Tucson woman gets probation in son's death

TUCSON, Ariz. - A Tucson woman charged with child abuse in connection with the death of her 4-year-old son was sentenced Tuesday to seven years probation.

Marina Baker had earlier pleaded guilty to child abuse under circumstances likely to cause death and could have received a prison sentence of up to 3.75 years.

Court records show Baker took Fabian Silva to Tucson Medical Center in October 2007 and doctors were concerned about bruises on the boy's forehead.

However, police and state Child Protective Service officials said they didn't investigate further because both the boy and his mother denied any abuse.

Silva was taken to University Medical Center on Jan. 26, 2008, and died the next day and authorities say an autopsy showed the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

Baker was charged with child abuse and her live-in boyfriend, Alejandro Miguel Romero, was charged with first-degree murder. Romero is scheduled to go to trial in November.