Mother sentenced to 40 years for death of 3

WACO, Texas (KXXV) — A local mother will spend at least 20 years behind bars after pleading guilty to murder in the death of her 3-month-old son.

Skylynn Tuerk entered a guilty plea Thursday morning in the 54th District Court to four counts against her: murder, injury to a child, endangering a child and possession of a controlled substance — methamphetamine.

Judge Susan Kelly sentenced Tuerk to 40 years each for the murder and injury to a child charges, and two years each for endangering a child and the drug charge. She will serve these sentences concurrently and must serve at least 20 years before she is eligible for parole.

Case details

In November 2023, Tuerk and Charles Harris were arrested after their 3-month-old baby Jacob Jeremiah Amon Harris was found starved to death in a ro