RHINELANDER — Ellen Tran will spend the next 15 years in prison for causing the death of her toddler stepson, according to a WJFW report.

Oneida County Circuit Judge Patrick O’Melia on Tuesday sentenced Tran, 30, six weeks after a jury convicted her of reckless homicide in the boy’s death. The sentence includes seven years of extended supervision following her release.

Eight men and four women reviewed four days worth of evidence in this case, ultimately deciding Tran was responsible for the death of 20-month-old Avery Edwards in April 2017 at a home near Rhinelander.

Police say Tran called 911 at around 6:25 p.m. the night of the boy’s death and was the only adult in the home at the time. During that call, Tran made no mention of Edwards slipping in the shower, the story she later told investigators. An autopsy showed Edwards died from blunt force trauma to his head.

Defense attorney Jonas Bednarek argued unsuccessfully that there were too many alternate possibilities, from influenza to an accidental medication overdose, to explain Edwards’ death.

“I can’t tell you exactly what happened,” Bednarek said. “I wish I could, but I can’t. And nobody can.”

Bednarek also called out Tran’s husband and the father of the boy, Trung Tran, as a suspect in the case.

“Is there suspicion there? Damn right,” Bednarek told the jury. “He is not a good man. We can all agree on that. He is a bad man. He’s a bad father. He’s a bad husband. Dammit, he was probably a bad doctor, too.”

The couple has since divorced.

According to the WJFW report, Tran tearfully addressed the judge during her hearing Tuesday, asking O’Melia to consider her own children when deciding on a sentence.

Edwards’ mother, Lori, delivered her own testimony at sentencing, reading a prepared statement that lasted more than an hour and included strong words against Tran’s character.

Edwards’ father, Trung Tran, faces charges of his own in Oneida County related to the toddler’s death. Those include felony child abuse and neglect charges for failing to protect Edwards and leaving him under Ellen Tran’s care. He is due back in court on Feb. 5.

Photo courtesy of WJFW. Published by permission.