State v. McBride

Outcome: Death Penalty Dropped,

Description: By Elise Franco Shannon McBride, whose 23-month-old baby was beaten to death by an ex-boyfriend, was sentenced to five years’ probation for her involvement in the crime. McBride, 23, who appeared Thursday before Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, was emotional and difficult to understand as she spoke quietly in court. She told Judge Sweeney that she knows she’s not the only person still hurting from Makenzie McBride’s death. Makenzie died April 6, 2010, after she was rushed to Akron Children’s Hospital with a skull fracture and severe bruising on her face. Her death was ruled homicide by the Summit County coroner — blunt-force trauma to the head. Part of the agreement stipulated that the prosecution would recommend Shannon McBride receive probation instead of jail time, said Assistant County Prosecutor Rob Andrews. Atty. Ron Yarwood, who represented McBride alongside Atty. Rhys Cartwright-Jones, said McBride understands and regrets what happened to her daughter.