GUILTY SC - Soren Chilson, 5, beaten to death, Lancaster County, 5 March 2013

[OkieGranny]

http://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/andrew-dys/article69825747.html

Not only did the Lancaster mother of a 5-year-old girl who died in 2013 from a skull fracture expose her daughter to repeated abuse at the hands of her boyfriend, the mother who works as a nurse then tried to cover up and hide the abuse from police, prosecutors said about the death of Soren Chilson released in court.

More, text messages between April Victoria Gleason and her then boyfriend now husband, Phillip Bryan Gleason, showed the pattern of abuse as Phillip Gleason was supposed to be watching 5-year-old Soren as April worked...

Despite prosecutors’ objections, visiting Judge Casey Manning set a $125,000 bond for Vickie Gleason.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

From last month:

Lancaster Co mom pleads guilty to child neglect following daughter's death

http://www.wbtv.com/story/34068627/lancaster-co-mom-pleads-guilty-to-child-neglect-following-daughters-death

A mother in Lancaster County pleaded guilty to child neglect charges Thursday in a case stemming from the death of her 5-year-old daughter in 2013.

In court, prosecutors said text messages between April and Phillip Gleason showed she knew about prior abuse by Phillip Gleason in the weeks leading up to her daughter's death, and continued to leave her in his care while she was at work.

After an investigation, April Gleason was charged with aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse and two counts of unlawful conduct towards a child in March 2016.

As a part of her plea, the aiding and abetting charge was dismissed. In court Thursday, she only spoke to tell Judge Brian Gibbons that she understood the Alford plea she entered.

"I am declaring my innocence, but I understand that I am pleading guilty, because in a court of law, it is possible that a jury could convict me," April Gleason said.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Lancaster mom, boyfriend accused in abuse death of girl, 5, set for court Monday

http://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/crime/article129104164.html

April Victoria “Vickie” Gleason faces up to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to child neglect in December in the death of her daughter Soren Chilson, 5. Her former boyfriend, now her husband, Phillip Bryan Gleason, a former Winthrop student and Afghanistan war veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart, faces as much as 50 years if convicted.

Vickie Gleason’s lawyer said in court in December that Phillip Gleason plans to plead guilty. However, Phillip Gleason’s lawyer declined to comment after that December hearing.

Randy Newman, 6th Circuit Solicitor, confirmed that Vickie Gleason is set to be sentenced Monday. Phillip Gleason is set for a hearing at the same time, Newman said.

Sentencing for Vickie Gleason after she pleaded was deferred until Monday because she was pregnant with the couple’s second child.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Purple Heart veteran and wife sentenced in daughter’s death

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article129695659.html

April Gleason and her then-boyfriend and now husband, Phillip Gleason, were sentenced in the death of 5-year-old Soren Victoria Chilson.

Phillip Gleason was sentenced to 38 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of unlawful conduct. April Gleason was sentenced to 18 years in prison for three counts of unlawful conduct towards a child.

http://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/crime/article129642594.html

Vickie Gleason pleaded for probation Monday, saying in court, “I am not a monster.”

“Soren was the joy of my life,” Vickie Gleason said. “She will always be on my mind...I know she is in heaven.”

Phillip Gleason said little in court Monday, except to finally admit that he abused Soren, after denying it since his arrest in 2013.

“I take responsibility for my actions,” Phillip Gleason told Judge Brian Gibbons in the Lancaster County Courthouse.

When Soren was taken to the hospital in 2013, unconscious from the fatal beating, neither Phillip Gleason nor Vickie Gleason expressed remorse, testimony showed.

“Soren’s life was stolen from her,” said Donald Chilson, Soren’s paternal grandfather.

A deputy who was one of the first responders, Charles Campbell, cried in court as he spoke of the bruises and beatings.

“Soren endured a living hell,” Campbell said. “I held her hand as she passed away.”