Mom gets jail time for baby's death

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - A mother will spend the next 15 years in prison for shaking her 11-month-old daughter to death in 2009.

Julie Calahan, 24, was sentenced to time behind bars in connection to the death of her daughter, La Keira, who was found unresponsive at a home in Virginia Beach in May, 2009. La Keira’s uncle, Stephen Calahan, was arrested and charged with murder in La Keria’s death.

In 2012, Facebook posts led police to Julie Calahan. A detective testified Calahan wrote on her Facebook “I was drunk and I got up and shook her.” Calahan was then arrested and charged in the case.

Stephen Calahan was convicted of child neglect in 2010, but the murder charge was never prosecuted.

Additionally, an investigation was launched into Julie Calahan in 2008, when Child Protective Services learned her 4-year-old son was brought to the hospital with severe bruises. The child returned to the hospital several months later with injuries requiring surgery and was then released to foster care.

Tuesday, a judge sentenced Julie Calahan to 10 years in prison for manslaughter and 10 years for child neglect, five of which were suspended.