Spirit Lake Nation woman sentenced to 30 years for child's death

Thursday, November 7, 2013  

A woman from the Spirit Lake Nation of North Dakota was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison in connection with the death of a two-year-old girl.

Hope Louise Tomahawk Whiteshield, 32, pleaded guilty to one charge of felony child abuse and one charge of witness tampering. She admitted that she threw the girl down an embankment and told other children in her home not to talk about it.

"The 30 year sentence imposed today cannot undue this horrible situation. It does however, provide some measure of justice to the victim and her family," U.S. Attorney Timothy Purdon said in a press release.

The victim was the granddaughter of Whiteshield’s husband. Her twin sister was also abused, according to the press release.

Get the Story:
North Dakota woman sentenced to 30 years in federal prison in toddler death on reservation (AP 11/6)
Spirit Lake woman sentenced to 30 years for child's death (WDAZ 11/6)