TX - Colton Turner, 2, Cedar Park, 11 Sept 2014 #2

[YESorNO]

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 37m37 minutes ago
The pathologist says she reviewed the video that police shot with eyewitness Robert Coe to reenact Work's alleged assault on Colton. She said the force that Coe used on a prop ragdoll would not have been enough to result in the boy's death.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 19m19 minutes ago
No verdict today, Judge Wahlberg says. He wants to sleep on it tonight and will announce his decision at 11:30 a.m. Friday. But first: one more defense witness at 2 p.m. today - it won't be Work, who isn't testifying - followed by closing arguments.


Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 21m21 minutes ago
We're now on recess for a lunch break until 2pm. Defense will call its final witness at that time. State & defense say they're both ready to present their closing arguments today. Judge says he plans to think overnight about sentence. @KXAN_News

Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 20m20 minutes ago
Judge plans to announce his sentence Friday starting at 11:30 a.m. @KXAN_News
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[YESorNO]

Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 2h2 hours ago
Court is back after lunch break. Defense's last witness is coming to courtroom via Skype. However, there are no technical issues getting a strong connection with her. @KXAN_News


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
After lunch, we're having difficulties patching in witness over Skype. Not uncommon. In fact, I don't know that I've ever seen Skype work seamlessly in a Travis County courtroom.


Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 2h2 hours ago
This witness is now calling into courtroom & will deliver her testimony over speakerphone. @KXAN_News


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
The witness is Meagan Work's aunt. Attorneys have scrapped Skype plan and are speaking with her over speaker phone at judge's bench.


Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 2h2 hours ago
The witness is the maternal aunt of #MeaganWork. @KXAN_News


Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 2h2 hours ago
#MeaganWork's aunt said, "I just don't think she had the tools or the resources to take care of a child." @KXAN_News


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
Work's aunt is off the phone. Defense asks Meagan Work if she wants to testify. "No, sir." She responds. Both sides close. All that's left is final arguments. Starting now.


Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 2h2 hours ago
Witness testimony has ended for both sides on #MeaganWork sentencing. State about to start closing statement. @KXAN_News


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
Strong closing argument from prosecutor Jeremy Sylestine. He acknowledged Meagan Work had a difficult upbringing but said "it's a crime to transfer her childhood to Colton." State is asking for a big sentence, but did not give specific request.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
Meagan Work's lawyer, Darla Davis, is normally quiet, but is nearly yelling. She accuses prosecutors of cheapening Colton's death by giving Michael Turner 20 years in a non-aggravated conviction.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
Davis calls Michael Turner a "sick pervert" for pursuing Meagan Work when she was 16 and pregnant.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
Davis said Robert Coe, the witness who said he saw Work slam Colton against a truck, is an honest man but is "mistaken." She says his guilt over not calling 911 led him to "fill in blanks."


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
Darla Davis asks Judge Wahlberg to sentence Meagan Work to 20 years, the same length of sentence that Michael Turner is serving.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 1h1 hour ago
That has turned into Meagan vs. Michael, and which one is more responsible for Colton's death. Prosecutor Victoria Winkeler said there is no evidence Michael abused the child, but there is evidence that Meagan did. Winkeler requests 50-year sentence.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 1h1 hour ago
We're done for the day. Judge Wahlberg says he has a "difficult, difficult decision." He's going to do some thinking tonight and come back at 11:30 a.m. and let us know what he decided.


Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 29m29 minutes ago
Sorry for the radio silence regarding the closing statements in the #MeaganWork sentencing. Both sides talked extremely quickly, & I was trying to transcribe it as best as I could. Now I'm working on a script for our 5pm newscast. Watch @KXAN_News for a wrap.
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[YESorNO]

Colton Turner could have died from seizure, doctor testifies

"1:20 p.m. update: A former medical examiner who was hired by Meagan Work’s defense team to review toddler Colton Turner’s autopsy report said she disagrees with other doctors who believed the boy died from a homicide.

