A South Carolina woman has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after a jury convicted her of homicide by child abuse in the deaths of her two newborn children, according to local news reports and statements from prosecutors.
Alyssa, of North Myrtle Beach, was not in the courtroom for her trial. She turned herself in the day after it ended, and the judge then sentenced her to 40 years for each child’s death.
Prosecutors said she hid both pregnancies from the people closest to her, gave birth alone at home in 2017 and 2018, and disposed of the babies in trash bags. Prosecutors said they pursued homicide by child abuse charges, rather than murder, because they argued she showed extreme indifference to whether the children lived or died.
In recorded interviews with police, Alyssa said her daughter was born with the umbilical cord around her neck and died in November 2017. She said she blacked out after giving birth to her son in December 2018 and found him dead when she came to. She said she panicked afterward. Prosecutors disputed her account, citing testimony from a pathologist.
The case came to light after Alyssa sought medical care following the 2018 birth. Doctors found signs she had recently given birth, and the hospital contacted police when the baby could not be accounted for.
At sentencing, Alyssa apologized to her family, especially her daughters. “I made a horrible mistake,” she said. Her boyfriend and family also spoke to the court and said they were heartbroken. Her attorney asked the judge to reconsider the sentence, pointing to her mental illness and lack of a criminal record. Under the sentence, she must serve 34 of the 40 years before she is eligible for parole.
The judge refused to reduce the sentence and said he did not factor her absence from trial into his decision.
Made to order and shipped to your door.
