A Berks County woman who pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the beating death of her 5-year-old son has dropped her bid to withdraw her plea.
Jessica Adams, 24, pleaded guilty in July to third-degree murder in the November death of Cashmiere Hill, according to court records.
She sought to withdraw that plea, saying manslaughter was a more appropriate charge, but was warned by the judge that she risked a first-degree murder conviction at trial.
But The (Easton) Express-Times reports the judge and district attorney confirmed in court Tuesday that Adams would go ahead with the plea deal under which she is to be sentenced to a minimum term of no more than 17 years.
On Nov. 29, police responded to an apartment on the 100 block of N. 12th Street in Allentown. When they arrived, they found a 5-year-old boy who was unconscious and not breathing. The boy was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in Allentown and was then transferred to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township.
Medical officials determined the boy suffered several injuries, including bruising on his head, arms and stomach, as well as a “severe brain bleed.” He underwent surgery but was pronounced dead early the next morning.
An autopsy determined that the boy died from multiple blunt force injuries and his death was ruled a homicide. Police interviewed Adams, as well as her boyfriend. After the interview, police believed the child was struck repeatedly by Adams during continuous abuse, according to investigators.
