Charleston County Courthouse officials tend to Erica Butts after she collapsed
A dramatic scene played out in a South Carolina courtroom as two women convicted of murdering 3 year old Serenity Richardson back in 2009 were sentenced to life in prison.
Serenity was in the care of Erica Mae Butts when she died. Police said Butts was caring for the girl while her mother tried to move from Detroit. Cunningham was living with Butts at the time of the girl’s death. Authorities said Serenity had bruises all over her body, a large burn on her leg and was beaten with a belt after wetting her pants.
Both women had been charged with homicide by child abuse.
Butts entered an Alford plea, meaning she maintains her innocence but acknowledged that she would likely be found guilty. Cunningham pleaded guilty.
After the verdict, court officials had to carry out both women as they collapsed and family members from both sides sobbed. Circuit Court Judge Deadra Richardson said nothing had ever affected her as strongly as the photos of the little girl’s battered body.
They should have thought about all of this before they killed that baby.