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Mass. Woman Sentenced for Shaking Death of Infant Daughter

Chris Boardman

Story Created: Nov 2, 2009 at 1:30 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 2, 2009 at 1:30 PM EST

SALEM, Mass. (AP) - A Peabody woman has been sentenced to 15 to 17 years in prison for the shaking death of her baby daughter.

Jennifer Ward could have faced up to 20 years at her sentencing Monday in Salem Superior Court. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter last week.

The 39-year-old mother was arrested in December 2007 after a
grand jury indicted her for the death of her 9-month-old daughter, Jocelyn Ward-Anderson.

he baby was allegedly shaken and slammed into something,
leaving her with a skull fracture and brain swelling that authorities said caused her death.

Ward had lost custody of Jocelyn after a report of neglect, but
the baby was returned to her after she completed a drug treatment and parenting education program.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Thursday, Nov 5 at 12:02 PM lisa wrote ...

The mother did murder the child however the state is just as much to be blamed. This poor child should have NEVER been returned to her.

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