Beating Victim's Mother Sentenced To 5-10 Years
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The mother of an 11-year-old Knoxville boy who was beaten to death last year was in court today for sentencing.
After pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in January in connection with the death of her son, Cynthia McKee was sentenced this afternoon to five to 10 years in prison.
The victim, 11-year-old Donovan McKee, was found brutally beaten in February of 2012.
Last month, a jury found 30-year-old Anthony Bush guilty of third-degree murder in the boy's death.
Bush shared an apartment with Cynthia McKee, who was his girlfriend, and her children.
McKee asked Judge Donna Jo McDaniel if there was anything she could do to stay out of jail. The judge said no.
McKee also claims she didn't know about the abuse her boyfriend inflicted on her 11-year-old son. The judge told her she had to have known.
According to investigators, she failed to call 911 for an hour after she came to her Knoxville home to find her son dying on a couch.
A defense psychologist testified McKee had a depressive disorder and an anxiety disorder and had an IQ of 71, which made her incapable of standing up to Bush. But the prosecution and judge disagreed.
McKees' coworker at a coffee shop testified on her behalf.
"I think she's been through enough with the loss of her son," said Ethan Clay. "I know the person she is now. She's a great person."
No one shed more tears than McKees' sister, Crystal, after the defendant was sentenced. She has custody of the victim's younger brother. The judge told her she was sent to care for the boy, and it's good she's there to take care of him.
Earlier, Crystal McKee testified the victim's younger sibling asks about his mother all the time.
RELATED LINKS:
Mother Of 11-Year-Old Beaten To Death Charged (4/2/12)
Man Accused In Boy's Beating Death Found Guilty (2/5/13)
More Reports on Cynthia McKee
More Reports on the Anthony Bush Trial
