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Bakersfield Woman Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Killing 2-Year-Old Niece

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) - A woman accused of driving around for hours with the body of her 2-year-old niece in the back seat has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in California.

The Bakersfield Californian reports that Wendy Gomez presented a letter to the court during Thursday's sentencing hearing in which she said she had found God and believed in mercy. Kern County prosecutor Nick Lackie said Gomez had shown no mercy to her niece.

Police say Gomez drove around with her niece, Karla Isidro's, lifeless body on Sept. 20, 2013. Authorities say the aunt had tortured and then killed the girl, who suffered a fractured skull.

A jury convicted Gomez of second-degree murder last month.

Gomez said she knew Karla was dead, but didn't immediately call 911 because she feared being deported.

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