Amy Gruszeski, a forensic pathologist from the Dallas area, said she found no evidence that Colton suffered from blunt force trauma and that it’s possible the child died from an unprovoked seizure, as Work told police that he did.

“To say that it was blunt force trauma is taking it a step too far, in my opinion,” Gruszeski told state District Judge David Wahlberg.

Like Dr. Satish Chundru, who testified Wednesday for the prosecution, Gruszeski said the decomposition of the boy’s body made it impossible to determine what had happened.

But her testimony also differed from Chundru, who said he ruled the death a homicide based on a statement from a witness who said he saw Work slamming the boy against a truck door as well as statements Work made to police about the boy breathing abnormally and moaning.

Gruszeski said she does not believe the force with which the witness said Work used to slam Colton could have resulted in fatal injuries....

Both the prosecution and the defense declined to present Work’s ex-boyfriend, Michael Turner, as a witness. Turner is serving 20 years in prison after pleading guilty two years ago in connection with Colton’s death.

The judge announced to the courtroom that Turner’s defense lawyer advised him to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against incriminating himself. Wahlberg would have had to rule if that right still applies to Turner, but it became moot when both the prosecution and the defense opted to not call on him to testify...."

Colton Turner could have died from seizure, doctor testifies
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[YESorNO]

Defense expert offers second opinion on death of Colton Turner

November 29th 2018

"AUSTIN, Texas —Just exactly how did Colton Turner die?

The answer may determine what kind of punishment his mother—Meagan Work—will get for her part in the death of the local two-year-old. A second opinion on Colton’s death was floated Thursday just ahead of closing arguments.

The local Austin medical examiner originally ruled Colton’s cause of death a “homicide.” But now a second forensic pathologist says she would have ruled the cause of death as “undetermined” due to lack of evidence....

The past four days have given Judge David Wahlberg a lot to think about. The sentence could be anything from five years to life in prison. He plans to announce his decision Friday."

Defense expert offers second opinion on death of Colton Turner
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[YESorNO]

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 1h1 hour ago
Happening today: Meagan Work will be sentenced in connection to the 2014 death of her 2-year-old son, Colton Turner. An announcement should come down from Judge David Wahlberg after 11:30 a.m. Anyone with questions about the case? I'd be happy to answer them.

 

[YESorNO]

Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 52m52 minutes ago
Back in court this morning for sentencing of #MeaganWork.
The judge is set to announce his decision regarding her sentence at 11:30.
I'll be live tweeting the decision. @KXAN_News


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 50m50 minutes ago
Courtroom is filling ahead of 11:30 a.m. announcement from state District Judge David Wahlberg.


Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 41m41 minutes ago
Courtroom is much more full this morning ahead of the judge's decision.
#MeaganWork's younger sister is back after she testified Monday.
Loved ones of #ColtonTurner are seated in the front row, which is where they've been this entire week. @KXAN_News


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 42m42 minutes ago
Judge Wahlberg has entered the courtroom, as have lawyers for both sides. Work is coming. We'll be getting started any minute now.


Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 38m38 minutes ago
Judge Wahlberg has now entered the courtroom.
Sentencing should be announced shortly since #MeaganWork defense team just arrived. @KXAN_News

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 40m40 minutes ago
Wahlberg: "This has been one of the most emotional cases I've ever had to deal with as a judge, as a lawyer, as a human being. It's difficult."


Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 36m36 minutes ago
Judge Wahlberg began his statement with a deep sigh.
"This has been one of the most emotional cases I've ever had to deal with as a judge, as a lawyer, as a human being" @KXAN_News


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 38m38 minutes ago
Wahlberg: Decisions based on emotion are frequently not sound decisions. ... Raw emotions give us miscarriages of justices, it gives us people who are wrongfully convicted.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 38m38 minutes ago
Wahlberg: The evidence before me is absolutely devoid of any intent to cause death.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 36m36 minutes ago
Wahlberg criticizes prosecutors for offering Michael Turner a plea deal that did not require his truthful testimony.


