Canton woman convicted in death of 2-year-old daughter

Scott Spielman

A 40-year-old Canton Township woman faces a long prison sentence after she was convicted Monday of killing her 2-year-old foster child.

A Wayne County jury found Carol Ann Poole guilty of second degree murder, a felony punishable by any number of years-up to life in prison; involuntary manslaughter, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and first degree child abuse, a felony punishable by up to 15-years in prison, according to Sgt. Rick Pomorski.

“This was a tragic case,” he said. “This will affect more people than just Mrs. Poole and her foster child.”

The incident took place on Sept. 22, 2006, according to police. They responded to Poole’s home on the 2200 block of Emily Court in Canton after they received a 911 call reporting an unconscious 2-year-old.

Officers found the victim,Allison Newman, unresponsive and suffering from head trauma. Rescue units transported her to Annapolis Hospital in Wayne. She was later flown to the Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.

Poole had claimed that she was playing with the child on a balcony of the home and the little girl slipped and fell over the ledge.

Citing the time lapse between the incident and the 911 call, prosecutors said the injuries were intentional.

“They did a good job in the case,” Pomorski said.

Judge Ulysses W. Boykin set Poole’s sentencing date for Monday, Feb. 25.