Mother gets 99 years in son's mutilation Jurors in mutilation case sentence mom to 99 years

A Houston mother was sentenced to 99 years in prison on Monday for severing her infant son's genitals in a 2007 attack she blamed on the family dog.

Harris County jurors deliberated about two hours on Monday before sentencing Katherine “Katie” Nadal, a former Anahuac cheerleader, the maximum allowed for the charge of serious bodily injury to a child. Nadal, 28, was also fined $10,000. She will have to serve 30 years before becoming eligible for parole.

In an emotional outburst during impact statements from five of the boy's family members, Nadal shouted at Patches DeShazo, the child's aunt, who is also his legal guardian.

As DeShazo chastised Nadal for hurting the boy, Nadal shouted back, “No I didn't. I didn't hurt him, I failed him.” Camden Gothia, the boy's father, them jumped from his seat and shouted, “You abused him while he was still in the womb!”

As deputies seated Nadal, Gothia stormed out of the courtroom and could be heard shouting in the hallway.

Defense attorneys said they were disappointed with the length of the sentence and said Nadal continues to assert her innocence.

“She has always maintained that she did not do anything wrong, except not remain alert enough as a caretaker,” Allen Isbell said.

Nadal testified during the trial that a small dachshund chewed her 5-week-old son's penis and testicles while she slept in the family's Clear Lake-area apartment.

Upbringing described

Earlier Monday, jurors in state District Judge Denise Collins' court listened to testimony describing her suburban childhood through her adult descent into drug addiction, to March 13, 2007, when she mutilated her son.

Prosecutors had asked jurors to sentence Nadal to life in prison. Her lawyers asked for probation.

Prosecutors asked for “the maximum with a message,” noting the child's injuries.

“That can't be fixed,” said Assistant Harris County District Attorney Denise Oncken. “She has given him a horrible life to deal with.”

Isbell asked for mercy for a “promising young lady” who wasn't strong enough to deal with the death of a close friend in high school.

“Mitigation does not excuse what someone has done, but it brings compassion for the person,” Isbell said.

Skip Cornelius, another of Nadal's lawyers, said the mother maintained her story about seeing a 6-pound miniature dachshund licking the bloody baby after waking up.

He also floated an argument that someone else may have cut off the baby's genitals — a theory that was not supported by any evidence during trial.

He went on to say Nadal had a “drug-diseased mind,” but had no motive for mutilating the boy.

“This whole case is about drugs,” Cornelius said. The day after the attack, Nadal tested positive for cocaine, methadone and Xanax, a tranquilizer.

Assistant District Attorney Tammy Thomas gave her closing arguments with a picture of the child, smiling for the camera, displayed on the courtroom's big-screen television. Doctors testified the boy will need many more surgeries and hormone treatment for the rest of his life.

“This kid has so many problems coming toward him in the future, a pill's not going to fix it,” Thomas said. “She took his identity, folks. And she either flushed it or threw it in the trash can somewhere.”

None of the baby's parts were found.

Thomas also noted evidence presented of Nadal's extensive drug use. Testimony showed she went to a drug house to buy cocaine, then injected it while watching her son the day before the assault. She also argued with the boy's father over whether the baby needed to be circumcised.

Gothia, the boy's father, opposed it. Gothia was at work when the boy was injured and immediately ended his relationship with Nadal.

brian.rogers@chron.com