In a deeply unsettling case out of New Mexico, a mother has been sentenced to over ten years in prison following the tragic death of her 16-year-old special needs daughter. The teenager, who suffered from severe malnutrition, weighed only 40 pounds at the time of her death. Disturbingly, medical examination revealed “maggots crawling out of her body.”

Doraelia Espinoza, the mother, entered a plea of no contest to charges of reckless abuse of a child resulting in death, as well as child abuse. This plea was confirmed by the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the court’s pursuit of justice.

The young girl, whose identity has been shielded from the public, was brought to a hospital in Albuquerque in 2022. There, doctors discovered her harrowing condition. Prosecutors detailed the extent of her suffering, noting that she was “extremely malnourished with no fat tissue or muscle.” The medical team also found scrapes and rashes in sensitive areas of her body, further indicating neglect, alongside the horrifying presence of maggots.

Savannah Brandenburg-Koch, the Deputy District Attorney of Bernalillo County, emphasized the severity and unique nature of this case. She remarked that Espinoza’s actions were a stark departure from other child abuse incidents, where a parent might act out of a momentary lapse in judgment or temper. This case, she suggested, involved a prolonged period of neglect and abuse.

Savannah Brandenburg-Koch, Bernalillo County Deputy District Attorney, noted Espinoza’s actions were different than other child abuse cases where a parent may have lost their temper.

“This case is not a tragic accident, a lapse in judgment, a parent that is frustrated. This case is about prolonged abuse,” she said, according to a courtroom report from local CBS affiliate KRQE.

Bernalillo County Det. Roger Garcia said the case was hard on his team of investigators.

“And not just because of the harm done but who inflicted it,” he reportedly said.

Espinoza’s attorney requested the judge sentence her to 12 years behind bars.

She begged the judge for mercy through a translator.

“I never wanted this,” she told the judge, per KRQE. “I want to say that I love my children with my whole heart from the oldest to the youngest. I’m not a bad person, I’m just a hard working mother who does everything for her children.”

The defendant has five living children.

While prosecutors requested 18 years behind bars, Judge Bruce Fox opted for 15 years.

“It was physical injury and suffering of this child that took place, it didn’t happen in a moment or a reckless quick decision. This happened at a minimum of five or six days,” the judge said.