Phila. Woman Sentenced For Neglect Death of Infant Son in 2010
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Philadelphia woman has been sentenced to 9-18 years in prison for the starvation death of an infant son and the near death of his twin brother, two days before Christmas, 2010.
Tanya Williams and her six children were living in a Philadelphia shelter at the time (see related story).
Prosecutor Peter Lim, who argued for a longer sentence, says Williams, 35, failed to provide the most basic needs of the children.
"I am not talking about the newest toys or fanciest clothes, I'm talking about food in the form of milk, and that wasn't provided," Lim says. "And what was infuriating about it was, she had free milk at her disposal."
Defense attorney Gregory Pagano says the social services support system failed her when she failed to take the childen for medical treatment. He says Williams, with an IQ of 65, was overwhelmed as she recovered from the premature birth of the twins -- Quasir and Quamir -- while caring for her four other children in the shelter.
Williams' remaining children are now in group homes or foster homes. Authorities have investigtated the actions of social services support agencies but no charges have been filed (see related story).
