An Elmira woman who pled guilty to helping cause the death of her young son was sentenced to 180 days in jail on Friday.
22-year-old Samantha Skinkle was also sentenced to five years of probation by Chemung County Judge James Hayden as part of a plea deal she agreed to in October. Before handing down the sentence, Judge Hayden had some stern words for the woman, who is pregnant again.
2-month-old Kayden Skinkle was found dead in June 2009. His mother told police that she placed two fingers over the boy’s mouth until he stopped moving, then placed him on pillows at the head of her bed and fell asleep. An autopsy could not determine what caused the boy’s death.
Skinkle’s first trial ended in April with a hung jury. Her attorney says they will appeal the verdict.
