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Texas mom gets 99 years for gluing toddler to wall, beating her
[Updated at 4:22 p.m. ET] A Texas mother who super-glued her 2-year-old daughter's hands to a wall and beat her over potty training problems was sentenced Friday morning to 99 years in prison, a Dallas County felony records department district clerk said.
Elizabeth Escalona, 23, will be eligible to ask for parole in 30 years. She pleaded guilty in July to a charge of first-degree injury to a child, a crime punishable by anywhere between probation and life in prison.
"This mom was pure evil, and her children are better off without her," prosecutor Eren Price said after a judge delivered Friday's sentence. "Her five kids now have a chance to lead a productive life."
Escalona’s attorney said that the sentence was excessive and that an appeal would be filed, CNN affiliate KTVT reported.
Escalona's daughter Jocelyn Cedillo was less than two months shy of her 3rd birthday in September 2011 when Escalona used a powerful adhesive to glue her hands to a wall and beat her because of potty training troubles, authorities said. Three other children belonging to Escalona, who was pregnant at the time, witnessed the abuse, according to Dallas County district attorney's office spokeswoman Debbie Denmon.
The child urinated on herself during the ordeal, during which she was hit in head and kicked in the groin, among other forms of abuse, Denmon said.
Oefelia Escalona, the defendant's mother, testified during her daughter's sentencing hearing this week that she found the girl and took her to a hospital. Once Jocelyn was there, medical authorities noticed severe bruises to her face and head, as well as a severe brain injury that led to her temporarily being in a coma.
At this week's sentencing hearing, prosecutors showed pictures of Jocelyn's hands and bruised body and forehead.
"The entire picture was very shocking," said Dr. Amy Barton, then a child abuse pediatrician at Children's Medical Center of Dallas, choking back tears on the stand on Monday. "I see a lot of children, and this was one of the most shocking cases that I have seen."
Escalona asked for leniency during her sentencing hearing this week, saying she behaved like a monster but deserved a second chance, KTVT reported. Her mother asked the judge to sentence Elizabeth to probation, according to KTVT.
Price initially offered a plea bargain of 45 years in prison, but Escalona turned it down, the district attorney's office said.
Price said that the judge, after learning more about Escalona during the hearing, was justified in sentencing her to more time.
"Elizabeth Escalona wasn't sorry for what she did to 2-year-old Jocelyn. Elizabeth Escalona felt sorry for herself," Price said. "Those tears on the stand were for her and not for the toddler she tortured."
An attempt to reach Escalona's attorney for comment Friday was not immediately successful.
Before this incident, Escalona had been investigated by Texas Child Protective Services but never arrested or charged, Denmon said.
The child welfare agency put all of her children in foster care after Jocelyn was taken to the hospital. All five of them, including Jocelyn, are now in the custody of their grandmother, Oefelia Escalona.
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i would say she should get the death penalty for this, but she would be getting off the hook too easily. my wife and i have been trying to have a child for some time now and seeing this is horrifying. there should be NO remorse for the sentencing of this devil spawn and i hope she meets the same fate of her child over and over again in prison. plain and simple
This just sicken me to see... I'm don't know much but is she a gang member ...she sure looks like one. I can't believe she could of been so cold hearted to this lil girl. She got was coming to her and now I hope the hell she rots there.
Can't this woman keep her legs closed for a week?
You'd think after the first two she would have realized she wasn't cut out for motherhood.
Take the child away from her and her family (because her family did not do a very good job in raising her) and put her in a hosp. for the sick of mind until cured, life if need be !...............
Typical middle Americans taking everything literally. The rotten woman got 99 years to send a message. The Judge could have chosen life, 30 years etc., but 99 years would make the media and have a psychological impact on to other abusers. The Judge was correct. Stop arguing that 99 yrs is excessive, the outcome is the same either way and the Judge knew it. Duh!
Thanks Dallas, I used a swear word, lol
Typical middle Americans taking everything literally. The rotten gang banger got 99 years to send a message. The Judge could have chosen life, 30 years etc., but 99 years would make the media and have a psychological impact on to other abusers. The Judge was correct. Stop arguing that 99 yrs is excessive, the outcome is the same either way and the Judge knew it. Duh!
Why wouldn't a lesser sentence have the same effect? What difference would it make if she was sentenced to 75 years?
It wouldnt have the same effect as 99 years because the media wouldnt make a big deal out of it. Even if it was 50 years the result is still "life". The Judge knew this would make the papers and not p1ss everyone off.
At how many years would the media make a big deal about it then, and how do you know? Also, why not sentence her to 3,892 years? Surely that would teach those abusers to beat their kids, right?
Obviously 99 years worked.
How do you know 75 years would not have worked too?
This is what happens to unwanted children. Outlaw abortion and you'll hear many more stories like this.
This is NOT what should happen to unwanted children. While I am prochoice, abortion is not the only choice. Personal responsibility, and making good choices are also a part of this equation. At some point, we all have to take the consequences of our behavior. Morality and Civility have no socio-economic limits.
But abortion is legal in America. If she really didn't want the child, she could have aborted. This means that it doesn't matter whether or not abortion is legal, people like her are still going to WILLINGLY have children and abuse them.
@ PastorCal – someone who goes by the moniker pastor should show a little more class and indifference.
The judge indicated that the mother beat the child almost to death. This isn't about having hands glued to the wall. This child was tortured and severely abused by the mother. Justice was done.
I hope the courts follow up with these kids and see that they all get counseling, as I'm sure they've all suffered at the hands of the person who was supposed to nurture them and keep them safe. My other concern is whether or not the grandmother is fit to care for these children. Abusers are usually victims of abuse.
What about the father(s) of these kids? There's more to this story that just an evil mom.
99 years is good.
But the drama gets worse. The kids are with the mother who raised this monster and who thinks her abuser daughter should have got probation. So the group that investigated her and left the kids with her give the kids to another person who is not capable of caring for them!
But the drama gets worse. The kids are with the mother who raised this monster and who thinks her abuser daughter should have got probation. So the group that investigated her and left the kids with her give the kids to another person who is not capable of caring for them!
So very true!
When you start imposing grossly disproportionate sentences, then you are taking away the retributive theory and replacing it with revenge. By sentencing this woman to 99 years for child abuse you are saying it is less serious to murder. In NY our judges have sentencing guidelines, which won't allow them to impose grossly disproportionate punishment. The foundation of our Criminal Justice System is based on proportionality.
In my personal opinion, I think she should be in prison for the rest of her life, but that is not how our justice process works. The appeal will be successful, watch.
Just make sure you don't bet anything of value on a successful appeal. It will not happen.