Columbus woman pleads guilty to murder of infant, sentenced to 20 years in prison

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated murder in the death of a four-month-old. Melissa R. Thorp pleaded guilty Thursday to the 2022 murder of Aaron M. Thorp, her four-month-old son, according to court documents. On Sept. 12, 2022, police responded to [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated murder in the death of a four-month-old.

Melissa R. Thorp pleaded guilty Thursday to the 2022 murder of Aaron M. Thorp, her four-month-old son, according to court documents.

On Sept. 12, 2022, police responded to a 911 call about a baby not breathing at the 100 block of Jefferson Avenue. Upon arriving to the scene, paramedics pronounced the child dead, according to police. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma, and ruled the death a homicide.

After Thorp initially entered a not guilty plea, she was given a not guilty plea by reason of insanity, according to court documents.