A 33-year-old woman was given a life sentence by a judge for killing her young sons during what her defense lawyer claimed was a “psychotic episode” brought on by drug withdrawal.
According to WDRB-TV, About a month after entering a guilty plea to two charges of murder in connection with the deaths of 6-year-old Maurice Baker Jr. and 9-year-old Jayden Howard, Tiffanie Lucas was sentenced on Friday, November 22. She submitted the plea, therefore Lucas will not be able to appeal.
“Tiffanie Lucas not only murdered Jayden and Maurice but she also permanently scarred the lives of their family and friends — both adults and children,” stated Bullitt County Commonwealth Attorney Bailey Taylor after the sentencing announcement.
When deputies from the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene of a shooting on Bentwood Drive on November 8, 2023, they discovered two boys who had been shot and seriously wounded. After being taken to Norton’s Children Hospital by medical professionals, they both passed away from their wounds. Lucas was taken into custody by investigators that same day.
Lucas tried to shoot herself in the head, but the gun jammed, according to WHAS-TV.
According to WDRB, Lucas “indicated that it was an accident” when an investigator questioned if she “meant to hurt her children.”
According to reports, Lucas described herself as “so stupid” and “in such a bad spot.”
When Lucas was arrested, Richard Beahl, the detective, stated that she was certain she was “being manipulated through Facebook, through the internet or through Wi-Fi — through Facebook and through her Wi-Fi — being manipulated into doing what she did.”
The judge at her sentencing hearing was informed by Richard Lawniczak, one of her lawyers, that Lucas’ “psychotic episode was brought on by opioid withdrawal,” adding, “She abstained from use, and, in trying to get clean, this was the side effect.”
“I understand that this is a hard thing for many people to accept or understand, but no one is more devastated by their deaths than Tiffanie Lucas,” commented Jonathan Villavicencio, her other lawyer.
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At the sentence hearing, Maurice Baker Sr., the father of Maurice Baker Jr., talked about how Lucas disregarded his attempts to fight for custody.
“I didn’t just lose Maurice on November 8,” Baker Sr. stated. The day my son was born, I lost him. She has had my son over my head since he was born. I repeatedly pleaded with her.
Their son’s birthday was organized by Baker Sr., but Lucas “never let him come.”
Lucas was informed by Bobbie Baker, the boy’s aunt, “I will never forgive you.” I’ll be there at all parole hearings.
