Livingston County State's Attorney Seth Uphoff during a visit to WJEZ/WJEZ file photo

by Todd Wineburner

Heather Lamie will spend the rest of her life in prison, without the possibility of parole. Last October, Lamie was found guilty of First Degree Murder and Endangering the Life or Health of a Child in the death of 4-year-old Kianna Rudesill. Judge Mark Fellheimer handed down the sentence yesterday in Livingston County court. Livingston County State's Attorney Seth Uphoff argued that "the law, and justice, demand that the defendant be senteced to prison for the remainder of her natural life." Uphoff added that "a person who inflicts that kind of violence on a 4-year-old girl doesn't deserve to spend one more moment of her life outsdie the walls of an Illinois prison."

In 2011, Lamie was living in Cullom, and a foster mother to a group of siblings that included 4-year-old Kianna. In May of 2011, the child was transported to OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht medical center suffering from serious head trauma. She was life-flighted to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria where emergency surgery failed to save the child’s life. Lamie's defense team argued that the child's injuries were self-inflicted–the result of an accident. Uphoff successfully argued that the extent of the injuries pointed to abusive behavior.

Lamie will have 30 days to file an appeal and her counsel has asked the court to appoint an appellate defender.