Illinois Mom Guilty of Killing Daughter, 5

(Wheaton, Illinois) Last Friday, 24-year-old Christina Beltran was convicted of first-degree murder by a DuPage County jury. Beltran was found guilty of killing her five-year-old daughter, Evelyn, for soiling herself in July 2007.

The jury found that the murder was particularly heinous and cruel.

A forensic pathologist ruled the brown-eyed girl died of blunt force head trauma. She had several bruises, cuts and scars covering most of her 41-pound body and new and healing injuries that included a fractured elbow and ribs. She also had a ruptured intestine from an untreated stomach injury that experts said caused her to defecate.

Beltran originally confessed but later recanted. During the trial, Beltran blamed her ex-boyfriend, 27-year-old Victor Jimenez, and Jimenez blamed Beltran.

With the conviction, Beltran faces a possible sentence of life in prison. A status hearing is scheduled for February 24 with sentencing some time thereafter.