Woman Convicted Of Beating Stepdaughter To Death; Gets Life Sentence
By Kim Glovas
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's been called one of the worst cases of child abuse in Philadelphia history.
But on Friday, a 48-year-old woman was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life for the crimes.
WARNING: Some of the details are graphic and may be disturbing to some.
Margarita Garabito was convicted of beating her 10-year-old stepdaughter to death in October 2009.
Assistant District Attorney Andrew Notaristefano says the woman beat the child for years.
"She beat her over and over and over again over every part of her body. There is nothing other than the conclusion that she intended to kill this child based on what she did," Notaristefano explained.
He says the damage was brutal.
"The injuries were the worst I've ever seen. She had her head split open."
Notaristefano says the wound was seven inches by four inches wide and went down to the girl's skull.
Garabito claimed the girl's father inflicted the fatal injuries, but Notaristefano said he committed suicide in prison.
