After Kelly Turner had pleaded guilty to child abuse that resulted in Olivia Gant’s 2017 death, Judge Patricia Herron sentenced her Wednesday. She also pled guilty to theft and charitable fraud.
As part of an agreement reached with the prosecutors, all previous charges of first-degree murder and attempt to influence public servants were dropped.
Turner did not speak during her virtual sentencing hearing, but she wiped away tears when prosecutors showed a video of Olivia’s grandfather Lonnie Gaigneau. It featured Olivia smiling and laughing, dancing in a princess dress, playing doctor with her dolls, and singing songs.
Gautreau’s statement that he had spoken about Olivia was read out by a prosecutor at the hearing. Gautreau was present via video, with a photograph of his granddaughter beside him. His eyes were tearing up throughout the proceedings.
Authorities claim that Turner misled doctors about Olivia’s medical history, while broadcasting her struggles for money from organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The girl had been undergoing unnecessary procedures and taking medications until she died in Denver hospice care in 2017.
As she was being wheeled to Denver’s hospice, Olivia sang Hakuna Mata from “The Lion King” while wearing purple pajamas. While her mother filmed, she sang “It means you have no worries for the rest your days.” She died less than one month later.
Turner’s video was just one of many that highlighted the little girl’s struggle with illness and death. Authorities claim Turner used it to call for donations and favors from doctors to ease her pain.
Authorities claim Turner spent many years inventing her daughter’s illness to gain sympathy from news reports and charities. Make-A-Wish hosted a party for Olivia in a “bat princess costume” at a $11,000 hotel.
Although the initial cause of death for the girl was intestinal failure, an autopsy later revealed that there was no evidence to support this claim. Although authorities have not revealed the cause of her death, it is clear that doctors supported Turner’s request to stop feeding her daughter.
According to prosecutors, the amount of theft from charity was between $100,000 and $1,000,000.
According to psychologists, Turner’s behavior is consistent with Munchausen syndrome proxy. This psychological disorder has been increasingly seen in television and movies. It involves parents and caregivers seeking attention for the sick children or dependents, and sometimes causing injuries.
Experts say these cases are difficult to spot. During an interview with investigators, she brought up the syndrome and denied that she was suffering from it.
Turner, her three daughters, and Texas native, moved to Colorado with her family. She told doctors that Olivia had many illnesses and was ill. Over the years, she convinced medical professionals to perform surgery and prescribe medications for conditions that she did not have.
According to the indictment, several doctors claimed that Turner was the main source of Olivia’s medical information. Investigators found blogs, a GoFundMe website, and news stories that Turner used to describe Olivia’s health issues without any medical evidence. This included claims she had a seizure disorder and a tumor, as well as a buildup fluid in her brain cavities.
A doctor believed Olivia was growing normally at her first emergency room visit. The surgeon at the hospital then removed part of Olivia’s small intestine, and placed a feeding tube.
Olivia’s grandmother and father filed a $25 million lawsuit against the hospital system. They claimed that the hospital had failed to fulfill their obligations as mandatory reporters for child abuse. The case was settled in August. The grandmother’s lawyer said that she couldn’t comment further.
According to the indictment, Olivia had been admitted to hospice care, where she died. Doctors claimed that she was only receiving 30% of the nutrition she required before she was admitted.
Turner sought donations throughout her campaign to raise awareness about her dying daughter and to fulfill Olivia’s dream of becoming a firefighter and catching a bad man with the police.
A video of Olivia riding on a truck and setting a dumpster fire is shown by the suburban Denver municipality. The little girl laughs and smiles despite having several tubes in her backpack.
Although Turner’s actions raised suspicions, doctors were only able to examine Turner after Olivia passed away in hospice care in 2017. Turner also brought her two other daughters to the hospital with bone pain.
Since October 2018, the girl, now 13, has not had any other medical issues or pain complaints. She is currently in the custody of her grandparents. Turner’s oldest child is an adult.
