RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU) — A Rhinelander woman has been sentenced for killing her stepson in 2017.
Ellen Tran was in an Oneida County court on Tuesday where a judge ordered her to serve 15 years in prison followed by 7 years of extended supervision.
The maximum sentence the 30-year-old could face in the case was 40 years in prison and 20 years of extended supervision.
During the sentencing, the biological mother of Avery Edwards gave a tearful testimony asking the judge to hand down the maximum sentence. One of Edward’s babysitters also asked for the maximum sentence during her testimony.
Oneida County District Attorney Michael Schiek reportedly asked for 20-25 years in prison and 10-15 years of extended supervision. Tran’s attorney asked for 6 years each prison and extended supervision.
Charges stem from an incident in which Tran inflicted blunt-force injuries to Avery Edwards, and when questioned about the incident claimed the boy had slipped in the shower. Prosecutors pointed out the bruises on the boy’s body were consistent with some kind of shaking or blunt-force trauma.
Tran chose not to testify in her own defense during the trial, and during sentencing said she wished Avery was still here and asked the judge to consider her remaining children when handing down the sentence. She also expressed remorse for causing the boy’s family to suffer and that she wasn’t able to do more to protect him.
With Ellen’s sentencing complete legal action against Avery’s father Trung will now pick up. He faces charges of child abuse, neglect, and failing to prevent bodily harm to a child.
Trung and Ellen have since divorced.
