Longview woman gets additional prison term

Convicted of child's murder, Thomas gets 10-year sentence on injury charge

ADAM J. HOLLAND

The Longview News-Journal

A Longview woman convicted last week of murdering a 2-year-old in her care received an additional 10-year prison sentence because of related injury charges.

Shondreta Renee Thomas, 32, pleaded guilty Monday to injuring Jaaliyah Beecham Davis on Feb. 24 by failing to obtain medical treatment for a large burn on her right buttock.

During treatment of the child at Longview Regional Medical Center and Dallas Children's Hospital, doctors noted a variety of injuries, including scars, bruises and burns, in addition to the head trauma that resulted in her death March 4 — about 12 hours after rescue workers were called to Thomas' home, where she reported the toddler fell from the bathtub.

In an interview with police shortly after the girl's death, Thomas said a burn on the girl's right buttock was the likely result of bleach used to disinfect her training potty.

Dr. Matthew Cox, a pediatrician who evaluated the child's injuries at the Dallas hospital, testified last week that the burn to her buttocks did not appear to be caustic or caused by a chemical.

According to testimony from several doctors, including Cox, the child's injuries appeared to have been inflicted.

A jury in the 124th District Court deliberated about four hours Friday before finding Thomas guilty of murdering Jaaliyah.

Jurors sentenced her to five years in prison. Thomas will be eligible to complete the murder sentence in 2 1/2 years, after which she will begin serving the 10-year injury sentence. There is no half time served requirement with the injury sentence.