NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KETK) — An East Texas woman was found guilty on Thursday of murdering her 19-month-old son.
According to a release from the Nacogdoches Assistant District Attorney’s Office, Hanna Ruth Moses was found guilty of murdering her son Thomas Blake Rogers. She was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
The ADA’s office said the toddler was born prematurely and was developmentally delayed. He was removed from the care of Moses in June 2021 for medical neglect and was underweight.
“He returned to the defendant’s care in March 2022 and just a few weeks later suffered a displaced femur fracture despite being unable to roll, crawl, or walk,” the ADA’s office said.
However, Thomas remained under the care of his mom, and on May 30, 2022, a 911 call was made by Moses who said her son was not breathing and attempted to do CPR for 30 minutes before making the call to 911.
When first responders arrived, they found the toddler unresponsive, wet and with his ankles “bound tightly” with a shoestring. Life-saving measures were performed on the toddler until they reached the Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital where they reportedly found bruises developing from his head to his toes on both sides of his body. The toddler also had significant bleeding in his brain.
The toddler was sent to a Fort Worth children’s hospital where he died on June 21, 2022, “from significant injuries caused by multiple impacts.”
The ADA said though Moses’ sentencing does not bring the toddler back, it does ensure that his mom is held accountable for the heinous acts against him.
“Throughout the trial, the courtroom was filled with law enforcement, child protective services, CASA advocates and family members evidencing their support of Baby Thomas and further evidencing that the harm of children will not be tolerated in the Nacogdoches community,” the ADA said.
