Mich. mom pleads no contest to involuntary manslaughter in adopted quadriplegic girl’s death

Mom takes plea deal in quadriplegic girl’s death

FLINT, Mich. — A Michigan mom accused of starving her adopted quadriplegic daughter to death has pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter.

The body of 9-year-old Shylae (Sha-LAY) Thomas was found covered in mothballs in a storage unit near Flint in April. She had been dead for six weeks.

Defense lawyer Mark Clement (kleh-MENT) says Lorrie Thomas pleaded no contest Friday to involuntary manslaughter, four days before she was to go to trial on a second-degree murder charge.

Clement predicts a sentence of 3½ years to seven years in prison. Thomas will return to court on Jan. 11.