A Denver woman who left her granddaughter in a car with the windows rolled up on a scorching hot day was sentenced Thursday to five years’ probation in connection with the girl’s death.
Yvonne Mabry, 36, told the court that her granddaughter, 2-year-old Elizabeth Buchmiller, is never far from her thoughts.
“There is not an hour that goes by that I don’t think about that baby,” Mabry told the court.
Mabry could have been sentenced to up to 16 years in prison, but prosecutors and District Judge Robert McGahey felt she is truly remorseful for Elizabeth’s death.
“I do take complete responsibility for what happened and for my actions,” Mabry said.
Her sentencing was part of a plea agreement. In February, Mabry pleaded guilty to criminally negligent child abuse resulting in death.
The grandmother had been drinking and taking pain medication the day of incident.
A neighbor found Elizabeth on July 9 in a parked car near Mabry’s apartment, in the 5300 block of West 10th Avenue. The temperature climbed to 97 degrees that day.
“The child stayed in the car and literally cooked to death,” prosecutor Verna Carpenter said.
The infant’s mother was in the courtroom Thursday, but she did not address the court.
As part of the sentencing, Mabry may not drink alcohol. She’s been undergoing counseling and has not tested positive for alcohol since the incident, said Michael Trani, Mabry’s defense attorney. As part of her sentence, Mabry cannot supervise children younger than 10.
Mabry told McGahey that she talks with her daughter every day, and every day Elizabeth comes up.
“Perhaps you can find some measure of calm in your life,” said McGahey, who is a grandfather. Elizabeth “needs to be remembered in a positive way.”
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-820-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
