Tulsa man sentenced in death of 3-month-old daughter

A Tulsa man will spend 20-years behind bars, after pleading no contest to second degree murder in the death of his infant daughter. <br/><br/>Prosecutors say Teddy Lee <b><a class="headlinelink" href="http://www.kotv.com/main/home/searchKOTV.asp?mainSearch=Jefferson">Jefferson</a></b>

Tuesday, June 21st 2005, 6:25 am

By: News On 6

A Tulsa man will spend 20-years behind bars, after pleading no contest to second degree murder in the death of his infant daughter.

Prosecutors say Teddy Lee Jefferson and the baby's mother both did not provide medical attention quick enough to save the seriously injured child.

6 in the Morning reporter Omar Villafranca says Rosa Jefferson-Whiten was not even three months old when she died. The baby's parents claim the child was wedged between two twin beds that were pushed together and that she never hit the ground.

Attorney's say both Jefferson and the baby's mother, Maishana Whiten, knew the baby was hurt. They claim the couple watched as the child went into shock and later died at a Tulsa hospital. An autopsy report shows Rosa had broken ribs and punctured organs. Jefferson is 20 years old, he'll stay in jail until he's 40 and then he'll have to serve 10-years of probation.

20-year old Maishana Whiten still faces second-degree murder and child-neglect charges.

Jefferson's lawyers did question his competency, saying he "had limited intellectual functioning." The judge has ordered a competency test for the mother.