Sally Hernandez‏ @SallyHernandez 30m30 minutes ago
“The basic fact is Colton Turner didn’t deserve to die. He died in the custody of his mother and Michael Turner. He was absolutely innocent,” says Judge. Colton’s mother Meagan Work will serve 20yrs for tampering w/ evidence, 30yrs for injury to a child.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 33m33 minutes ago
Wahlberg says eye-witness Robert Coe likely shaded his testimony out of guilt and regret for not calling police. ... This sentence is shaping up to be favorable for Meagan Work.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 29m29 minutes ago
Wahlberg says blunt force trauma determination is based largely on statements made by Work "which is problematic." He called her a chronic liar.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 22m22 minutes ago
Wahlberg called Work's upbringing "incredibly significant." Evidence showed her parents were drug addicts and didn't take care of her.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 19m19 minutes ago
Judge Wahlberg calls Meagan Work "a victim" because of her terrible childhood. He said her childhood "taught her to lie, to manipulate, to steal."


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 14m14 minutes ago
BREAKING: Meagan Work sentenced to 30 years in prison for role in the 2014 death of her toddler son, Colton Turner


Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 10m10 minutes ago
Judge has sentenced #MeaganWork to the following:

- 20 years for tampering with evidence

- 30 years for injury to a child - both sentences run concurrent @KXAN_News


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 12m12 minutes ago
Colton's grandmother, Kim Vidaure, is on the witness stand. "You are evil, Meagan."


Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 9m9 minutes ago
Grandmother of #ColtonTurner just delivered a tearful, heart-wrenching statement after sentence announced. She said to #MeaganWork, ""we feel it's unfortunate that you will not suffer the same fate as colton did" @KXAN_News
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[YESorNO]

Will DuPree‏ @willrdupree 9m9 minutes ago
Prosecutors & family members of #ColtonTurner speaking to media now after sentence announced for #MeaganWork. @KXAN_News

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 23m23 minutes ago
No one is happy with the verdict. Colton's family said the 30 years is too low. Work's lawyer, Darla Davis, was irate that the judge said Michael Turner is less culpable in Colton's death because he's not the biological father. I mean, IRATE.
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[YESorNO]

Meagan Work will spend less than 30 years in prison

Nov 30, 2018

"AUSTIN (KXAN) — Meagan Work was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with credit for time served, related to the death of her 2-year-old, Colton Turner, in 2014. The judge's decision came after four days of testimony.

She pleaded guilty to injury of a child by omission and tampering with evidence. She got 20 years for the tampering with evidence charge, and 30 for injury to a child, which will be served concurrently. She could have been sentenced to anywhere from five years to life in prison.

She will have to serve at least 15 years before she is eligible for parole. The family and defense attorney plan to protest any parole...."

Meagan Work will spend less than 30 years in prison
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[YESorNO]

poor little baby....

RIP little one.....

 

[YESorNO]

WATCH: RAW: Boy's paternal grandmother speaks after mother is sentenced in 2-year-old's Austin death

November 30, 2018

"Meagan Work, the Cedar Park mother who pleaded guilty in the 2014 death of her 2-year-old son, learned she has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. The boy's paternal grandmother spoke after learning Work's sentence."

RAW: Boy's paternal grandmother speaks after mother is sentenced in 2-year-old's Austin death
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Meagan Work will spend less than 30 years in prison

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[YaYa_521]

Court upholds Meagan Work's conviction in death of Colton Turner

The Third Court of Appeals has upheld Meagan Work's conviction in connection to the death of her son Colton Turner.

www.fox7austin.com

January 1, 2021
SBM

The Third Court of Appeals has upheld Meagan Work's conviction in connection to the death of her son Colton Turner. In their ruling, the judges said they didn't find any reversible error in the trial court's judgment.