OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) - An Ottumwa woman charged with first-degree murder in the 2018 death of her 5-year-old daughter was found guilty Thursday of involuntary manslaughter.
District Court Judge Lucy Gamon handed down her ruling after a two-week bench trial last month for Kelsie Thomas, KTVO reported.
Thomas’ first trial in March ended in a hung jury when jurors could not reach an unanimous verdict on the murder charge.
Thomas was arrested in July 2018 after her daughter, Cloe Chandler was found dead at the family’s home.
She initially told investigators Cloe accidentally hanged herself while playing with pajama pants but she later confessed to killing her daughter.
Gamon ruled that while Thomas’ actions were horrific she did not find any evidence of premeditation, which is required for a first-degree or second-degree murder conviction.
Thomas will be sentenced Jan. 4.
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