An enraged upstate New York judge threw the book at a mom Monday for leaving her baby girl to freeze to death in a utility shed and then claiming it was a “tragic accident.”
Persia Nelson, 26, will spend at least the next 25 years behind bars after she reportedly abandoned 11-month-old Halo Branton outside a General Electric plant in Schenectady in March 2024.
During her sentencing, Nelson profusely apologized, yet still described her daughter’s death as a “tragic accident,” according to the Times Union.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t being responsible,” she said as she broke down in tears. “I’m sorry I wasn’t being a better mother to you.”
But Schenectady County Judge Matthew Sypniewski tore into Nelson, reportedly calling her a “baby murderer.”
“This is not a tragic accident, absolutely not,” Sypniewski said as he handed her the maximum sentence of 25 years to life, the outlet reported.
“I heard a lot, a lot of sorries, but I didn’t hear I’m sorry for killing my baby.”
The toddler was found by a search team after GE staff told police they found Nelson trespassing on the plant’s property, prosecutors said.
Nelson dropped Halo eight feet into a utility enclosure before she stumbled to a heated building, according to prosecutors.
The parent claimed she lost her child and couldn’t recall how she got there, according to authorities.
The baby was rushed to a hospital, where she died from hypothermia.
Nelson was convicted at trial in October of a top count of second-degree murder.
Nelson’s lawyer, Mark Sacco, told The Post his client plans on appealing the conviction, claiming the facts don’t back a murder conviction.
Sacco argued Nelson loved her daughter and would have never intentionally left her to die.
“Any criminal trial, any murder trial involving an infant is very difficult and it’s an uphill battle because it’s such an emotional courtroom,” he said. “And I think that’s what happened in this case.”
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