Maine mother gets 48 years in death that changed child welfare system
Sharon Carrillo was convicted for the death of her 10-year-old daughter Marissa Kennedy.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine judge sentenced a woman who was convicted of murdering her 10-year-old daughter to 48 years in prison Friday, signaling the end of a case that brought changes to the state’s child protection system.
Sharon Carrillo, 35, was convicted for the death of Marissa Kennedy. Marissa’s battered body was found in the family home in Stockton Springs, a tiny town about two hours up the Maine coast from Portland, in 2018.
The killings of Marissa Kennedy and 4-year-old Kendall Chick exposed gaps in Maine’s child welfare system and led to widespread reforms in the way the state seeks to protect vulnerable children. Maine has also added dozens of new state staff and caseworkers to help prevent abuse and neglect since.
Caregiver Shawna Gatto was convicted of depraved indifference murder in the death of Kendall, whose body was discovered by responders in December 2017. Kendall, of Wiscasset, had been placed in the home of Gatto and her fiance, Stephen Hood, who was Kendall’s grandfather, while Kendall’s mother battled addiction.
“The tragic death of Marissa Kennedy, along with that of Kendall Chick, sheds long overdue light on Maine’s child welfare system. While we have further to go, we are on a path to reform and progress,” said Jeanne Lambrew, commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services
An autopsy concluded Marissa had injuries consistent with ongoing abuse. The crime scene was staged to make it seem as if her death was an accident, authorities said.
Carrillo was found guilty of depraved indifference murder in December. Her attorneys argued during the case that she was herself a victim of her estranged husband, Julio Carrillo, and that she didn’t have the intellectual capacity to stand up to him.
Sharon Carrillo’s attorney, Laura Shaw of Camden, said she would appeal the conviction. She also said she was disappointed in the length of the sentence, which she felt didn’t reflect the abuse her client suffered. Sharon Carrillo faced the possibility of life in prison, but the defense asked for the minimum of 25 years.
“From our perspective, domestic violence was a mitigating factor, and she didn’t get any recognition of that in the sentence,” Shaw said.
Julio Carrillo pleaded guilty to murder earlier and is serving a 55-year sentence. His attorney in the case did not return a call seeking comment.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com