Wednesday, February 6, a jury in Plymouth County (Iowa) , was sentenced to life imprisonment — without PAROLE — for 21-year old Cheyenne Harris for murder 1st degree. Her 3-month-old son died from malnutrition, dehydration and infection. Earlier, in November 2018, the same term was received also by the child’s father 29 — year-old Zachary Cohen.
Its decision, the jury announced after more than 5 hours of deliberations.
#CheyanneHarris — Harris»s reaction when the judge read the verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. pic.twitter.com/fXMuwVSl8E
— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) February 6, 2019
The body of a small Stirling found in a crib in the parents ‘ apartment in the town of Alta Vista. 30 August 2017 Zachary Cohen called 911 and told the dispatcher that his son died of sudden infant death syndrome. However, the forensic experts came to a different conclusion. The child from 9 to 14 days did not change a diaper. Attracted by the smell, the flies lay their larvae right in the diaper of the baby. Cheyenne Harris wept in court when prosecutors showed the jury pictures of the crime scene.
In the beginning of the process public defender Nicole watt said that the death of Sterling tragedy, but not murder. According to the lawyer, Cheyenne Harris, who suffered from postnatal depression did not seek deliberately to harm his son.
«In this case the monster is not her, but her mental state,» said watt.
By the way, the couple has another child — 2-year-old girl. Now it involved social services. According to prosecutors, the parents had the material resources to care for children. So, Zachary Cohen, a truck driver, earning about $45 thousand a year, he had health insurance.
Cheyenne Harris and Zachary Cohen were charged in the murder. Prosecutors said that this case is clearly «beyond the scope of improper parenting».
Will the lawyer of the convicted to appeal is not yet known.
