
Inset: Myra O. Santiago (Volusia County Jail). Background: The apartment complex and retention pond where Santiago’s son drowned (WESH).
A 24-year-old mother in Florida was sentenced to spend 12 years in a state correctional facility for her involvement in the death of her 3-year-old son, who drowned in a retention pond. Myra O. Santiago faced the consequences after prosecutors proved that she not only allowed the tragedy to happen but also attempted to persuade a neighbor to provide false information about the incident to authorities.
The sentence was handed down after Santiago agreed to plead no contest to one count of aggravated manslaughter of a child. In addition to her incarceration, Santiago must also serve eight years of probation, during which time she is barred from having unsupervised contact with minors.
Santiago was credited with 600 days of time already served.