A Bexar County jury on Thursday found that a San Antonio woman used the water in a swimming pool as a deadly weapon in the drowning death of her 3-month-old granddaughter in 2005. Gabriella Sigler was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the June 16, 2005, death of Melody Sigler. Because a deadly weapon was used, Sigler must serve at least half of the 18-year sentence before she would be eligible for parole.
Sigler sought probation after pleading guilty to injury to a child resulting in serious bodily injury. Forensic psychology experts testified for the defense that Sigler was suffering from a manic episode caused by bipolar disorder.
Sigler was watching the baby for her son and his girlfriend at her friend's home. The son warned her to never put the baby in the pool, according to court records. Three days before the drowning, the son found the baby floating in the pool with the grandmother standing nearby. Sigler told her son she was teaching the infant to swim like children she saw on a television show about “water babies.”
Excerpted from MySanAntonio.com.
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