Mom who killed 4-year-old son in custody battle found dead in prison
In 2012, Manuela Morgado tragically ended her son Jake's life
A New York woman, convicted of smothering her 4-year-old son amid a custody battle in 2012, has been found dead in prison.
In 2014, Manuela Morgado was sentenced to 20 years to life after admitting to second-degree murder in her son's death, as stated by the Westchester County District Attorney.
The Journal News revealed that Morgado was discovered deceased in her cell at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility on Wednesday (March 4), as per the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Her death is listed on the DOCCS' website.
The publication noted that her demise is under investigation, and she was found around 2am.
As reported by the Journal News, Morgado killed her son, Jason "Jake" Reish, using a pillow in October 2012 after first giving him Benadryl.
Subsequently, the paper stated that she tried to end her own life with an overdose of Xanax, leaving a note behind.
In a police interview, she allegedly expressed a wish for Jake's passing to be "quick and peaceful so we could be happy together forever," according to the Journal News.
At that period, Morgado was deeply involved in a custody struggle with her former fiancé, as reported by the paper.
"This defendant meticulously planned and executed the murder of her four-year-old child, a young life cut short by the very person meant to protect him," District Attorney Janet DiFiore remarked following Morgado’s sentencing.