Austin Mother Sentenced to 15 Years for Toddler Daughter’s Death

Austin Mother Sentenced to Prison for Daughter’s Death

An alarming case reached its conclusion this week when Tamara Lynn Calvery, an Austin mom, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for her toddler daughter’s death that occurred back in January 2020. She had already served four years in jail awaiting trial.

A Shocking Incident

The tragic incident happened in a home on the 1700 block of Rutland Road. The 22-month-old child was found unresponsive with a severe head injury, which Calvery initially claimed resulted from a fall. However, an autopsy later determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma, inconsistent with the account provided by the mother, debunking her story.

Emergency Call and Investigation

Calvery had called 911 on January 24, 2020, reporting her daughter’s state and claiming the toddler had a “big knot” on her head because of the alleged fall. The child was shifted immediately to Dell Children’s Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries two days later, leaving investigators with more questions than answers about the circumstances leading to the toddler’s death.

Legal Proceedings & Sentencing

On March 31, 2021, Tamara Lynn Calvery was indicted by a grand jury on charges of injury to a child. Court records revealed that she pleaded guilty to the charge of reckless injury to a child causing severe bodily injury or mental deficiency – a second-degree felony – in April this year.

The verdict arrived on the same day, sentencing Calvery to 15 years of confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Alongside her prison sentence, she was also ordered to pay a total of $390 in fines and fees, which included a $100 child abuse prevention fine.

A Community in Shock

The saddening event has left the community shocked and heartbroken. This incident serves as a grave reminder of the ongoing issues of child abuse and the importance of constant vigilance and sensitivity towards the well-being of children, not just in Austin, but across the world.

Final Thoughts

While the sentencing of Ms. Calvery to fifteen years brings a painful chapter to a close, it also sheds light on the pressing need to protect the most vulnerable members of our society – our children. Every measure must be taken to ensure such a tragedy does not occur again. The story we’ve reported today is an unfortunate reminder of the work that still needs to be done.