AUSTIN, Texas – A Travis County judge will soon hand down the sentence for an Austin mother convicted of killing her 2-year-old son, Colton Turner.
- Toddler found buried in 2014
- Mother convicted for injury to child
- Witness gives emotional testimony
Meagan Work has been in court since Monday, listening to witness testimony in the death of her toddler. The boy's family sat through the whole proceeding, listening to witnesses recall the last time they saw the toddler alive in 2014.
Colton’s body was found buried in South Austin four years ago. Inconsistencies with the mother’s story surrounding her son’s death prompted the investigation, and eventually her arrest.
The defense first called Sandra Trujillo, the former principal of Leander Middle School, to the stand on Thursday. Trujillo said Work was “well behind academically” with delays in reading, and writing. Additionally, she said Work’s attendance was “erratic.”
On Wednesday, one witness wept at the stand as he walked through the day he saw Work slam Colton's head into a truck door. The man said he regretted not calling 911 right away. The witness works at a business near Colton's adoptive father, Michael Turner’s, workplace.
Prosecutors called up a pediatrician, who specializes in child abuse cases. She told them she reviewed Colton's photos, his medical records, and the medical examiner's report. The pediatrician concluded that Colton’s injuries were the result of head trauma, not a seizure as Work claimed to police.
Work pleaded guilty in August for tampering with evidence and injury to a child by omission. The judge can decide to have Work spend between five years to the rest of her life in prison.
The judge is expected to hand down Work's sentence Friday.