Mom Sentenced After Her 3-Month-Old Baby Starved to Death in Texas Hotel Room Containing Weapons, Drugs and Bugs

A mother will walk decades down bars aft her 3-month-old boy starved to decease wrong a edifice room successful Texas.

Skylynn Tuerk was sentenced connected Thursday, Aug. 21, successful Waco's 54th State District Court connected charges of murder, wounded to a child, endangering a kid and possession of a controlled substance, according to ABC connection KXXV, CBS connection KWTX and nan Waco Tribune-Herald.

Her sentencing came soon aft she pleaded guilty connected nan 4 counts successful relationship pinch nan 2023 decease of her infant, per KXXV. Judge Susan Kelly sentenced her to 40 years each for nan execution and wounded to a kid charges, arsenic good arsenic 2 years each for endangering a kid and nan supplier charge, according to some KXXV and KWTX.

The mother will service nan sentences concurrently and must service astatine slightest 2 decades earlier being deemed eligible for parole, per some outlets, which added nan female sewage in installments for nan 633 days already served.

A authorities lawyer and ineligible practice for Tuerk did not instantly respond to PEOPLE's petition for remark connected Sunday, Aug. 24.

The sentencing follows nan November 2023 arrests of some Tuerk and Charles Harris aft their kid — wide identified successful section reports arsenic Baby JJ — was recovered unresponsive astatine Waco’s New Road Inn, KXXV reported astatine nan time, citing tribunal records.

The babe was described arsenic “starving and looking for illustration a skeleton" earlier he died, per a 2023 KWTX report. His then-3-year-old sister was reportedly recovered successful scope of blades and swords and taken into authorities custody.

According to KXXV, cockroaches, earthy nutrient and methamphetamine were besides discovered successful nan room. KWTX reported that constabulary discovered half a gram of methamphetamine and a supplier standard successful nan room, arsenic good arsenic nary “real nutrient for nan children" beyond juice boxes and consequence snacks.

Jonathan Sibley, Tuerk’s defense attorney, told KXXV aft his client's sentencing that she "was devastated by nan nonaccomplishment of her child."

"Skylynn and her family still grieve for nan nonaccomplishment of their child, but are pleased to put this portion of nan process down them," nan lawyer said. "Skylynn and her family not only mislaid a loved personnel of their family, but, this family will besides person to woody pinch losing Skylynn for a play of clip while she is incarcerated. Skylynn’s family was represented successful tribunal coming to support Skylynn and I’m judge they will proceed to support her successful immoderate measurement they tin while she is incarcerated.”

Tara Avants, a authorities attorney, told KXXV successful a connection that Tuerk "accepted work and received a condemnation successful nan precocious extremity of nan reward range."

"Legally, location is only a 10-year quality betwixt a life condemnation and a 40-year sentence," Avants said. "The horrific and irresponsible quality of this defendant's behaviour near america unwilling to work together to immoderate little punishment."

According to KXXV, which cited a family member, nan young woman besides recovered successful nan room successful 2023 was precocious adopted, while Harris — nan begetter — has a tribunal day approaching successful September.

If you fishy kid abuse, telephone nan Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline astatine 1-800-4-A-Child aliases 1-800-422-4453, aliases spell to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is disposable 24/7 successful much than 170 languages.

If you aliases personification you cognize is struggling pinch constituent abuse, please interaction nan SAMHSA helpline astatine 1-800-662-HELP.