GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The mother accused in the death of her nearly 10-month-old daughter pleaded no contest to lesser charges on Wednesday.
Tatiana Fusari, 29, has been jailed since August 2018 after her daughter Mary was discovered dead in her crib. Fusari and her husband, Seth Welch, were both charged with first degree child abuse and felony murder.
On Jan. 29, Fusari entered a no contest plea to second degree murder and second degree child abuse. Her plea came just days before her trial was set to begin and days after Welch was convicted by a jury. Under the agreement, Fusari will serve a minimum of 25 years.
At the time of Mary's death, she weighed just over a pound more than she did at birth. During Welch's trial, a Kent County jury was shown pictures of her emaciated body and listened to a chilling 911 call from Welch that came more than an hour after Mary was found dead. On Monday, the jury deliberated for less than an hour and a half before convicting Welch on both charges.
In the months leading up to Mary's death, Fusari had worked a full-time job, while Welch tended to their three young children. Welch's defense attorney said his client was overwhelmed and ill-equipped to take care of his kids.
Fusari gave birth to a fourth child while she's been incarcerated, and that child was placed in the care of a foster family. The couple's other two children were placed with family members.
RELATED VIDEO:
More stories on 13 ON YOUR SIDE:
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.