Brittanie N. Kloesel, 20, of Columbus was sentenced to 25 years in prison last week for the death of 14-month old Emily K. Fitzgerald, Sept. 7. District Judge W.C. (Bud) Kirkendall sentenced Kloesel, Dec. 5, after a plea bargain was reached between Colorado County Attorney Ken Sparks and Kloesel's attorneys Louis Gimbert and Kevin Dunn.

Kloesel originally told the Colorado County Sheriff's Department that the child was not belted in place, slipped through a highchair, and hit her head on the floor. She called a friend who took her and the child to Columbus Community Hospital. The child was pronounced dead 50 minutes after arrival.

The Sheriff's department conducted an investigation and was awaiting autopsy results when the defendant appeared at the Sheriff's office and admitted her guilt in a videotaped statement taken by Lt. Troy Neisner.

Sparks reported that according to her confession Kloesel said she was extremely frustrated with having to take care of this child, a 16-month old child, and a five-month old child seven days a week. She said she was seated on the bed with all three children seeking her attention and, due to her stress level, she became aggravated and threw the child to the carpeted floor.

An autopsy by the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that the death was caused by a blunt force head injury.

Sparks explained that he agreed to the 25-year sentence since he was concerned that a jury might find that her act was committed recklessly instead of intentionally and find her guilty of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

Kloesel's attorneys were prepared to prove that she was suffering from postpartum depression when she committed the act.

He said that with a murder conviction, unlike manslaughter, Kloesel will be required to serve at least one-half of her sentence before becoming eligible for parole.