Colorado Mother Who Fakes Child's Illnesses to Raise Funds Gets 16 Years in Prison Sentence

Colorado mother who fakes child's illnesses was given a 16-year prison sentence. Kelly Turner pleaded guilty last month to charges related to the death of her seven-year-old daughter, Olivia Gant. The Guardian reported that the mother was charged with child abuse, charitable fraud, and theft.

Authorities said that Turner lied to doctors about Olivia's medical history, causing the girl to receive unnecessary operations and medications until her death at a Denver hospice care in 2017. Turner also publicly sought funds and sympathy from TV networks and charitable organizations like Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Charges against Turner for Faking Child's Illnesses

In October 2019, 9News reported that she was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of child abuse, three counts of theft, three counts of charitable defraud, two counts of attempting to influence a public official, and forgery.

However, Turner pleaded guilty on January 3, weeks before the trial. On Wednesday, District Court Judge Patricia Herron said that the plea agreement calls for 16 years of a prison sentence, and she would serve three years of probation upon her release. Herron also emphasized that the ruling could not be reconsidered or reduced.

The charges of first-degree murder, child abuse, and forgery were dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea, Denver CBS Local reported.

Ara Ohanian, Kelly's lawyer, said that "she is not guilty of murdering her child" but opted to plead guilty because she did not want her family to go through a trial.

The indictment alleged that Turner received $538,000 Medicaid system, committed fraud to foundations that provide memorable experiences to terminally ill children, and the hundreds of people who donated to her online fundraising page. Reports indicate that she also stole from a funeral home and a cemetery that handled the girl's arrangements.

Herron ensured that Turner shall not and will not benefit from Grant's death. Instead, the court ordered to donate the money generated from the case to the charities that Turner defrauded, Herron said.

Read Also: Child Abuse: Four-year-Old Boy Allegedly Beaten to Death by Nine-year-Old Sister, Caretaker Arrested  

Mother faked child's illnesses

Turner moved to Colorado from Texas with her three daughters. In 2012, she told local doctors that Olivia had numerous ailments and diseases. She asked and convinced medical professionals to perform surgeries and provide prescriptions for illnesses her daughter did not have.

When Olivia had her first ER visit, a doctor thought she seemed normal. However, a year later, she underwent an operation in the same hospital to remove a portion of her intestine and insert a feeding tube.

Several doctors at the Children's Hospital Colorado thought that Olivia's medical problems were not terminal. Doctors said that the mother was so persuasive that they convinced one of the physicians to sign a "do not resuscitate." In the final weeks of Olivia's life, Turner also asked the doctors to withdraw all of her daughter's medical care, including total parenteral nutrition, a procedure that provided nourishment to the patient through an intravenous line, 9News reported.

The investigation on Turner began when she also claimed that her other daughter has cancer, although medical records show it is not true. The mom also claimed that Olivia had intestinal failures for years, but an autopsy later revealed no evidence of such a condition.

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