Arizona woman, 29, who locked 10-year-old cousin in trunk, sentenced to death

Sammantha Allen. (Maricopa County Sheriff via AP, File)

The verdict is in: An Arizona woman was sentenced to death Monday in the killing of her 10-year-old cousin, who was locked in a trunk as punishment for stealing a popsicle.

Ame Deal's death was one of the most shocking murders in recent memory in Arizona. Sammantha Allen became the third woman sentenced to death in the state.

The jury deliberated for more than a week before returning the verdict against Allen. The 29-year-old was convicted in June of first-degree murder and child abuse in the death of her cousin in 2011.

"We the jury duly impaneled and sworn in the above entitled actions upon our oaths having considered all the facts and circumstances unanimously find that the defendant should be sentenced to death."

Allen put her head down and sobbed as the verdict was read.

Deal suffocated after being locked in a trunk as punishment in triple-digit heat.

"She didn't care what happened to this child. It was all about what was going to happen to her," stated a juror. "I was looking for something from her. That was her chance to plead for her life and it just felt short."

Sammantha Allen was convicted of first-degree murder in June.

Another juror added, "I think the hardest thing for all of us was the victim and learning about what her life really entailed and the years of abuse that she suffered."

The jurors all agreed -- Allen did not seem to be sorry about her role in Ame's death.

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