Mother pleads guilty in deadly child abuse case; sentenced to prison

A mother was sentenced to 25 years in prison following the 2019 death of 13-month-old Damien King.

Michelle Marta King pleaded guilty to child abuse on Monday afternoon inside the Logan County Courthouse.

In January 2019, King and her boyfriend Justin Mitchell Lastra were arrested after the child was found with non-accidental head trauma. The child later died at a Oklahoma City hospital. Related article: Mother, boyfriend arrested for first degree murder

Following several examinations, including CT scans, the child was found to have a traumatic brain injury and several fractures, including to the spine and ribs, along with lung contusions, liver lacerations and bowel contusions, according to the court document.

King must served 85% of her 25 year sentence with the Department of Corrections.

In March 2020, Lastra pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Related article: Man pleads guilty to murdering child; sentenced to life in prison

When the judge asked Lastra what led to the murder charge, Lastra responded, “I murdered Damien King.”