Theresa Hawkins-Stephens, the last of three women charged in the beating death of 5-year-old Alexander Stephens in Middletown, was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison today in Butler County Common Pleas Court.
Hawkins-Stephens, 26, the boy’s mother, pleaded guilty last month to murder and two counts of child endangering. She was given the maximum sentence.
Hawkins-Stephens had a cross around her neck, but stared straight ahead and showed no emotion while standing before Judge Greg Stephens.
She said she had nothing to say before sentencing.
Last week, Rachel Bostian, 29, who also pleaded guilty to murder and two counts of child endangering, was sentenced to 18 years to life by Judge Stephens.
Ramona Bostian, Rachel's mother, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice.
Rachel Bostian and Hawkins-Stephens tied up Alexander for about 22 hours on April 26 and, according to prosecutors, “severely” beat the boy on his head and body.
Michael Stephens, grandfather of the boys, told the judge his family had offered to help Hawkins-Stephens with the care of the boys, but they were rebuffed.
The grandfather called Hawkins-Stephens “selfish with no remorse.”
Judge Greg Stephens called the actions of a mother in her son’s beating ‘deplorable’ and promised to be at her parole hearing years from now when he sentenced her.
Police said Alexander’s brother, 6-year-old Damyan, was also injured in the attacks, but his injuries were not life-threatening.
The Stephens boys were sleeping in a tent near the Great Miami River with their mother and her two friends, who told police they came to the area looking to find work.
According to court documents, the two boys were tied up with blankets for “stealing food.”
