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Escambia Woman Convicted Of Murder, Gets Life For Sitting On Child
March 16, 2019
An Escambia County woman was sentenced to life in prison Friday for killing her 9-year old cousin by sitting on her.
Veronica Green Posey received the life sentence immediately after being convicted. Dericka Lindsay died after Posey sat on her while administering punishment. Posey weighed over 300 pounds at the time.
Posey was called by Lindsay’s adoptive parents, Grace and James Smith, to help discipline her back in October 2017.
Authorities say Posey told deputies and paramedics responding to a 911 call from the family’s home in Pensacola that she sat on Lindsay because the girl had been out of control. Deputies said the girl told Posey and her adoptive parents during the punishment that she couldn’t breathe.
James Smith is serving a 10 year sentence in state prison for his role in the death. Grace Smith suffer from mental and physical illnesses that have prevented her from going to trial, but she will be tried upon recovery.
Comments
14 Responses to “Escambia Woman Convicted Of Murder, Gets Life For Sitting On Child”
The sad part is that Dericka wasn’t the only child in the room when this happened. Her sister was right there and witnessed the entire thing and SHE IS REALLY TRAUMATIZED and probably will forever be. No wonder Ms. Smith is having mental issues…..she probably replays this over and over in her mind, hearing that little girl scream that she couldn’t breathe.
I think she deserves a life sentence. They younger sister certainly will spend a lifetime getting past the trauma.
Howie, do you want to put Grace Smith in prison with her husband even if she has not been to court due to physical and mental problems? She is probably confined to a nursing home. The elderly adoptive father did not intervene In this crazy form of punishment administered by this woman and received 10 years. Some people simply should be prevented from having kids (or any living creature for that matter) and NO – it’s not a discriminating statement because of age, race or sexual orientation!!
God has her with him my heart hurts so bad too know what she went through rest in peace sweet angel
How is it that he only got 10 years and she got life?
James and Grace Smith should be jailed in the couple’s ward together.
If jails don’t have couples housing, then create one for these scoundrels.
Grace needs her husband James to help care for her. That relieves some of the money us TAXPAYERS are contributing to their jail time.
I think she was punished too severely. very wrong, yes. intentional, no. this was not murder but manslaughter. dopers that kill people over drugs do not receive this punishment. may GOD be with her and comfort her.
What can we do to get abused children to report abuse?
And the idiot crime of the month award goes to………..
I want to know why the Smiths were even allowed to adopt a 9 year old. Articles call her mentally and physically ill. He has been referred to as elderly and the conditions in the house were deplorable. Wouldn’t that little girl have been better off in foster care? I teach 8 and 9 year olds and this breaks my heart.
Why was someone with mental and physical illness in a position to be adoptive parents anyway?
The sad part is that Ms. Posey thought she was helping. I don’t believe it was intentional, but her method was clearly wrong, and that is what happens when a 300 pound person sits on a child 1/10 her wait. Rest in Peace Dericka!
:”Grace Smith suffer from mental and physical illnesses that have prevented her from going to trial, but she will be tried upon recovery.”
I hope that woman is being kept where she is not permitted any contact with children.
Read that as in a secure mental confinement place.
The child is in a better place. Looking at the pictures of the individuals when this first happened, I would agree that the adoptive mother is not able to stand trial due to mental and physical health issues. It should have been obvious at the time of the adoption that both adoptive parents were no longer capable to assume the responsibilty of raising a young child. Bizarre that you have to jump through more hurdles if you want to adopt an animal than a child. Obvious that the law against age discrimination has gone amok in this sad case.
What is wrong with people? You do not sit on a child to punish them. That poor child. What a horrible death that had to be for her. I hope that all of these adults are locked away and can do no harm to anymore children. This is just horrific. Rest In Peace Dericka.