Mum who microwaved her baby to death gets life in prison
Krystal Johnson
December 21, 2015, 4:29 am
A US mother has been sentenced to a maximum of life in prison for killing her one-month-old daughter by microwaving her until her organs were 'cooked through'.
A California judge on Friday imposed the sentence on Ka Yang, 34, after she put her newborn in a microwave for up to five minutes in March 2011.
She was convicted of first-degree murder and assault of baby Mirabelle Thao-Lo.
Ka Yang has been sentenced to life in prison after murdering her one-month-old baby. Photo: Supplied
Prosecutors say the child had fatal thermal injuries and suffered burns to over 60 per cent of her body and would have suffered severe pain throughout the ordeal.
Dr Gregory Reiber said during a hearing in 2012 that the most serious burn appeared to be a radiation burn, which penetrated the baby's internal organs and "cooked through" to her stomach and small intestine.
Investigators found the infant's pacifier in the microwave at their Sacramento-area home.
Yang's lawyer says her client had an epileptic seizure and didn't know what she was doing.
"Ms. Yang suffers from epilepsy. She had an epileptic seizure. It was not deliberate conduct," Parisi said.
Ka Yang, right is seen with her court appointed attorney, Linda Parisi during her arraignment for the alleged murder of her 7-week old daughter, in Sacramento County Superior Court. Photo: AP/Rich Pedroncelli
Ka Yang, 34, has been sentenced to life in prison after she savagely murdered her one-month-old daughter. Photo: Supplied
Yang, who is married and has three other children, initially told investigators that she blacked out while working on the computer with Mirabelle in her arms and woke up on the ground with the baby injured next to a space heater, according to an affidavit in the case written by Sacramento Police Detective Thomas Shrum.
Although she had a history of seizures, paramedics did not find her to be disoriented when they arrived, according to the affidavit.
Linda Parisi, left, the court appointed attorney for Ka Yang, who is facing charges for allegedly killing her 6-week-old daughter, leaves the courtroom with Yang's mother, Chuoa Yang. Photo: AP/Rich Pedroncelli
When detectives pointed out inconsistencies in her story, Yang later acknowledged she lied and said she might have a split personality, the affidavit said.
Investigators who arrived at the scene found the girl burned from head-to-toe and her pacifier in the microwave, but her pajamas and hair were not singed, according to the affidavit.
