Polk County mom could be out in 120 days after guilty plea in blind, autistic son's death

A Polk County woman pleaded guilty Wednesday in connection with the 2016 death of her blind, autistic son.

Kimberly Lightwine, 43, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Lightwine's attorney Jason Coatney said Lightwine — who once faced a possible life sentence — could spend as little as 120 days in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Coatney said Lightwine will enter a 120-day substance abuse treatment program through the prison system. If she successfully completes that program, she will be released on five years probation. If not, Lightwine could spend seven years in prison.

MORE: 'I killed my kid:' Polk County mother charged after death of blind, autistic teen

Lightwine was originally charged with second-degree murder after her 19-year-old son, Austin Anderson, was found dead in a field in August 2016.

Polk County deputies say Lightwine was lying next to her dead son when they arrived at the scene — both Lightwine and Anderson were wearing nothing but their underwear.

Authorities say Anderson had a swollen brain from dehydration and may have gone into shock after not taking a vital medication.

Lightwine had a broken leg and broken jaw.

Deputies say Lightwine told them at the time that she had driven her son out to the field and let him die.

Lightwine's sister, Stephanie Saloga, told the News-Leader in 2016 there was more to the story.

MORE: ‘There’s more to the story,’ says family of son found dead in Polk County field

Saloga said Lightwine made those incriminating statements while she was recovering from being drugged.

Saloga said she believed Lightwine and Anderson had been abducted and then left in the field, while Lightwine was beaten.

Coatney said Wednesday that Lightwine has no memory of what led up to her being found in the field, but he believes she might have been assaulted by someone.

Coatney said Lightwine could not take responsibility for knowingly harming her son, but she could take responsibility for behaving recklessly — which she did with Wednesday's plea.

"I was pleased that the state was agreeable to this," Coatney said. "Frankly, I think it's the right thing to do."

Prosecutors initially planned to argue that Lightwine had committed the felony of elder abuse, and Anderson died as a result of that felony. In Missouri, elder abuse can apply to disabled adults.

MORE:

Attorney releases video segments of police interview with mom accused of killing son

Lawyer builds defense for Polk County mom charged with murder of autistic son