GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A woman charged in her 9-month-old daughter’s death has pleaded no contest to murder and child abuse charges.
Tatiana Fusari entered the plea Wednesday afternoon. She will be sentenced to at least 25 years in prison on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree child abuse.
Fusari’s daughter, Mary Welch, was found dead at the couple’s Solon Township home in the summer of 2018. Investigators said she died of malnutrition and dehydration. Mary weighed just 8 pounds at the time of her death.
On Monday, Mary’s father Seth Welch was convicted of felony murder and first-degree child abuse following a five-day trial. He is now facing up to life in prison.
In his trial, prosecutors say he waited almost two hours to call police after finding Mary on her torn and urine-soaked mattress in her crib. Before calling 911, prosecutors said he called his parents, texted someone about selling a goat and Googled why a rapper was kidnapped.
Prosecutors didn’t say when Fusari will be sentenced.
