A mother who left her children in the care of another family, even though she knew they were being abused, was sentenced Friday to 16 years in prison.
Karen Stillman, 58, who pleaded guilty in July to attempted child abuse with serious bodily injury, was given the maximum sentence by Denver District Judge William Hood.
The Denver district attorney’s office said Stillman left her son and daughter in the home of Eric and Linda Torrez in the 1990s, where they were repeatedly abused physically and sexually.
Stillman’s daughter, who is now 22, spoke at the sentencing hearing, saying her mother knew of the abuse but did nothing to intervene or report it.
Eric Torrez, 47, and Linda Torrez, 46, are expected to go to trial in February. Their 23-year-old son, Patrick, pleaded guilty in October.
