Guilty plea offered in death of child

Guilty plea offered in death of child

A woman pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter this week in the death of her adopted daughter.

Melinda Wilkins was placed on two years' probation in the 2003 death of the child, Melissa, who died from pneumonia eight years after authorities think Wilkins assaulted the child.

On Aug. 16, 1995, the girl suffered severe injuries in an incident for which Wilkins served nearly three years after pleading guilty to felony child abuse. But when the child, who was left helpless from the injuries, died recently, authorities argued that the death was because of the assault.