It took a jury two hours to find a Springfield unlicensed child care provider guilty of first-degree involuntary manslaughter for the 2022 death of an 8-month-old boy left in her care.
Deborah Lundstrom, 49, was also found guilty first-degree endangering the welfare of a child — death of a child; eight counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk; and operating a child-care facility without a license.
Lundstrom was caring for children in her home on the 2800 block of North Washington Avenue in Springfield on March 2, 2022. According to her indictment, she was caring for nine children under the age of 3 when she left them in her home for about 12 minutes.
According to evidence presented at the trial, Lundstrom placed 8-month-old Coleman Shirley in a car seat. When Lundstrom returned from picking up her son from school, she discovered the baby was not breathing and called 911.
Lundstrom did not testify in her trial and her defense attorneys did not call any witnesses.
Car seat used in courtroom
Dr. Deiter Duff, the Greene County Medical Examiner, testified Tuesday the baby’s cause of death was asphyxiation due to strangulation caused by the car seat’s buckle and strap. Duff testified in detail about the marks on the baby’s neck that matched the car seat’s buckle and strap.
After the 12-member jury returned its verdict Wednesday evening, prosecutors asked Lundstrom’s bond be revoked. Greene County Circuit Judge Todd Myers granted the request, and she was taken to jail.
The penalty phase of the Lundstrom case will begin Feb. 29.
The Hauxeda has had a reporter in the courtroom throughout the Lundstrom trial and will continue coverage in the penalty phase.
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