Homeless mom awaits fate in starvation son’s death

Homeless mom awaits fate in starvation son’s death

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A mother of six whose infant son starved to death at a homeless shelter is set to be sentenced for involuntary manslaughter.

Tanya Williams faces about two years in the 2010 death of two-month old Quasir Alexander.

But she faces a mandatory five to 10 years in the near-death of his surviving twin, who was also malnourished. That’s because a jury this year convicted her of aggravated assault in his case.

Defense lawyer Gregory Pagano says the 34-year-old Williams was overwhelmed after the low-weight twins were sent home to live with her and four siblings at a West Philadelphia homeless shelter.

Pagano says caseworkers assigned to help her did not do their jobs.

Williams is the only person charged, though two Lutheran Children and Family Service workers lost their jobs.