Bullhead City mother pleads guilty in baby’s death

A 20-year-old Bullhead City, Ariz., mother pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder in the death of her infant son. Staci Barbosa faces a 13-to-20-year prison term when sentenced in January for the June 2010 death of 5-week-old Matthew Vandergriff.

The boy died at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas. The Clark County coroner’s office said the baby’s death was the result of blunt force trauma to the head.

Prosecutor Greg McPhillips said doctors also determined that the victim was dehydrated and malnourished and suffered a broken leg and bruises all over his body that were in various stages of healing.

McPhillips said Barbosa’s conviction relates to her failure to protect Matthew and seek medical attention for his various injuries. McPhillips contended it was Jonathan Vandergriff, the boy’s father, who actually brutalized and sodomized the baby .