A mother has been sentenced to life in prison for killing her one-month-old daughter by putting her in a microwave at their family home in Sacramento, California. Ka Yang (34) was found guilty of first-degree murder in November and assault for putting baby Mirabelle Thao-Lo in the microwave for up to five minutes in March 2011.
The child suffered fatal thermal injuries, according to prosecutors. The baby girl suffered burns to 60% of her body, including radiation burns, but her hair and clothing were not singed. A dummy was found in the microwave.
Yang’s legal representatives said she had an epileptic seizure and did not know what she was doing at the time. Yang initially told investigators she had been working at a computer with Mirabelle in her arms when she blacked out. She claimed to have blacked out and awoke to find the baby injured next to a space heater. Yang has a history of seizures, but paramedics told the court she was not disoriented when they arrived at the home.
After the inconsistencies in her story were pointed out Yang finally admitted she had lied, and suggested she had a split personality. Married Yang, who has three other children, was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison on Friday.