BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The parents of a 2-month-old infant, who died due to multiple skull fractures, were sentenced Wednesday to 25 years to life for the second-degree murder of the child.
Matthew Norwood, the infant's father, was also sentenced to 15 years to life on the second count of assault on a child under 8 years old. The infant's mother Brittney Collins was also sentenced to three years on the second count of assault with deadly force, but the judge stayed that sentence.
According to court documents for this case, on Oct. 17, 2018, Abel James Norwood was taken to Kern Medical by ambulance for a fever. Once at Kern Medical, doctors discovered that Abel was suffering from "numerous life-threatening injuries" and was flown to Valley Children's Hospital Madera via helicopter, documents said.
Doctors said Abel had minimal brain activity at that time, according to documents. Abel was also suffering from multiple injuries, including skull fractures, rib fractures, and a fractured left arm. He died Oct. 24, 2018, a week after he was brought to the hospital.
In an interview with 23ABC in 2018, Collins said it was Norwood who caused the infant's injuries and death. From jail, she said she always cared for her son.
