A Texas woman convicted of fatally starving her young stepson has been sentenced to decades behind bars, despite her claims of innocence, KSAT-TV reports.
Miranda Cásarez on Thursday was sentenced to 25 years in prison in connection with the August 17, 2021, death of the boy, 4-year-old Benjamin Cervera Jr.
Jurors in San Antonio one day earlier found Cásarez guilty of injury to a child with serious injury.
During the trial, prosecutors presented text messages showing Cásarez talking about how she intentionally withheld food from the boy and locked the pantry so he could not access anything to eat. Cellphone video of abuse was shown in court.
Authorities also accused Cásarez of requiring the child to consume urine, hot sauce, and hand sanitizer, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Cásarez refuted the allegations and denied trying to hurt Benjamin.
“When did you starve Benji?” a prosecutor asked Cásarez during the trial, according to KSAT-TV. “I didn’t starve him,” Cásarez responded.
She said the boy’s father, Brandon Cervera Sr., is the one who had locked up the kitchen and had her under his control. Cásarez said she loved Benjamin and got a tattoo with his name following his death. Her attorney has said they plan to appeal.
Benjamin weighed just 28 pounds when he was found unresponsive before he died. Members of his mother’s family called for justice at the sentencing hearing.
“I hope instead of laughter you hear my son’s cries,” Amy Flores Zepeda said, according to the Express-News. Zepeda’s sister is the boy’s biological mother.
Cervera Sr. also faces criminal charges and his case remains pending.
[Feature Photo: Benjamin Cervera Jr./YouTube via KSAT12]
