STATE OF MISSOURI v. CHERYL ANNA PATRICK

Convicted of abusing and murdering a two-year-old, Cheryl Patrick appeals, raising two preserved evidentiary challenges and a plain error claim. None have merit. We affirm the convictions.

Background

The victim (A.W.), her father, and Patrick lived together. The father went to work, leaving A.W. in Patrick’s care, and returned to find his daughter stiff and unresponsive in her playpen. She died in the hospital two days later from head injuries due to non-accidental, abusive trauma. A subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhaging, and other injuries were consistent with A.W. having been severely…