Joshua Mauldin, previously discussed on this blog, has been found guilty of felony injury to a child. He had pled not guilty, and claimed he was insane when he committed the crime. His wife, Eva, had previously stated that he was possessed when he punched the baby, put her in a hotel safe, put her in the refrigerator, and put her in the microwave, turning the appliance on for 10 to 20 seconds.
The defense claims that Joshua Mauldin has suffered from a severe mental illness since age 10, and that he did not know what he was doing. The prosecution, however, said that he did it because he was angry at being stuck in a loveless marriage, with a child he did not want.
Testimony was offered that little Ana, now age one, had suffered second- and third-degree burns to her left ear, cheek, hand and shoulder. She underwent two skin grafts, and part of her left ear had to be amputated.
Ana now lives with her mother’s cousin and his family, and she still goes to physical therapy five days a week. She still wears bandages which must be changed daily, and which is extremely painful for the infant. They are hoping to adopt her, but worry how they will tell the little girl what happened to her. The lady caring for her says there is no way they cannot tell her, since she will eventually wonder how she got the scars, and why her ear is mangled as a result of the partial amputation.
The infant’s mother, Eva, refused to testify against her husband.
The jury is currently deliberating Joshua Mauldin’s sentence. The defense has argued for probation, while the prosecution has argued for life in prison.
A trial has been set for next month, to terminate the Mauldins’ parental rights so little Ana may be legally adopted.
UPDATE 3/27: The jury has sentenced Joshua Mauldin to 25 years in prison, and a $10,000 fine. His daughter’s foster mother was able to give a victim impact statement. According to CNN:
His daughter Ana’s foster mother fought back tears as she detailed how after being injured, the girl’s left hand was so burned that there was no skin, no muscle, no fat, only tendon and bone.
Ana suffered second- and third-degree burns to her left ear, cheek, hand and shoulder and has required several skin grafts. Part of her left ear had to be amputated.
Her foster mother, Heather Croxton, testified about Ana’s screams as she’s undergone painful surgeries and physical therapy that will continue for years.
“There is no excuse for your actions and I hate that one day you will be set free and allowed to move on with your life while Ana continues to pay for your actions,” she told Mauldin during her emotional victim impact statement Wednesday.
Mauldin, 20, was sentenced after jurors deliberated for 6½ hours over two days. They also fined him $10,000.
I agree with the foster mother. There is no excuse for his actions, and it is indeed horrible that one day he will be freed and allowed to move on with his life, while that poor little baby will pay for what he did, for the rest of her life.
Let’s hope the foster parents (who wish to become the adoptive parents, and based upon their care of her during this horrible period of recovery, I think they have more than proven that they will be good parents to her) and eventually little Ana are able to appear before the parole board as necessary, to ensure he serves his entire sentence.
I read this as well. I am glad they found him guilty, insane or no. I have to wonder though, if he was mad because of his marriage…what was going on that he would take it out on his kid?
Hi, Sandy!
I’m not really sure. Maybe the prosecution felt he was just generally angry as a result of his marriage, or maybe they thought he was angry at his wife and angry that he had been left alone to take care of the baby. I get the impression that they believe he wanted out of the marriage, and wanted rid of the baby, and that he microwaved the baby in a fit of rage.
It’s extremely odd. Until very recently, I had never even heard of someone microwaving a baby. What on earth would possess someone to do that at all? I don’t understand it.
If the guy wanted to be free from the kid most states have a baby Moses law. Or why not find a family member, a church or agency to help.
GRRRR!! That is the only think printable I can say.
I have heard of some women with post-partum psychosis that tried, did or thought of microwaving their babies, though I think it was very rare. I can’t imagine thinking…”hmmm…let me stick him in the microwave and see what happens”.
I can see getting back at the wife by harming the child…men do that all the time, unfortunately. I just wonder why the situation was so horrible he had to take it out on the child…did she cheat on him or something? See what I am wondering? Ok, so it was a loveless marriage…ok…so that means you take it out on a helpless 2 month old?
Dee…I agree that there is NO excuse for harming an unwanted child. Almost all states have some kind of law that allows you to give your child up…and there are always loving people willing to adopt those children as well. I can never understand why anyone would feel the need to abandon or abuse a child, especially a small infant. I think it was all done out of malice.
That dude is in Texas I believe. Texas has the Baby Mose laws. Buckner’s Family service, South Texas Children’s Services (Homes), Hendricks and others provide service to families in need. If the guy is really mentally disabled. MHMR provides family advocates/counselors. All the parents have to do to receive that one is say I’m stressed and need help. The MHMR program is designed to prevent families from entering the system. I have had the parent’s of some of my students request MHMR classes just because they wanted to be a better parent to special needs children. These were good parents any way. Plus there is also CPS for those who can’t find any other help.
[...] 28, 2008 by elfninosmom I previously wrote about Joshua Mauldin, who was convicted of microwaving his infant daughter; yesterday he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. His wife, Eva (who wasn’t there when it [...]
wow
this is very sad
i ant belive all these lies that people are saying just to get out of trouble from hurtin their poor babies
i mean child abuse shaken baby syndrome has gone up ALOT this past couple of years
well i hope that Ana will be ok and i hope she is doing well