It took a jury less than two hours to find Kimberly Dawn Trenor guilty of capital murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, the Houston Chronicle reports. Prosecutors declined to seek the death penalty, meaning Trenor, 20, will serve life without parole. "She will die in prison with this verdict," said Trenor's attorney, who had argued his client was guilty of a lesser crime.
Trenor's lawyer tried to convince jurors that she was under the control of her husband, the toddler's stepfather, when the child known as Baby Grace was beaten to death during a savage all-day disciplinary session. In closing arguments the prosecution called Trenor a cold-blooded liar who ignored her daughter's pleas for help. The girl's stepfather is to be tried separately but no trial date has been set.
(More Kimberly Dawn Trenor stories.)