JOPLIN, MO. -- A southwest Missouri woman has been sentenced to 13 years in prison in the alcohol poisoning death of an 11-year-old boy.
The Joplin Globe reports that 29-year-old Linda Petrait chose not to speak at Friday's sentencing hearing. Her family told the court she loved Tyler Fecko. But his mother, Angie Edwards, asked rhetorically, "What was she thinking?"
Petrait pleaded guilty in October to second-degree murder and felony child endangerment. Without the plea, she could have faced a much longer sentence.
Her 29-year-old boyfriend, Dale Phillips, also was charged in the July 2009 death of Tyler, who was his nephew. Authorities said the two Joplin residents were playing a drinking game with the boy while he was staying at Phillips' apartment.
Phillips is set to go to trial on February 7th.
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