Tallen Davidson's Mother Sentenced To Ten Years In Prison For Son's Death

The mother of a toddler who died of shaken baby syndrome almost three years ago has been been sentenced to ten years in jail for her little boys death.

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In February of 2006, Karissa Hoyt's boyfriend, Gary Lynn Baker Jr., took Hoyt's battered and bruised 3 year-old, Tallen Davidson, to the ER at St. John's Hospital in Lebanon. Hospital staff immdediatley noted that his injuries were not consistent with the story they were told of Davidison falling and contacted authorities.

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Karissa Michelle Hoyt (mug shot MDOC)

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Hoyt ,was originally charged with felony child abuse two days after Tallen's death, however, that charge was amended to voluntary manslaughter after Hoyt entered an Alford plea shortly before her trial was to begin last August.

NOTE: Tallen's grandmother has set up a website dedicated to him.

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An Alford plea is a plea in which the defendant admits that prosecutors have enough evidence to obtain a conviction, but does not admit committing the offense.
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Gary Baker Jr. (mug shot MDOC)

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Gary Lynn Baker, Jr., is serving time in jail for an unrelated drug crime.

https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do
06LA-CR00269-02 - ST V KARISSA MICHELLE HOYT