DOMINIQUA BLACKMON - 2 yo (5/1999) - Convicted: Adopted mother, Patricia Blackmon - Dothan, AL

Patricia Blackmon was 29 when she killed her 2-year-old adopted daughter in Dothan, Alabama, in May 1999. Blackmon was sentenced on June 7, 2002.

In 1999, Patricia Blackmon (Alabama), then 29, beat her 28-month old adopted daughter Dominiqua to death, leaving her with multiple skull fractures, broken bones and a foot imprint on her chest.

http://www.cncpunishment.com/forums/showthread.php?8041-Mothers-On-Death-Row
]

The Patricia Blackmon Case


As one of the few women to appear on Alabama's death row, Patricia Blackmon is notorious for her crime. In 1999, Patricia killed her adopted 2-year-old daughter by beating her to death. Patricia has attempted to appeal her conviction on several occasions. However, parole boards have maintained that she is guilty, and they have continued to assert that she carried out her crime in a cruel manner.



What was Patricia Blackmon's Crime?

In May 1999, a paramedic arrived at the mobile home of Patricia Blackmon and her 2-year-old daughter Dominiqua in response to an emergency call. Upon arriving there, Blackmon told her that her daughter had fallen off the bed, causing a series of serious injuries. When the paramedic found the child, she was not breathing. Although they attempted to revive her, the medical team at Flowers Hospital pronounced her dead shortly after her arrival. Despite claims that she fell off a bed, Dominiqua's injuries were not consistent with such a simple accident. As a result, police charged Blackmon with her murder.

What Evidence was Found?

In total, 30 separate injuries were present across Dominiqua's body. These injuries were not consistent with a single fall from a bed. The injuries ranged from bruises found on her legs, to fractured bones. As well as finding fresh injuries, the pathologist examining the case found injuries at various states of healing. This was indicative of long-term abuse, not just a single incident. One of the most damning injuries was a shoe print on the child's test. Upon raiding Blackmon's mobile home, police found a sandal that matched the print.

What was Patricia Blackmon's Sentence?

At her trial, Blackmon maintained that Dominiqua sustained the injuries as a result of falling off the bed. In her defense, she called on character witnesses. This included a human resources manager at her workplace, who claimed that Blackmon had a good relationship with Dominiqua. Others came forward to state they had confidently left their children in Blackmon's care. Despite these references, the evidence against Blackmon was overwhelming. As well as the long-term injuries, a medical examiner confirmed his belief that the shoe imprint found on Dominiqua matched Blackmon's sandals. Due to the brutal nature in which Dominiqua died, the judge found Blackmon guilty and sentenced her to death.

Has Patricia Blackmon Appealed?

Blackmon attempted to appeal her death sentence in 2005, with hopes of reducing it to a life sentence. By this point, Blackmon was prepared to admit her guilt. However, she claimed that she did not carry out the crime in a "cruel" manner, as Dominiqua fell unconscious before sustaining most of the injuries. Blackmon and her defense claimed that as Dominiqua could not feel the majority of the injuries, Blackmon did not act in a cruel manner. The appeal board rejected this claim, and maintained Blackmon's death sentence.

Blackmon's eventual destination following her trial and appeal was Tutwiler Prison for women in Alabama. At the time of her conviction, the jury voted 10 to two in favor of her guilt. It was the jury who made the death sentence recommendation, which the judge swiftly adhered to. Although neighbors and friends maintained Blackmon's innocence, the parole board upheld her death sentence. This case is a strong example of parricide, and the punishments that await murderous parents.


http://crime.answers.com/cases/the-patricia-blackmon-case

I bet that smirk has been wiped off her face now.