Adoptive mother pleads guilty in infant's death

TOOELE, Utah (AP) -- A Tooele mother has pleaded guilty to a charge of child abuse homicide, saying she deliberately dropped the 14-month-old boy she and her husband adopted from Russia.

Kimberly K. Emelyantsev was originally charged with first-degree felony murder for the March 7 death of Nikoli Emelyantsev. She pleaded guilty to the lesser, second-degree felony charge in 3rd District Court Friday.

The 33-year-old woman faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced Aug. 8. Emelyantsev says she dropped the fussy infant on his head out of frustration.

Because of insufficient medical proof, Tooele County prosecutors dropped child abuse charges related to another child, a 4-year-old, also adopted from Russia, who was malnourished.

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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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