A New York woman who was convicted of murdering her 4-year-old son during a custody dispute in 2012 died in prison.
Manuela Morgado was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison in 2014 after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her son, according to the Westchester County District Attorney.
The Journal News reported that Morgado was found dead in her cell at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility on Wednesday, March 4, according to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
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A record of Morgado’s death appears on the DOCCS’ website.
The paper reported that her death is under investigation and that she was found at around 2 a.m.
Morgado fatally smothered her son, Jason “Jake” Reish, with a pillow in October 2012 after initially giving him Benadryl, the Journal News reported.
Then, according to the paper, she attempted suicide by taking an overdose of Xanax and left a note.
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When interviewed by police, she reportedly said she intended for Jake’s death to be “quick and peaceful so we could be happy together forever,” the Journal News reported.
At the time, Morgado was immersed in a custody fight with her ex-fiancé, per the paper.
“This defendant methodically planned and carried out the murder of her four-year-old child, a child whose life was taken well before his time by the very person whose job it was to protect him,” then-District Attorney Janet DiFiore said following Morgado’s sentencing.
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