Oklahoma Appeals Court Upholds Life Sentence In Toddler Death

A man sentenced to life in prison for the death of a 15-month-old child has lost an attempt to have his first-degree murder conviction overturned.

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals handed down the ruling Thursday in the appeal of 24-year-old Marcus T. Mitchell.

2/27/2012 Related Story: Dewey Baby's Home Checked By DHS 6 Months Before Her Death

Mitchell was convicted by a jury in Washington County of first-degree murder, three counts of child neglect and drug charges in connection with the Feb. 24, 2012, death of Emma Beth Warmberodt.

Police in Dewey said they found the girl dead with bruises to her head and chest as well as blood in her mouth and nose. They also found she may have been dead for some time as her body was already stiffening.

An autopsy indicated she died as the result of blunt trauma.

1/31/2013 Related Story: Dewey Man Told Investigators He Accidentally Caused Toddler's Death