ORLANDO, Fla.,None — The estranged daughter of actor Billy Bob Thornton heard her sentence Thursday for the death of a friend's toddler. Amanda Brumfield was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Brumfield was convicted in may in the aggravated manslaughter case of 1-year-old Olivia Madison Garcia. The child died from a head injury three years ago while Brumfield was baby-sitting.
A few people showed up to support Brumfield on the witness stand. Her best friend, a court programs officer and her pastor took the stand, but no family.
Defense attorneys argued that the girl climbed out of a playpen and fell.
But prosecutors said it was impossible to suffer a fatal head injury from that short of a fall.
Olivia's mother, Heather Murphy, took the stand, telling the heart-wrenching story of how Olivia's young sister still hides candy for her dead sibling.
"On her birthday, she wanted to tie an ice cream cone to balloons and send it up to Liv so she would have something to snack on," Murphy testified.
Testifying about Olivia, Murphy said, “When I saw you with a white sheet over your head, it broke my heart. I just wanted you to wake up."
Brumfied's famous father, actor Billy Bob Thornton, has never taken to her defense, but supporters for Brumfield said she is haunted.
"Amanda hurts for her too, and prays for her too," Brumfield’s friend Christina Stewart said.
Outside the courtroom, Brumfield’s family said they couldn't believe the 20-year sentence.
"For us to hear 20 years, it's just a shock for us all to hear that." Said Melissa Parish, Brumfield’s mother.
Brumfield wrote a letter to the judge about her love for the little girl. But when the judge asked if she wanted to speak in court, she said no.
"I can put my baby to rest," Murphy said.
WFTV
