After allegedly lying about an illness her 7-year-old daughter had before she died and using it to profit from it, a Colorado woman has now been sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Kelly Turner agreed to a plea bargain in January and pleaded guilty to felony theft, felony charity fraud, and child abuse negligently causing death, according to the district attorney's office of the 18th Judicial District.
Turner was initially charged with murder in the death of Olivia Grant, however, those chargers and others were dropped in her agreement, a district attorney spokesperson said.
Olivia was able to participate in events planned by the Make-A-Wish Foundation before her death. She was seen on ride-alongs with firefighters and police fulfilling her wish to serve her community.
In August 2017, she died from intestinal failure when Turner signed a do-not-resuscitate order. According to a 2019 indictment, Turner did so because her daughter's quality of life was too poor.
Physicians informed investigators that Olivia's conditions, which her mother claimed she had, were not supported following their examinations. The conditions were also not able to cause terminal illness, according to six different doctors, prosecutors said.
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Turner received her sentencing on Wednesday from Douglas County Judge Patricia Herron. The sentences will run concurrently, and the sentencing decision is not subject to reconsideration, Heron said.
"I think this plea recognizes some level of accountability on the part of this defendant for this insidious years-long crime and her role in hastening the death of a very special, very sick young girl," Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Gallo said. "And ultimately, just the sad thing is nothing that we do in this courtroom is ever going to make that right."
Turner's sentencing includes that she will not be able to see her other daughter Samantha and she can not profit off any information or facts from the case. If she does, it will be donated to the charities she defrauded.
Attorneys representing Olivia's estate and the family in a civil case released a statement after the sentencing.
"Olivia's grandparents are completely devastated over the preventable death of their bright, talented and beautiful granddaughter. Now that the legal matters have been resolved -- Olivia's grandparents want to join forces with the community and state to bring public awareness to Munchausen's disease or medical child abuse and to change Mandatory Reporter Policies and Laws," attorney Hollynd Hoskins said in the statement.
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