Vermillion woman sentenced for death of 1-year-old son, court documents

Alfonzo Galvan, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·2 min read
Maria Milda, 27, from Vermillion, was arrested and charged with first-degree homicide of her 1-year-old son, according to a news release from the Vermillion Police Department.
Maria Milda, 27, from Vermillion, was arrested and charged with first-degree homicide of her 1-year-old son, according to a news release from the Vermillion Police Department.

A 27-year-old woman was sentenced in Vermillion for the death of her 1-year-old son, according to court documents.

Maria Milda, 27, was sentenced for first-degree manslaughter on Jan. 21 at the Clay County Courthouse after taking a plea deal on Nov. 7, according to court documents.

She was given 100 years with 55 years suspended to be served at the state penitentiary with credit for 444 days served, according to court documents.

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Milda was initially charged with first-degree murder on Nov. 2, 2020, for the death of her son before taking a guilty but mentally ill plea deal for manslaughter, according to court documents.

Her plea included an agreement that prosecutors would cap their recommendation for a prison sentence to 75 years, with 35 years suspended.

In the plea acknowledgement, Milda admitted she caused her son's death "in a cruel and unusual manner" by holding him under water and plugging his nose, according to court documents.

Why was Milda arrested?

Vermillion police officers said Milda reported her baby was not breathing on Nov. 2, 2020. Police arrived to her home at the 200 block of Luxembourg Street in Vermillion and found the 14-month-old boy dead.

Milda admitted she decided to intentionally kill her son. She was arrested for probable cause and charged with first-degree murder, according to court documents.

Milda was ordered and committed to a competency restoration program by the state in February 2021, according to court documents. An order was issued on June 2021 that the program had been completed and Milda understood what she was being charged with, allowing Milda to make her guilty plea and continue on with her sentencing.

Got a story idea from your community? Email reporter Alfonzo Galvan at agalvan@argusleader.com or follow him on Twitter @GalvanReports.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Maria Milda sentenced for death of her 1-year-old son in Vermillion