child, but I saw how things went all first hand. I apologize for even posting to you. I didn't know about your child or I would've let you think anything you want. I will include you in my prayers.
This comment is for Kyman And Jillie. I am sorry you lost your child from cancer. It is all around us and could happen to anyone. I know it is a heart wrenching thing to go through. But The point is this parent unlike you did not try to do anything for her child. Any loving parent that deserves a child would have seeked some kind of assistance. This was a heartless crime and nothing can change the right views about this horrific incident that happened to this innocent child.This incident could have been prevented. As I stated before I'm sorry for your loss, But this lady did not receive the justice that she should have. In one comment I was reading on here it said she lost some children to c.p.a (child protection -agencies),and then regained custody of those children. But I think they should have never let her have them back and she shouldn't have been allowed to keep the child involved in this tragic incident either. Sorry to offend anyone but they should have given her life or death.
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