GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Sagal Hussein was convicted Tuesday of neglecting her son’s health to the point it caused his death, and then storing his body in her car for months.
Hussein, 26, pleaded no contest to five charges: child neglect resulting in death, hiding the corpse of a child, two misdemeanor counts of neglecting a child, and obstruction, for the death of Josias Marquez, 5. Five other charges were dropped as part of the plea deal.
Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 7.
The most serious offense – child neglect resulting in death – carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in the prison system.
The plea deal allows attorneys on both sides argue for whatever sentence they believe is appropriate, defense attorney Tim Hogan said.
A criminal complaint says Josias was likely dead for months before his body was found in a duffel bag in the trunk of Hussein’s car on March 31, 2020. The child was last seen on Nov. 25, 2019.
Josias used a wheelchair, was blind, depended on others to eat, and diagnosed with cerebral palsy, according to medical records listed in the criminal complaint.
A medical examiner says the body was decomposed, mummified, and was significantly undernourished. The criminal complaint shows the 5-year-old’s body weighed 20 pounds when it was found, but the boy had previously weighed more than 30 pounds. The complaint offers details on missed medical appointments, immunizations not administered, and medications not taken.
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