Mother found guilty of murder in codeine death of toddler

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — UPDATE: A jury has found a woman guilty of murder and financial fraud in the death of her toddler.

-------------

A jury is deciding the fate of a mother accused of killing her disabled toddler.

Prosecutors said Erica White killed her child with a lethal dose of codeine. They called it a case of "poisoning for profit."

White is accused of killing her son for a $50,000 life insurance policy.

Stay with Channel 2 Action News as the jury deliberates the woman's fate.

For the past 9 days, Cobb County prosecutors labeled White a “liar.”

The mother from Austell was charged with 16 counts of murder and financial fraud.

White and her boyfriend, Michael Schullerman, allegedly killed their toddler in November 2014. The couple allegedly gave the boy a lethal dose of codeine and then opened credit cards in his name.

TRENDING STORIES:

• This virus looks, acts like the flu, but it isn't; what is adenovirus?
• Largest venomous snake in U.S. spotted swimming off Florida Keys
• Man in critical condition after family says he was run over by police officer

“That fatal dose was given by Erica White, just before 8 p.m., on that night,” said Cobb County Assistant District Attorney Susan Treadaway.

White's defense attorney told jurors there's not enough evidence of murder and large amount of evidence of financial wrongdoing.

“The simple truth is Erica White did not kill Tyrael McFall. She had no idea codeine ever came into her house,” said defense attorney T. Bryan Lumpkin.

The defense argued White's boyfriend had a lot to do with events that led up to Tyrael's death.

“Not long after he’s there, credit card applications start happening, and after Tyrael’s death they explode,” Lumpkin said.

Cox Media Group