Baby sitter convicted of aggravated manslaughter, cleared of murder in toddler's shaking death
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A baby sitter accused of fatally shaking a toddler left in her care has been convicted of aggravated manslaughter and child endangerment but acquitted of murder.
The Asbury Park Press (http://on.app.com/1EaAejj) reports that a Monmouth County jury rendered its verdict Friday against Michelle Heale stemming from the 2012 death of 14-month-old Mason Hess.
The 46-year-old Toms River resident faces up to 30 years in prison when she's sentenced June 26.
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Heale testified that the toddler went limp after she hit him between his shoulder blades to save him from choking on applesauce. The boy was flown to a hospital and died three days later.
Doctors later determined the boy suffered severe brain, spine and retinal damage from a violent shaking. But jurors heard conflicting medical testimony.
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Information from: The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.), http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com