ISAIAH PEREZ-HOOD - 3 yo - Scranton PA

A woman accused of beating to death her young stepson in Lackawanna County was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder.

It took a jury about 12 hours over two days to decide that Wandaly
Perez-Hood is guilty of first-degree murder in the beating death of her
three-year-old stepson. Now, that same jury will decide whether she gets
life in prison or the death penalty.

The courtroom was very quiet as the verdict was read Thursday afternoon.
The defendant put her head down and cried. Her sister and other family
members could be heard sobbing as the judge read the guilty verdict.

It took more than 12 hours for a jury to find Wandaly Perez-Hood, 33,
guilty of first-degree murder. As punishment for killing her
three-year-old stepson, Isaiah, she will either get life in prison or
the death penalty.

Prosecutors accused Perez-Hood of beating Isaiah to death in June 2005
at an apartment building in Jermyn. An autopsy revealed eight blows to
Isaiah's head caused the major brain damage that killed him.

Isaiah's family members were in court during the trial.

"They're satisfied," said Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico.
"It's bittersweet. It certainly doesn't bring him back, but some measure
of justice was achieved today."

Now, Perez-Hood's defense attorney will try to save her life. He says he
will have character witnesses, including family members and prison
guards, testify on her behalf when the penalty phase begins Friday
morning.

"She has no criminal history whatsoever, which is another mitigating
factor," said Paul Walker, Perez-Hood's attorney. "In addition to that,
she had some issues. We had her evaluated by a psychologist. He's going
to testify."

The prosecution says the fact that the child was only three years old
will be a key factor in their argument for the death penalty.
Prosecutors say Isaiah's family has not shown preference either way.

"This entire time, they haven't really pushed for anything other than
for justice to prevail and to allow the process to follow through its
natural progression," said Talerico.

The death penalty phase of the trial starts at 9 a.m. Friday at the
Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton. The judge has even reserved
court time for this weekend if the proceedings take longer than a day.