FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Years after the death of a 3-year-old boy in Hollywood, the victim’s mother testified in the trial of the family member accused of killing him.
In court Friday, crime scene technicians showed jurors the box where Ahziya Osceola was found inside of his father’s home back in March 2015.
Police said the toddler was put there by his stepmother, Analiz Osceola, after she beat him to death and reported him missing.
“The defendant fabricated a series of crimes to cover her actions and inaction the night Ahziya Osceola died,” said prosecutor Neva Rainford-Smith.
Karen Cypress, Ahziya’s mother, took the stand on Friday. She said she remembers the moment she learned her son was gone.
“They said, ‘We found him,’ and I said, ‘Oh, my God, where was he? Can I see him?'” Cypress said. “That’s when they said that he’s deceased.”
After Ahziya’s stepmother reported the child missing, police launched a massive search.
But little Ahziya never left his father’s home. Police said his body was found in the laundry room.
“We found the body in the bottom of an 8-inch-wide box,” a police officer said during a news conference.
Crime scene technician Lazaro Fernandez made the discovery. He was emotional as he recalled the moment in court, Friday.
“I found the foot of the child inside of another garbage bag,” he said.
Showing no emotion, Analiz sat in court, mostly turned away from jurors, as they listened to heartbreaking details and were shown articles of clothing her stepson wore during his final hours alive.
Analiz was behind bars for three years following her arrest. She has been out on bond ever since.
Cameras showed Analiz as she walked out court on Friday, knowing it might her last weekend as a free woman.
If Analiz is found guilty, she faces 31 years in prison.
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