COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A Cobb County woman will be released from jail despite being convicted of felony in the death of her elderly mother.
Melissa Blue was charged with taking her 80-year-old mother Evelyn Blue from other family members and hiding her in a Marietta motel, watching and letting her mother waste away and die.
Defense attorneys say she was mentally ill and schizophrenic. Attorneys said Melissa Blue had no control over her actions.
Jurors agreed, acquitting Melissa Blue on murder charges, but finding her guilty of cruelty to an elderly person but being mentally ill.
Attorneys asked a judge to let her out to get treatment because keeping her in prison wouldn't do any good.
"It's a horrible tragedy what happened to Ms. Evelyn Blue, but what I'm going to do is ask the court not to continue that horrible tragedy as it regards Ms. Melissa Blue ," said defense attorney T. Bryan Lumpkin.
Prosecutors said she was found guilty so she should do time. Melissa Blue was supposed to serve 10 years in jail. She's served three years.
Attorneys are trying to find a program for Melissa Blue.
WSBTV
