Foster Mom Found Guilty In Boy's Death

BOSTON -- A Dorchester foster mother has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 4-year-old boy in her care.

After two and a half days of deliberations, a Suffolk Superior Court jury found that Corrine Stephen, 26, was responsible for injuries that led to the death of 4-year-old Dontel Jeffers in March 2005. Officials said that the boy was beaten in the stomach so hard that his organs were perforated, which led to a fatal infection.

Stephen, the mother of a 5-year-old, was charged with second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison, but the jury found her guilty of a lesser charge. Stephen could still get up to 20 years in prison.

"Not the how the family wanted it, you know. My aunt is really sad about it because she thought she would have a longer sentence," said Dontel's uncle, Vincent James.

Stephen's attorney said he is disappointed by the jury's decision, saying his client did not harm the child.

"The issue was whether or not the failure to provide medical care under the circumstances was criminal, as opposed to negligence. And, that is a jury decision," defense attorney John Palmer.

"I would not say she caused the death, but she could have been a little more responsive to the needs of what happened. If she claimed he had an accident, she should have at least sought medical help in a timely matter," said Stephen's father, Steven.

Steven Stephen also extended condolences to the entire Jeffers family.

Jeffers died 10 days after he moved in with Stephen. The Massachusetts Department of Social Services placed Dontel with the Dorchester woman.

Officials said that she repeatedly abused the boy by tying him up and assaulting him, but Stephen claimed that the boy hurt himself while jumping on a bed.

Stephen will be sentenced during the first week of December.