Las Vegas Foster Mom Found Guilty in Infant's Death
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A 41-year-old former foster mother could face 20 years to life in prison after a jury found her guilty of first-degree murder in the death of a 7-month-old boy in her care in 2006.
Melanie Ochs was jailed after the verdict was returned late Thursday in Clark County District Court. A judge set sentencing Jan. 28.
Ochs at first told authorities her older children caused the baby's fatal head injuries.
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Her lawyer says Ochs told the truth when she testified Tuesday that the boy fell to the floor from atop a washing machine at her home in northwest Las Vegas.
Prosecutors maintained that the child's death was not accidental, and doctors testified he died after several traumatic injuries from separate events.