40 Years in Prison for Miller County Woman in Toddler’s Death

A Miller County woman has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the beating death of her boyfriend’s two-year-old daughter. Cheryl Patrick of Tuscumbia was convicted of second-degree murder and child abuse in September by a jury in LaClede County, where her trial was moved on a change of venue. The jury recommended she serve 20 years on each count. At this afternoon’s sentencing hearing, Judge Stan Moore agreed and ordered the sentences run consecutively. Prosecutors say Patrick beat 28-month old Alexis Ward in February, 2008. The toddler died in a hospital a few days later.