MISSISSIPPI — Shana Deloris Smith, 40, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after being convicted of two counts of felony child abuse. The charges stemmed from a disturbing incident in January, when Smith attacked her three young children with a knife, resulting in injuries to two of them.
The children, ages seven, five, and two, were at Smith’s home when the violent attack occurred. Two children sustained lacerations to the throat, with one being hospitalized for treatment. The third child managed to flee the scene, seeking help at a nearby relative’s home, prompting authorities to respond to the scene.
Smith entered an open plea in Mississippi’s 9th Circuit Court, where she was sentenced to 40 years—20 years to serve and the remaining 20 years suspended with five years of supervised release. Her sentences for each charge will run concurrently. Smith’s conviction brings an end to a traumatic ordeal for the victims, and her actions have led to the significant prison term for her brutal assault.
