DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind. – The wife of the man sentenced to 72 years in prison for “accidently” dropping the couple’s baby and then setting the house on fire, plead guilty Wednesday morning.
Sheryl "Ashley" Wallace, the wife of Cory Wallace, plead guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Her sentencing is scheduled for January 5, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.
Cory, 23, was arrested in connection with the death of his 4-month-old son, Jensen, in February 2015.
He admitted to police he “accidentally” dropped the baby on a hardwood floor, and started a fire after he “freaked out” when the baby wasn’t breathing, according to the Delaware County probable cause affidavit.
Jenson was also found to have broken ribs and skin abrasions. When police questioned Cory, he said there were several times when he and Wallace would argue. He said he would “grab” and “snatch” Jensen from her arms.
One month after Cory was arrested, Wallace was charged with neglect and obstructing justice.
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The affidavit stated a child abuse pediatrician at Riley Hospital for Children determined Jensen's injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome. The doctor also said the Jensen's demeanor would have been "inconsistent with Ashley's reports" to the police, based on the timing and nature of the infant's injuries.
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Initially investigators believed Jenson died from smoke inhalation, but an autopsy determined he died prior to the fire due to blunt force trauma to the head.
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