Angela Norman

Background

Angela Norman was a Dayton resident and the mother of Makayla Norman, a 14-year-old girl who had cerebral palsy and weighed 28 pounds when she died.

The offence

Authorities said Makayla had numerous bed sores and showed other signs of neglect when she died March 1, 2011. Her death was attributed to nutritional and medical neglect complicated by her chronic condition. Ken Betz, the coroner’s office director (also described as director of the Miami Valley Coroner’s Office), said Makayla was the “worst malnourished child this office has ever seen.”

Norman entered guilty pleas to a first-degree felony count of involuntary manslaughter and to endangering children counts. She also faced additional endangering children charges connected with her other daughter, who was removed from the home after Makayla’s death.

Investigation

Norman was indicted with three other women. Three nurses who were to administer or monitor the girl’s care were charged as well.

Arrest

Norman was arrested on Nov. 16, 2011 after being indicted with three other women.

Trial

Norman pleaded guilty last month to a first-degree felony count of involuntary manslaughter. She also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and a felony count of endangering children.

A bail-related hearing included testimony from Dayton homicide Detective Rebecca Rose. Rose testified that “She was a skeleton with skin draped over it. It was horrific.” Rose also testified that Makayla was totally dependent on her caregivers and that when she died, she was half her previously recorded body weight. Rose testified that Makayla’s only daily source of nutrition was five to six cans of Ensure, fed through a feeding tube.

Rose testified that one of Norman’s co-defendants kept notes indicating the girl was in good health with stable vital signs, fed and resting comfortably, before Makayla’s mother called 911.

Judge Mary Huffman refused to reduce bond and added a stipulation that if the $250,000 bond was posted, the defendant would be placed under electronic monitoring once released.

Sentencing

Angela Norman was sentenced in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in Dayton to nine years in prison on May 17, 2012.

Norman’s attorney did not immediately return a call for comment on Thursday.

County prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. previously said Norman did not provide sufficient food or proper care for the child, resulting in her death.

Other details

Norman was described as 42 years old.

On the day she died, the 14-year-old weighed 28 pounds and was covered in lice, bedsores, and had skin caked in dirt. Dayton police found Norman’s home in deplorable condition, including dead bugs and fecal material throughout and piles of dirty dishes and garbage.

Makayla’s sister was removed from the home. Children Services had investigated a referral about Makayla in 2009 that was “inconclusive.” In 2004, Makayla’s mother withdrew from the Dayton Public Schools to home-school the child, and school officials later admitted they violated their own policies by failing to follow up on Makayla’s progress during her final seven years.