A babysitter has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the tragic death of a 5-year-old girl under her care. Despite pleas from her family members, who believe she was wrongly convicted, the judge denied the possibility of parole.
“I have made the decision to sentence you to life without parole,” stated Judge Joseph Bluemel during the sentencing hearing of Cheri Marler in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
A jury reached a verdict on May 10, finding Marler guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse. The tragic incident involved the beating death of 5-year-old Annabelle Noles, who had been under Marler’s care for several weeks in late 2022.
Bluemel attentively heard the heartfelt pleas of Marler’s family members, including her daughters, son, brother, sister-in-law, and husband, who were all advocating for a parole option.
He also considered the assertions made by family members that Marler was unjustly found guilty, and that the hazardous stairs in her house, rather than Marler herself, were responsible for the tragic brain damage and subsequent death of the young girl on November 25, 2022.
“Those stairs can be extremely dangerous,” commented Steven Holcomb, Marler’s brother. “I went down them, I hit my head hard on them.”
3-week-old Baby Abused and Thrown in Dumpster in California; Father Charged and Body of Baby Never Found
Holcomb mentioned that he and his sister have had a difficult relationship over the years. However, he does not think that she is capable of the violent acts for which she was found guilty by the jury.
“I find it hard to believe that my sister was responsible for the girl’s death,” he expressed.
According to Marler’s oldest daughter, Anna Hamilton, she had a fall down the stairs during her pregnancy, which may have contributed to her giving birth prematurely. According to her, another family member also experienced a fall down the stairs.
Marler’s son and other daughter also claimed to have fallen down the stairs and injured themselves.
Marler was convicted of first-degree murder and child abuse after the jury determined that the stairs were not at fault.
After hearing from several medical professionals, it was determined that the stairs were not a plausible explanation for the girl’s severe injuries, which tragically resulted in her death, including significant brain damage.
During her interview with the police following her arrest, Marler expressed her frustration with the little girl’s numerous misbehaviors and admitted to clapping her head between her hands repeatedly.
Marler’s family members also expressed to the judge that they view her as a kind-hearted individual and a loving mother and grandmother as reported by Cowstate Daily.
Marler chose not to provide a testimony during her sentencing hearing, expressing her desire to maintain her opportunity for a successful appeal. She has approximately one month to submit a notice of appeal.
Marler’s trial was delayed due to her injuries and the necessary treatment she required. However, when she asked for a furlough to receive treatment following her conviction, Bluemel deemed it unsuitable.
7-day-old Baby Rushed to Hospital with Broken Skull; Father Sentenced in Idaho for Brutal Abuse