KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A Portage mother who plead guilty to manslaughter in the death of her one-year-old daughter has been sentenced to 22 months to 15 years in prison.
32-year-old Coty Lyon entered her plea January 22 and was sentenced Monday. Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting said Lyon was originally charged with second-degree murder and second-degree child abuse, but those charges were dismissed in exchange for the plea.
Lyon’s daughter, Olivia Stripling, was found unconscious by her babysitter August 7, 2021, about an hour after the babysitter picked up the infant from Lyon’s home.
The babysitter called 911 and was found performing CPR on the infant when deputies arrived, but the child died the next day. Her autopsy showed she had a cracked skull and brain bleeding when she died.
At her preliminary examination, prosecutors said Lyon admitted to police she had been on a drug bender for several days and was frustrated her kids wouldn’t let her sleep.
Child Protective Services reportedly opened multiple investigations into Lyon about suspected abuse of her daughter and removed three other children from her care prior to her daughter’s death.
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