Saginaw Woman Gets Four Years, Nine Months In Son's Beating Death

SAGINAW (AP) — A judge has sentenced a Saginaw woman to four years, nine months in prison in the beating death of her 6-year-old son.

Thirty-one-year-old Mio Campbell pleaded no contest to second-degree child abuse in September in a deal with prosecutors. Before Wednesday's sentencing, she apologized and said she wishes to see her four surviving children, including a girl born in September.

Saginaw County Circuit Judge Fred Borchard said Campbell failed at parents' "No. 1 obligation" to protect their children and sentenced her to four years, nine months to 10 years in prison.

Authorities say Elijah Dillard died March 1 from head and abdominal injuries and say half his body was scalded from bath water.

Campbell's 40-year-old husband Aki Dillard has pleaded no contest to second-degree murder. His sentencing is Dec. 3.

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