Tri-Cities Woman Accused Of Killing Daughter Found Guilty

The Tri-Cities woman accused of killing her 19 month old daughter back in 2020 has been found guilty. Jurors heard five days of testimony regarding the death of 19 month old Samiah Crater . The medical examiner testified that the little girl weighed just 12 pounds when she died on February 21, 2020, but she had over 40 injuries on her body. The jury did not take long Tuesday to come back with a verdict of guilty on charges of first degree murder and aggravated child neglect for Sapora Walton.

On Wednesday, jurors met to consider Walton’s sentence. The jury was nearly split 50-50 on whether to give Walton life without parole. So, because the jury could not come to a unanimous decision, the court sentenced Walton to life with the possibility of parole. However, under Tennessee law, Sapora Walton will have to serve 51 years of that sentence before being eligible for parole. That means Walton will be 74 before she could possibly be released from prison.

Samiah Crater’s father Jeremiah Crater, plead guilty Feb. 17 to first-degree murder in exchange for a life sentence and avoiding the death penalty. He’ll be eligible for parole as well in 51 years.