truitt.jpg

Ramisi Truitt

(Provided photo)

Shomer Brown

Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse woman was sentenced to 18 years in prison today for the death of a 2-year-old boy she slammed to the floor for not saying "thank you" for a peanut butter sandwich, a prosecutor said.

Ramisi Truitt, 35, professed her innocence at sentencing today, despite pleading guilty in February to manslaughter in the Aug. 6, 2015 death of Shomer Brown. She had faced up to 25 years in prison if she had gone to trial.

Truitt admitted trying to seriously injure the baby, causing his death.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Cali said Truitt gave conflicting stories to police about what happened.

One had been previously made public: that Truitt had caused the toddler to fall down a flight of 13 stairs. But that's not what killed him, Cali said.

It took Truitt's own 15-year-old daughter to tell investigators what her mother had done, Cali said.

The teenager said she heard her mother yelling at the 2-year-old because he wouldn't say "thank you" for the a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast, Cali said.

She then saw Truitt throw the boy "directly to the floor, taking his life," Cali said.

County Court Judge Stephen Dougherty said he counted five different stories from Truitt about what happened.

The baby's father, who later had a child with Truitt, became upset today that Cali would not let him speak at sentencing.

Instead, Cali called upon the Shomer's maternal grandfather, Ron Camber. Holding a picture of the young boy, Camber said he hoped Truitt remembered that face for the rest of her life.

"She took this one away from us at 2 years old," Camber said. "He didn't have a chance."

For her part, Truitt sought to portray herself as a loving maternal figure, saying Shomer became her de facto "stepson" after his mother died in childbirth.

"I did not do anything to recklessly cause his death," she said. " I was neglectful for allowing things to happen. But to kill my stepson? No."

She also said her 15-year-old daughter had lied about what happened, giving multiple versions of the story herself. (After court, Cali denied that the daughter had changed her story. He also noted that Truitt had a previous child endangering conviction for excessive discipline.)

As Truitt deflected responsibility in court, the baby's father and his maternal family began a confrontation across the aisle.

Extra security was called as the father and another man were separated. No punches were thrown. The father tried to approach the judge, but was held back.

Dougherty, the judge, warned everyone to sit down and be quiet.

"It's like church," the judge said of court, noting that he'd order anyone committing further outbursts to be taken into custody. "It's just not worth it."

After Truitt was done speaking, the judge noted that Truitt had once taken responsibility for what happened, pleading guilty in February.

On the other hand, one of Truitt's bogus stories was that Shomer's injuries had been caused by his 3-year-old brother, Dougherty said.

And he recited the head-to-toe injuries that Brown sustained: multiple skull fractures, brain bleeding, facial fractures and cuts to his forehead, both arms and both legs.

Noting that nothing would bring the baby back to life, Dougherty said he did give Truitt credit for pleading guilty, even though she tried to back out of her plea later.

With a promised sentence of between 15 and 20 years, Dougherty sentenced Truitt to 18 years in prison.

Members of the toddler's family applauded as Truitt was led from court.