DOVER, N.H., July 2 (UPI) -- A New Hampshire woman was sentenced to 10 to 30 years in prison for starving a young child in her care over the course of several years.
Christina Thomas, 34, of New Durham was convicted in February on a first-degree assault charge for failing to provide proper nutrition to the boy, the son of a former friend who lived with Thomas and her family, between 2006 and 2010, Foster's Daily Democrat in Dover reported Tuesday.
The unnamed boy survived, but Deputy County Attorney Alysia Cassotis said he weighed the same at the age of 6 1/2 years as he did when he was 10 months old.
Although supportive letters from friends and relatives were read at Thomas' hearing Monday, a letter from the boy's adoptive father, who preferred not to be named to protect his son's identity, said Thomas' "legacy is one of hate, cruelty and violence," adding that, after the boy began living with his adoptive parents he "grew like a weed over the course of a year."
After the sentencing, Thomas was arraigned on felony charges of perjury and falsifying physical evidence, offenses she allegedly committed during her February trial, the newspaper said.
