Babysitter who brought dead infant to McDonald’s sentenced to prison

WAUSAU, Wis. — A woman was sentenced to 40 years in prison for abusing one child and killing another in Wisconsin.

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Marissa Tietsort was sentenced to 37 years in prison for the death of an 11-week-old boy named Benson and three years for hurting an 11-month-old girl, Wausau Daily Herald reported.

Police said the infant’s mother called police on Oct. 18, 2018, when she went to take her son out of his car seat and found him unresponsive, WSAW reported. Court documents obtained by WSAW indicate the child’s cause of death was blunt force head injuries, and the baby’s tailbone was broken off and displaced.

Investigators said Tietsort knew the child had died in her care, but still bundled him in a snowsuit and hat so his mother wouldn’t notice when she picked him up, WSAW reported.

Investigators say after the baby’s death, Tietsort took him to McDonald’s and ate before returning him to his mother, WFRV reported. In court, the jury was shown surveillance video showing Tietsort and her boyfriend with the dead child in its carrier, another baby, and a small child at the restaurant, Wausau Daily Herald reported. Benson was left in his car seat in the next booth while they ate.

When the 2-month-old died, there was a warrant out for Tietsort’s arrest for child abuse, police said at the time in a Facebook post. The Marathon County district attorney said that Tietsort called the girl’s mother on Aug. 2, 2018, to say the child had fallen off a couch and had a rug burn on her face, Wausau Daily Herald reported. For two years following that, the little girl’s mother said the child didn’t want anyone to touch her head, and missed several milestones, Wausau Daily Herald reported.

Abuse charges were filed two months after the girl was injured, and seven days before Benson’s death, prosecutors told Wausau Daily Herald.

Police said when they went to arrest Tietsort, she was at The Plaza Hotel, where she had gone swimming with her boyfriend.

A judge ordered Tietsort to serve the two sentences consecutively, to be followed by 20 years of supervision after she is released, Wausau Daily Herald reported.

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