Local

Mother gets 5 years for putting infant inside fridge, killing him

CHESTER, S.C. — Angela Blackwell put her infant son in her refrigerator for three hours at her home on Rose Street in Chester in February 2016.  He died of hypothermia.

Blackwell took a plea to a lesser charge and was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison.

Blackwell was charged with homicide by child abuse, which carries a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.

The sentence was reduced because she is mentally challenged with an IQ of 58 and prosecutors didn't see this crime as a calculated murder.

Blackwell found 4-day-old William David Lewis in the refrigerator hours after she put him there.

His body temperature was so low that the thermometers the paramedics used couldn't even read it.

The baby's father, Jeff Lewis, said, at the time, he was completely shocked that this happened and called Blackwell a good mother.

The couple have an older child and the Department of Social Services had been to the house before because of the very poor conditions in the home.

Blackwell's lawyer asked for probation Thursday in court because of her mental capacity and lack of any criminal record. Her lawyer also said this act was out of character for her.

The prosecutor said other parents don't do what Blackwell did, despite their circumstances.

Blackwell told the judge she wanted to be home at Christmas to see her older child, who is staying with relatives.