Woman convicted in Clay County for child abuse death of infant daughter

A Clay County jury has convicted a Richmond, Mo., woman in the child abuse death of her infant daughter.

Rebecca Matthews, 27, was found guilty of abuse of a child resulting in death, three counts of abuse of a child, and seven counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.

The case was moved from Ray County to Clay County on a change of venue.

The 3-week-old baby girl, Aprhil Matthews, died in August 2012 as a result of “blunt force trauma” to her chest and abdomen, which lacerated her heart and liver, according to trial testimony.

After the baby died, doctors determined that she had multiple fractured ribs in various stages of healing.

Doctors testified at trial that the fractures were consistent with the infant being squeezed.

Matthews was also convicted of endangering the welfare of three other children by leaving them in a vehicle when temperatures were over 100 degrees and child abuse for breaking another infant’s arm.

Sentencing for Matthews is scheduled for May 25.

The baby’s father, Dennis Matthews, is scheduled to go to trial in the case on Sept. 26.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 11:27 AM with the headline "Woman convicted in Clay County for child abuse death of infant daughter."