A 20-year-old Olivet woman will spend at least a dozen years in prison for child abuse.
Eaton County Circuit Court Judge John Maurer sentenced Taylor Prahl-Six to 12 to 40 years in prison.
Concerned family members brought Prahl-Six's son to Sparrow Hospital last summer. He was having seizures. Medical tests showed multiple brain bleeds and other serious, life-threatening injuries.
Her son, now nearly a year old, is in the care of Prahl-Six's father, who said he's a healthy and happy little boy.
"What you did to (your son) was not an unfortunate accident, and you know it," Maurer told Prahl-Six, who cried on and off throughout her sentencing hearing.
Prahl-Six told Maurer she is sorry and "very blessed that my son is doing great." "I wish I had a second chance to be a mother to my son," she said.
Tests showed the child, who was two months old at the time, had multiple brain bleeds as well as a possible skull fracture. An MRI showed blood in his spinal cord, which is suggestive of shaken baby syndrome.
Prahl-Six told police she threw her infant son "forcefully" into a playpen on several occasions. And she said during a polygraph that she had also shaken him several times.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Adrianne Van Langevelde said Prahl-Six lied during more than one hospital visit about the extent of her son's injuries.
She added phone records show Prahl-Six googled "Shaken Baby Syndrome" and texted and called family and friends to talk about how she couldn't handle the crying anymore.
Eric Tomal, Prahl-Six's attorney- "she did a terrible thing," "Taylor understands that."
Prahl-Six has some degree of mental health issues — she's on multiple medications, including at least one anti-depressant — and was raising her son essentially by herself, Tomal said. He painted a picture of a young, overwhelmed mother who now regrets her actions.
Daniel Six, Prahl-Six's father and her son's current guardian, said his daughter's actions caught everyone off guard. He said she was stuck in a hostile environment and also asked Maurer for leniency.
Judge to young mother: 'What you did to your son was not an unfortunate accident'
Taylor Prahl-Six will spend 12 to 40 years in prison for abusing her son.
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