WPRO News and the Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – An East Providence woman has been charged for her alleged role in the beating death of her 6-year-old son.
Trisha Oliver was arraigned Tuesday in Providence County Superior Court on a charge of manslaughter.
Authorities say the 32-year-old woman caused the October 2009 death of her son, Marco Nieves, who was beaten by Oliver’s then-boyfriend, 33-year-old Michael Patino of Central Falls.
Patino was sentenced to life in prison last month after a jury convicted him in April of second-degree murder.
Key evidence at Patino’s trial included cellphone messages sent by Patino and Oliver indicating Patino had hit the boy.
The Providence Journal reports that evidence also revealed that the child suffered for hours before Oliver called 911.
It’s unclear whether Oliver is being represented by an attorney.
