Fla. woman pleads guilty to killing man she babysat and injured in 1984

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (TCN) -- A 62-year-old woman was sentenced to three years in prison after she entered a plea deal for injuring a 5-month-old boy 40 years ago, causing him lifelong trauma that led to his death.

WTVJ-TV reports Terry McKirchy pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the 2019 death of Benjamin Dowling. McKirchy was charged in June 2021 with first-degree murder in the commission or attempted commission of aggravated child abuse. Prosecutors alleged McKirchy injured Dowling on July 3, 1984, which ultimately resulted in him dying on Sept. 16, 2019. She could have faced life in prison if she was convicted.

Court records show McKirchy was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery of a child on July 6, 1984, and she pleaded no contest to both charges a year later. A judge sentenced her to probation.

According to The Associated Press, McKirchy wrote an apology letter to Dowling's family, which her attorney read in court. In it, she admitted to hitting Benjamin, who was 5 months old at the time, "in a state of impulse and anger." As a result, he suffered a brain hemorrhage and required multiple surgeries throughout his life. He never walked, talked, or ate without assistance and was confined to a wheelchair.

McKirchy wrote, "Your life and Benjamin’s life were truly harmed by me and I am truly sorry."

The Associated Press reports Dowling's mother took him to the hospital on July 3, 1984, because he was limp. The doctor reportedly determined his brain hemorrhage occurred from someone severely shaking him. McKirchy was 22 years old when she babysat for Dowling.

WTVJ reports Dowling's family wrote in a statement in 2021, "Benjamin would never know how much he was loved and could never tell others of his love for them. Benjamin did smile when he was around his family, although he could never verbalize anything, we believe he knew who we were and that we were working hard to help him."