An 18-year-old central Illinois woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for beating her 5-month-old son to death.
Savannah Pickett of Decatur pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced Thursday for killing Amarrius Rice in September 2010. Circuit Judge Lisa Holder White told her that if she had been tried and convicted the sentence could have been up to 60 years.
The judge read from court records that indicated Pickett slammed the baby to the floor, shook and punched him.
Some of Pickett's relatives cried as the details were read.
Pickett could get out of jail in 2030 with credit for time served.