Jessica Trefethen: Mom who beat toddler son to death with 'depraved indifference' gets DECADES in prison
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STOCKTON SPRINGS, MAINE: A 36-year-old woman found guilty of pitilessly abusing and killing her three-year-old son will now spend several years behind bars. Superior Justice Robert Murray sentenced Jessica Trefethen, also known as Jessica Williams, to 47 years in prison on Tuesday, December 20, for the cold-blooded killing of little Maddox Williams, as per Law and Crime.
Trefethen was unanimously found guilty of one count of murder on October 18. The jury is said to have reached its decision relatively quickly after only about an hour of deliberation because they found that she manifested a "depraved indifference to the value of human life".
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Victoria Vose, Maddox’s paternal grandmother spoke to the judge before he decided on a sentence. She said, "I am broken. My family is broken." She also reportedly asked Judge Murray to sentence Trefethen to life in prison. The judge allegedly described Trefethen as having "a twisted sense of punishment" and emphasized on her apparent lack of remorse before issuing the sentence. "The statements, interviews and behavior by the defendant immediately after the death of Maddox focused on causes by anything but herself," he reportedly told the court.
Maddox was declared dead at Waldo County General Hospital on June 20, 2021, as reported previously by MEAWW. His autopsy revealed that he died with a fractured spine, numerous bruises, deep tissue bruises and internal bleeding in addition to other injuries. The deputy chief medical examiner for the state of Maine, Dr Liam Funte, claimed that a blunt force injury to his abdomen caused his death, and that this injury was consistent with battered-child syndrome. Trefethen insisted that Maddox's injuries were brought on by being kicked by his elder sister, and being seized and dragged by a dog leash into a rock.
Trefethen was arrested on June 23, 2021, three days after Maddox was pronounced dead at the hospital. The trial began on October 5 at the Waldo County Judicial Center. The jury consisted of 10 men and six women, four of which were alternates. Following closing arguments, the jurors reportedly only needed about an hour to deliberate before returning with a guilty verdict.
Trefethen did not address the judge prior to her sentencing. Assistant attorneys General Leane Zainea and John Risler had reportedly asked the court to sentence her to 55 years behind bars. Murray also ordered Trefethen to pay more than $9,000 in restitution for her son’s funeral expenses and grief counseling for family members.