AURORA, CO (TCN) — A 28-year-old mother will spend more than 80 years in prison after police found her missing daughter's charred remains and bone fragments inside her apartment in 2023.
The 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced on June 12 that a judge sentenced Alexus Nelson to 84 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder of his daughter Mahari, 5, and mutilation of the body. Attempts to influence government officials. As part of his plea, Nelson cannot appeal his sentence.
According to prosecutors, on May 30, 2023, Lee's grandmother called the Aurora Police Department after not seeing or hearing from the little girl for about three weeks. Police contacted Nelson and told her she had “placed her child up for adoption through an adoption agency.” However, the police were unable to substantiate the claim. Her adoption agency had never spoken with Nelson and did not have her case file with her or Li.
Police executed a search warrant at Nelson's apartment the next day. According to the prosecution, a detective said he smelled “the smell of rotting flesh” inside a closet in the yard. Authorities reportedly found a bag inside containing Lee's charred remains. They also found bone fragments in the ashes of the fireplace.
Aurora Police Chief “It was hard to see our police officers having to find that little angel in the situation he was in,” said Art Acevedo.
“This mother knew about an adoption program that could have cared for this 5-year-old child, but she chose murder instead,” District Attorney John Kellner said after the sentencing. “There is no way to fully understand what turned this mother into the monster she was.” “She should spend decades in prison for the unspeakable crimes she committed.”
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