By Heart of Illinois ABC
TAZEWELL COUNTY – A Tazewell County woman has been sentenced to 75 years after being found guilty of beating and murdering her boyfriend’s four-year-old son.
Leslie Jett looked on blankly as the judge read her sentence — putting her behind bars for most of her remaining years for the murder of Tate Thurman.
She got emotional at one point — raising her voice while a prosecutor was presenting a final argument.
Prosecutors brought up Jett’s previous drug abuse patterns, also showing pictures of Tate’s injuries that happened before his murder — arguing a pattern of abuse contributed to aggravating sentencing factors.
It was supposed to end by lunch, but the marathon sentencing hearing lasted over seven hours.
The defense asked for a new trial earlier in the morning — but that motion was denied by Judge Paul Gilfillan after an hour of arguments.
Several people gave emotional victim impact statements — including Tate’s father Jeremy — saying he still cannot fathom that he will never hear Tate’s voice again.
Jett is getting credit for over a year of time served — working out to over 73 years in prison.
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