BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - A central Illinois mother charged after her boyfriend allegedly killed her daughter has been sentenced to 24 months' probation. Twenty-five-year-old Candis Ethridge of Bloomington said in court Friday that she knew 3-year-old Destiny Cox would be in danger when she left her alone with David Gharrett. Gharrett is charged with first-degree murder in the girl's death in April. Authorities say she died of multiple traumatic injuries. Ethridge pleaded guilty to one count of child endangerment in a deal with prosecutors that require her to testify at Gharrett's trial if she's called as a witness. The Bloomington Pantagraph reports that friends and neighbors told authorities they saw Gharrett physically and verbally abuse Destiny. The pair also has a 2-year-old son who's in foster care with relatives. full story
