(January 23, 2008)—Prosecutors have questioned more than two-dozen witnesses in the trial of Tashawana Annette Vanhardenberg, 23, of Copperas Cove, who’s charged with injury to a child by omission in the 2007 death of her 35-month-old son.

Vanhardenberg is on trial in state district court in Gatesville.

Antoine Marshon Shields, 28, and Vanhardenburg were arrested after their son Keynen Jacobe Vanhardenberg died on March 24, 2007 in a local hospital.

Shields pleaded guilty to murder in Gatesville district court earlier this month just as a jury was being seated in his capital murder trial.

Shields also pleaded guilty to injury to a child.

He must serve 30 years in prison before he's eligible for parole.

Prosecutors were not seeking the death penalty, but he would have faced a life term without parole had he been convicted of capital murder.

Vanhardenberg is charged with failing to protect her son from the man who killed him and with failure to timely seek medical attention for the boy who died one month short of his third birthday.

Vanhardenberg's attorney says, however, the felony charge against the defendant should be reduced due to circumstances of the death.

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Latest Comments

Posted by: Carrie Location: Killeen on Jan 24, 2008 at 09:02 AM

felony charge reduced?? Why, so she can go out, have another kid by some guy, and that kid can be killed too?? Throw the book at her and lock her up for life as well!!

Posted by: gayle Location: Gatesville on Jan 24, 2008 at 08:46 AM

Why not pray for all of those involved in the terrible situation. God is our judge and we all fall short everyday. We all deserve death for our sins. Pray for them to come to know Jesus Christ and to truly live free forever in eternity. It's called the grace of God.

Posted by: christina Location: copperas cove on Jan 23, 2008 at 11:17 PM

sorry i'm a firm believer in a life for a life, she's just as guilty as he is! it was her own son for god's sake!! it might be another story if she hadn't known wasn't there and got medical attention as soon as she knew but to ignore what happened is unexcusable. as a parent you have to protect your child not some guy your sleeping with...give them both the death penalty. take them out back and shoot them..it would be cheaper than using my tax money to pay for them to sit on thier butts for the rest of their lives when their child doesn't have that luxory anymore. the death of that child might not have affected them but he had grandparents, and family on both sides that won't ever get to see the man he could have become. y do they get to live when he doesn't??

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