When presented with a difficult and heartbreaking case, it may be hard for one to reach a verdict. To decide whether one is innocent or not, one must evaluate all given evidence and testimonies. As a juror on the case of Maria Santiago, I was given the opportunity to find if Santiago was guilty in the murder of Allison Santiago, her six month old daughter. After evaluating all the evidence given, I have come to the conclusion that I have formed no reasonable doubt towards this case, therefore my conviction is that Maria Santiago was guilty her the charge of Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child. Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child occurs when one’s “culpable negligence” causes the death of a child the age of 18. This negligence is seen when the
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After the police arrived, Maria was questioned by multiple cops. Sergeant William Holliday recalls her telling him that she had found a babysitter, but couldn’t remember the name of the sitter. Maria also tells Detective Juan Benitez that she “tried to find a babysitter but I couldn’t.” Then told him that the babysitter’s name was Tina. It is then found that Tina is not a real person then Maria plays confused and gives the name Tean Romero. However, Romero tells the officers that she isn’t heard from Santiago in over a year. It’s a constant changing of the story, which makes it hard to believe Santiago. As well as the fact that, Santiago is very well aware that her daughter needs to be taken to the doctor’s every month and needs a babysitter, but somehow is still capable of leaving her at home alone. One extremely pivotal point is Mark Ryder’s testimony. Santiago calls him saying that she gave her daughter to her mother, but she believes she left her apartment door locked and asks for to check on it. However, the Santiago’s mother testifies that she’s not once even seen her granddaughter. Ryder does go to her apartment, notices that it's hot, takes a short look a round, then leaves with the door locked. It is my belief that Santiago was had an underlying hope that Ryder would find her daughter and blame the child neglect on someone else, such as, her …show more content…
Dr. Arthur J. Barnes for the defense concluded that because of her feelings as an “unfit mother” and also the fact that she had a made up relationship with a man who claims to have met her once can be used to show that she was mentally unfit. However. Dr. Richard A. Rankin of the prosecution stated that “based on my on my interviews---her depression and anxiety had little bearing on her actions.” Like mentioned before, if she was aware that her daughter needed regular checkups and a babysitter there was no way she mentally incapable of ensuring that her daughter had something to actually care for her in her
After the police arrived, Maria was questioned by multiple cops. Sergeant William Holliday recalls her telling him that she had found a babysitter, but couldn’t remember the name of the sitter. Maria also tells Detective Juan Benitez that she “tried to find a babysitter but I couldn’t.” Then told him that the babysitter’s name was Tina. It is then found that Tina is not a real person then Maria plays confused and gives the name Tean Romero. However, Romero tells the officers that she isn’t heard from Santiago in over a year. It’s a constant changing of the story, which makes it hard to believe Santiago. As well as the fact that, Santiago is very well aware that her daughter needs to be taken to the doctor’s every month and needs a babysitter, but somehow is still capable of leaving her at home alone. One extremely pivotal point is Mark Ryder’s testimony. Santiago calls him saying that she gave her daughter to her mother, but she believes she left her apartment door locked and asks for to check on it. However, the Santiago’s mother testifies that she’s not once even seen her granddaughter. Ryder does go to her apartment, notices that it's hot, takes a short look a round, then leaves with the door locked. It is my belief that Santiago was had an underlying hope that Ryder would find her daughter and blame the child neglect on someone else, such as, her …show more content…
Dr. Arthur J. Barnes for the defense concluded that because of her feelings as an “unfit mother” and also the fact that she had a made up relationship with a man who claims to have met her once can be used to show that she was mentally unfit. However. Dr. Richard A. Rankin of the prosecution stated that “based on my on my interviews---her depression and anxiety had little bearing on her actions.” Like mentioned before, if she was aware that her daughter needed regular checkups and a babysitter there was no way she mentally incapable of ensuring that her daughter had something to actually care for her in her