WESTLAND, Mich. -- A Westland woman was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison for placing her newborn baby boy in a trash bag in her parent's garage.
Valeeka Gartell, 28, accepted a plea agreement after originally entering a guilty plea to first-degree child abuse while mentally ill.
Gartrell was found mentally competent and took the plea because she did not want to face trial on a more serious charge of assault with intent to murder, which could have brought penalties up to life in prison.
Family members noticed Gartrell was bleeding in April 2007, but didn't realize she had delivered the baby boy until they took her to St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia.
They returned home and found the newborn alive in the garage.
Gartrell has been allowed supervised visits with her baby, who will be 2 in April.
The grandparents have custody of both of Gartrell's children.
2 months ago
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