Watch CBS News

California mother gets life term in baby's microwave death

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A 34-year-old California mother was sentenced to life in prison in the microwave oven death of her 1-month-old daughter.

A Sacramento County Superior Court judge imposed the 26-years-to-life sentence Friday on Ka Yang.

She was convicted of first-degree murder and assault for putting Mirabelle Thao-Lo in the microwave for up to five minutes in 2011. Prosecutors say the child had fatal thermal injuries.

Investigators found the infant's pacifier in the microwave at their Sacramento-area home.

Yang's attorney says her client had an epileptic seizure and didn't know what she was doing.

She has a history of seizures, but paramedics say she wasn't disoriented when they arrived.

She told investigators she blacked out and awoke to find the baby injured next to a space heater.

Yang has three other children.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.