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Stepmom sentenced to 99 years in horrific child abuse case

UPDATE: Crystal Williams was sentenced to 99 years in prison with a $10,000 fine Tuesday in connection with the horrific child abuse case of her five-year-old stepson Josiah Williams.

UPDATE: Crystal Williams was sentenced to 99 years in prison with a $10,000 fine Tuesday in connection with the horrific child abuse case of her five-year-old stepson Josiah Williams.

She will reportedly have a chance for parole after 30 years.

SAN ANTONIO -- The punishment phase continued Monday for a stepmother who pleaded guilty to beating and starving her five-year-old stepson Josiah Williams to death.

Crystal Williams took the stand in her own trial Monday afternoon.

She told a jury Josiah was underweight because he was a picky eater.

As KENS 5 reported, his cause of death was listed as "dehydration in a battered, underweight child." The Bexar County Medical Examiner's office previously testified to this.

"I even tried compromising with him, giving snacks or donuts, just so he would eat something," she told a jury.

Josiah died two days after Christmas in 2012.

Williams pleaded guilty last week to injury to a child, a first-degree felony.

Investigators found a hole in the closet wall at their home matching the size of Josiah's head and traces of blood nearby.

The autopsy report showed multiple cuts and bruises all over his body and a final weight of 38 lbs.

In her defense, Williams said that she noticed toward the end of Nov. 2012 he had lost a lot of weight and was picky about his food.

Williams faces 5 to 99 years or life in prison.

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