Kid killer cops plea;could face life sentence

District Attorney Jan Scully announced today that Dayshawna Lawrence pled no contest to a charge of assault on a child with force likely to produce great bodily injury resulting in the death of Jeremiah McRath. A plea to this charge carries a term of 25 years to life in prison.

On March 23, 2010, Lawrence had the care and custody of her 3 year-old stepson Jeremiah. Lawrence was very angry at Jeremiah because he had been having potty training accidents and was urinating on the floor in the apartment. Lawrence inflicted excessive physical punishment upon Jeremiah.

The cause of Jeremiah's death was blunt force head injuries. The number of impacts to the head was difficult to enumerate due to extensive overlapping of injuries. There were numerous individual bruises all over Jeremiahs face, head and body. All of the injuries appeared to be roughly the same age and consistent with occurring at or near the time he was found unresponsive. The vast number and location of the injuries were inconsistent with accidental trauma.

Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, March 18, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 19 of the Sacramento Superior Court with the Honorable Patrick Marlette presiding.