23-year-old woman faces a 25-year prison term for the deaths of her two children after they were left in a car while she worked last May. Brittney R. Downing pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
Her attorney said that her defendant entered her plea amid the prospect of a trial on felony murder charges. In July 2013, it was reported that Downing was at her third day of work at a hotel when she left the children in the car over at least a seven-hour period on May 26, 2013. The area experienced a high of 73 degrees that day, according to weather.com.
The attorney said both children died from exposure. Twenty-month-old Jelani Downing was declared dead the day he was left in the vehicle, while his 3-month-old sister Jade Downing died four days later.
Downing told police she had checked on the children during the day and they did not seem to be in distress. Downing’s sentencing is scheduled for March.
Source: Bossip
