24-year-old disabled woman died weighing only 70 pounds after her mother, who later claimed she took care of her the best she could, starved her to death; mother sentenced
Wisconsin – In a deeply disturbing case from Wisconsin, a 53-year-old mother, identified as Amy L., has been sentenced to decades in prison for the death of her 23-year-old disabled daughter, identified as Cora L., who suffered from autism. The mother, Amy, faced charges after her daughter was found dead, weighing only 70 pounds due to severe malnutrition and neglect.
The tragedy unfolded when Amy, who had been the legal guardian and primary caregiver for Cora since 2017, called 911 on January 4, 2023, reporting her daughter’s death. Responding officers discovered Cora lifeless in her bed, presenting a shocking state of emaciation that was hard to comprehend. An examination revealed that Cora, standing 5’5” tall, weighed a mere 70 pounds at her time of death, a drastic decline from 135 pounds recorded seven years earlier. According to reports, Cora’s manner of death was determined to be homicide, with the mother failing to provide adequate hydration and nutrition.
Amy entered an Alford plea to the charge of recklessly subjecting an individual at risk to abuse under circumstances causing death. This plea, while not an admission of guilt, acknowledges that sufficient evidence exists for a conviction. The court sentenced her to 20 years in state correctional facility followed by 15 years of supervised release, a term harsher than what prosecutors initially recommended. During the sentencing, Judge M. Bohren made a poignant comparison, stating that postmortem photos of Cora resembled victims of a World War II concentration camp. He emphasized Amy’s failure to act responsibly to prevent her daughter’s death, noting, “She had a responsibility to take action—to save Cora—to do something to keep her alive.”
The case against Amy detailed a grim scenario in which she knowingly neglected her daughter’s basic needs. The criminal complaint highlighted that Cora had not seen a doctor since 2019 and had been confined to their home since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, cut off from the outside world. Despite noticing her daughter’s alarming weight loss, Amy refrained from seeking medical help to avoid upsetting her, a decision that had fatal consequences. Assistant District Attorney K. Gordon expressed the gravity of the situation in court, stating, “Cora was 70 pounds and absolutely emaciated… I believe this case was extremely aggravated, because Cora had special needs.”
Despite the horrific circumstances, Amy’s family pleaded for leniency during the hearing. Her other daughter testified to her mother’s love, saying, “She really loves us for who we are—her kids.” However, these pleas did not sway the court’s decision to impose a significant sentence. In her own words, Amy tried to explain her actions, or lack thereof, “Having a child with special needs is very very challenging, I will admit that… It’s just part of—you do what you have to do.” She admitted to the oversight in her care but maintained that it was not out of malice or neglect. She also added that she took care of her daughter the best she could.
This tragic case sheds light on the responsibilities and challenges faced by caregivers of individuals with special needs. It also serves as a stark reminder of the legal and ethical obligations to protect and nurture those who cannot care for themselves. As this case concludes with a substantial prison sentence for Amy, it leaves a community mourning the unnecessary loss of a young woman and grappling with the harsh realities of what can happen when care and compassion fail.
