Colorado’s 14th Judicial District Attorney’s Office has provided a statement and information to the public following the 3-day jury trial of 36-year-old Kaylee Ann Messerly of Craig. Messerly was convicted on June 8th of Child Abuse Resulting in Death and Child Abuse Resulting in Serious Injury for “knowingly or recklessly causing the death of her eighteen month old daughter, and knowingly or recklessly causing catastrophic injuries to her three year old daughter” who lost her feet due to severe frostbite. The first count is punishable by 16 to 48 years in jail and the second count by 4 to 16 years. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Tjosvold stated: “These tragedies were preventable, and those children were placed in a position that they could not get themselves out of. The evidence showed that methamphetamine abuse was a contributing factor. There are no winners in these types of cases. Emma Smith is lost to her family, Alena Smith has life-altering injuries, and now Kaylee Messerly faces a prison sentence for her actions. We thank the jury for their attention and service in this trial, particularly given the tragic subject matter.” Messerly will remain in Moffat County Jail to await her sentencing scheduled for September 1st.
