Anderson — An Anderson woman convicted of neglect in the death of her toddler son is going to prison for 40-years.
28-year-old Jennifer Harris was sentenced Tuesday, one month after a Madison County jury found her guilty in the death of 18-month-old Harlan Haines. She was found guilty of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, but was found not guilty of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury.
28-year-old Dylan Tate, who was Harris' boyfriend when Haines died in early 2018, was convicted last June and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Tate is not the child's father.
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Jurors found Tate guilty of murder, neglect of a dependent, child molestation, and operating a vehicle while Intoxicated.
Harlan Haines died after the car he was in crashed, but investigators determined the toddler did not die because of injuries suffered in the crash. Tate told police he was trying to get Harlan to the hospital because he had stopped breathing.
But in court papers, doctors said the child's death was not the result of the crash. The documents describe how doctors found paper towels stuffed down the toddler's windpipe. Those injuries were severe and included multiple bruises, cuts and other injuries. The coroner's report described serious injuries to Haines' neck, chest and private areas.
During his trial, prosecutors said Tate tortured and molested the child. Harris testified against Tate at his trial.
