An Illinois mother who confessed to killing her 7-year-old son has heard her destiny.
Sarah Safranek, 38, was sentenced to 35 years in jail after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in Nathaniel Burton’s death, local news stations WIFR, WREX, and WKRC reported, citing the Ogle County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors claim Safranek suffocated her 7-year-old son on February 17, 2021. That day, police officers came to the family’s home in Oregon, Illinois, after receiving a report of a youngster not breathing, according to WREX.
Nathaniel was later pronounced dead in a hospital, according to WKRC.
According to court documents acquired by PEOPLE, the kid previously alleged that his mother placed pillows over his face and “wouldn’t give up” in the months leading up to his death.
According to the records, the youngster informed his paternal grandmother that Safranek would try to drown him and “won’t let me breathe,” and that the abuse began in 2018.
According to the documents, the paternal grandmother informed authorities that she called the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services “several times” and left messages but never spoke with anyone.
According to the documents, authorities discovered various internet searches Safranek conducted beginning in 2020, including “How long does an investigation take after a child passes away” and “I’ve had thoughts about killing my kid.”
Safranek initially pleaded guilty in March 2024, but later retracted it, according to WKRC. Prosecutors told the publication that her sentence will be followed by three years of mandatory supervised release.
