A former Cullom woman, convicted for the death of a foster child in her care, has had her life prison term reduced to 38 years. 34-year-old Heather Lamie was convicted in 2015 for the killing of 4-year-old Kianna Rudesill. The girl suffered fatal injuries while in Lamie’s care.
A judge (Tuesday) issued a new sentence in the 2011 death of the 4-year-old girl.

Lamie was entitled to a new sentencing hearing because the state law under which she was sentenced to life has been ruled unconstitutional.

The state Supreme Court struck down mandatory sentences for defendants convicted of killing a person under the age of 12, or the murders of more than one victim.

Lamie denied inflicting the blows that led to the child's death, insisting the girl's emotional issues caused her to hurt herself.

The Defense lawyer (Joshua Rinker) argued a 20-year term was appropriate for Lamie-- the minimum term for first degree murder. He said the fact that Lamie has no previous criminal record and leaves two daughters age 11 and 14 to be raised by the father warrant the lower sentence.

Livingston County State's Attorney Randy Yedinak argued for the maximum term of 60 years for Lamie, stating that "if this a parent's greatest nightmare, she's the author of that nightmare."

94.1 WGFA