ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP/KRQE) – An Albuquerque mother has
pleaded guilty in the brutal death of her son and was sentenced to 40 years behind bars.
Synthia Varela-Casaus was sentenced Friday in the 2013 kicking death of 9-year-old Omaree.
Varela-Casaus pleaded guilty to six counts including 2nd-degree murder.
In court Friday, Varela-Casaus was in tears. She told the judge that she loved Omaree. She also thanked her sister for taking care of her kids.
Omaree Varela
Her sister, Sylvia, also spoke to the judge Friday. She said she forgave her sister but wanted to see her behind bars for a long time.
“Omaree was a nine-year-old boy with dreams and goals, which he will never get to do,” said Sylvia Marquez, Synthia’s Sister.
Marquez also described what life has been like taking care of her sister’s other children.
“They ask auntie can’t Omaree be fixed,” cried Marquez. “Can’t God or the doctor fix him?”
A letter was also read in court written by Omaree’s now seven-year-old sister. She asked the judge in writing to keep her mother away.
“I hope mom stays in jail so that I can be safe with my other mom,” Omaree’s little sister wrote.
Last month, Varela-Casaus’ lawyers announced that she plans to plead guilty to second-degree murder and other charges stemming from her son’s death.
An autopsy found Omaree died from severe internal bleeding caused by blunt-force trauma.
Court records show that Varela-Casaus had initially told police her son fell from a toy spring horse.
Varela-Casaus faced as little as 15 years in prison and as much as 45.
She originally tried to claim
she was incompetent to stand trial.
Omaree’s stepfather was sentenced in November after a jury found him guilty on charges that included tampering with evidence and acting with reckless disregard for not calling 911 sooner.