Woman gets ten years for killing son

Sojiita · April 13th, 2006, 10:05 AM

NEW YORK(AP) A mother of six, convicted of killing her toddler son and collecting his welfare benefits, was sentenced Wednesday to up to 10 years in prison.

Diatra Hester-Bey, 35, was ordered to serve 15 months to four years on her conviction for criminally negligent homicide. She was given two to six years in prison for grand larceny and welfare fraud.

The sentences will be served consecutively.

Hester-Bey was convicted last month of killing 14-month-old Devon Rivers, her youngest child, six years ago.

Prosecutor Andrew Seewald said the woman smothered her son with a pillow while he flailed desperately to survive. He said that after she killed the boy she dumped his body in the trash.

Seewald said Hester-Bey then collected $3,624 in welfare benefits on behalf of the boy over the next four years.

He said she also signed documents that allowed her boyfriend to illegally collect more than $30,000.

Hester-Bey's lawyer, Marie Scavetta, said the money her client received illegally went for the care of her surviving five children.

Hester-Bey was arrested in 2004 after she called police to report that her married boyfriend had assaulted her. When police questioned the boyfriend, he said Hester-Bey had told him she killed Devon.

The other five children were taken into custody by the city's child welfare agency.

***bitch collected welfare for him for 4 fucking years after killing him! UP to ten years in prison..is that all?..she smothered him with a pillow and threw him in the trash for christ sake! she could be out in 3 years!!!!!!***

Butterfly · April 13th, 2006, 10:10 AM

I think she should be smothered with a pillow and thrown away like the trash she is, but no they give the child murderer 10 years. I hope she gets it in prison.

Sojiita · April 13th, 2006, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butterfly

I think she should be smothered with a pillow and thrown away like the trash she is, but no they give the child murderer 10 years. I hope she gets it in prison.

UP to ten years..I messed up the title...she could get out in 3 years and 3 months! I hope she gets it in prison too.

ourmaninBusan · April 13th, 2006, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Hester-Bey's lawyer, Marie Scavetta, said the money her client received illegally went for the care of her surviving five children.

Hester-Bey was arrested in 2004 after she called police to report that her married boyfriend had assaulted her. When police questioned the boyfriend, he said Hester-Bey had told him she killed Devon.

Were the other five children aware that their mother killed the child?
Did they ever talk about it at school?

bella · April 13th, 2006, 10:48 AM

That's what I was wondering? How could he 'disappear' with no-one asking any questions.

sweetrebel · April 13th, 2006, 12:32 PM

[quote=Sojiita]NEW YORK(AP) Hester-Bey's lawyer, Marie Scavetta, said the money her client received illegally went for the care of her surviving five children.

QUOTE]

So she used the money she got from the child she killed to take care of the other five. Well then, give this bitch the mother of the year award.
Sad thing is she will probably serve more time for stealing the welfare money than for killing her own child....what the fuck is wrong with our justice system?

milky*mcgee · April 13th, 2006, 01:22 PM

The justice system seems to think babies and children's lives aren't worth too much. If this bitch did this to her boyfriend, she would probably get 25 to life. WTF?

Maybe some inmate will go after her evil ass with a pillow.