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After a highly publicized case that drew national attention, a Battle Creek native learned her sentence Wednesday after she pleaded guilty to attempting to kill both herself and her daughter.
After a sentencing hearing that went on over the course of three days, Kelli Stapleton was sentenced Wednesday to between 10 and 22 years in prison.
Stapleton read a brief statement in court before being sentenced, asking the court for 15 years – one year for each year her daughter Isabelle has been alive.
“I will spend each moment of each day in anguish over my actions,” Stapleton said. “And gratitude for the miracle that brought Issy back.”
Stapleton’s daughter recovered after falling into a coma from carbon monoxide poisoning.
This was day three of a sentencing hearing that began on Monday and continued Tuesday with family, friends and expert witnesses commenting on the case. Stapleton’s former husband spoke yesterday.
Matt Stapleton said his wife was not stable or rational when she tried to kill her daughter and herself.
Another witness called by the defense – a psychiatrist from California named Carole Lieberman – said Kelli Stapleton was “legally insane.” Lieberman recommended that Stapleton spend time in a patient center for psychiatric care.
Instead, Stapleton will serve a minimum of 106 months in a Michigan correctional facility.
The judge credited her with the time she’s already spent in jail, which is more than a year.
Agencies/Canadajournal
