WOODLAND, Calif.—The mother of an infant found dead near the Sacramento River has been convicted of murder in the death of her son.
The Sacramento Bee reports that a Yolo County jury convicted 25-year-oldSamantha Green Friday in the death of 20-day-old Justice Rees.
Green was found wandering and disoriented in February 2015 near the rural town of Knights Landing, about 30 miles west of Sacramento. The baby’s body was discovered after an all-night search in the swampy River Cut Slough.
Prosecutors initially charged Green with involuntary manslaughter. They later increased the charge to second-degree murder and a potential 15-years-to-life sentence, telling jurors she was high on methamphetamine when she wandered into the slough.
Yolo County Public Defender Tracie Olson told jurors that Green did not intend to kill Justice.
Jury finds Samantha Green guilty of killing her baby in Yolo County. @karmadfox40 live on @FOX40 at 5. https://t.co/qzMelmZF4A
— Ty Steele (@TySteeleNEWS) September 16, 2016
“It was a very serious case. I think my colleagues in the jury took this seriously,” David Nevarez, juror, told KCRA. “I can tell you that I think the defense did a very good job—both the defense and the District Attorney—were both very professional. It made this very difficult.”
“It’s a tragic case. This little baby didn’t deserve to die,” Yolo County Deputy District Attorney Rob Gorman told the Bee.
Epoch Times contributed to this report.
