Erica Bell has been found guilty of first degree manslaughter and of second degree murder in the beating death of three-year-old Brook Stagles. She’ll be sentenced on November 8th.
Judge Christopher Ciaccio says he accepts the evidence and the conclusion that Bell killed the little girl by punching her in the stomach, causing internal injuries and a fatal infection. He says Bell is also responsible for failing to get medical help for Brook Stagles, and for discouraging others from doing so.
The judge also says he believes recorded jailhouse phone calls in which Bell admitted punching Stagles. He says all of that adds up to reckless disregard for her welfare, despite the defense claim that Bell couldn’t have known how sick Brook Stagles actually was.
Judge Ciaccio says adding all that up, the guilty verdicts are common sense.