Photo: Rogers County Jail
An Oklahoma mother and grandmother, who did not seek medical help for a 12-year-old girl after she took a whole bottle of antidepressants, have pleaded no contest to second-degree murder.
Patterson and Spurlock were arrested in April 2017 after the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation into Alexis’ death after she died of an overdose, according to local stationNews on 6,theTulsa Worldand theClaremore Daily Progress.
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Patterson allegedly told authorities she checked on her granddaughter every hour.
The following day, with Alexis asleep in the car, Patterson, Spurlock and another juvenile went grocery shopping at a Claremore supermarket. Patterson then called 911 from the parking lot and Alexis was transported to a local hospital, where she died later that afternoon, the document states, according to News on 6.
“It’s a terrible case, probably the most heartbreaking case I’ve been involved with,” Brett Chapman, Spurlock’s attorney, tells PEOPLE. “And my client here has shown remorse on this and she pleaded guilty to her role in this whereas her codefendant, even at sentencing, continued to blame it on us when the child was under her care when it happened. We took our accountability for our role.”
Chapman would not comment on inquiries of if Alexis’ death could be classified as a suicide attempt.
Spurlock was sentenced to 20 years in prison with five years suspended, according to online court records. Patterson was sentenced to 10 years with six years suspended. Patterson’s attorney, Allen Smallwood, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
