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GUILTY. Stepmother convicted in Oneida County toddler death
By Eileen Persike
Editor
Ellen Tran, 30, is handcuffed and escorted by Oneida County detective Chad Wanta to jail where she will remain until sentencing.
It took an Oneida County jury of four women and eight men less than two hours to find former Newbold resident Ellen Tran guilty of first degree reckless homicide in the April 2017 death of her stepson, Avery Edwards. Tran will be sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Patrick O’Melia following a pre-sentence investigation
Tran told law enforcement the 20-month-old boy slipped in the shower. A forensic pathologist testified Wednesday that Avery’s injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma to the head.
Lori Edwards breaks down when the guilty verdict is read in Oneida County Court Thursday. The Jury convicted Ellen Tran, stepmother to Avery Edwards, of first degree reckless homicide.
The defense argued there were other ways in which the boy could have died, including at the hand of his father, Trung Tran. In his closing argument, district attorney Michael Schiek told the jury the circumstantial evidence he presented corroborates the charges. The jury agreed, and found Tran guilty.
The charge carries a maximum of 40 years behind bars and 20 years of extended supervision.
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