A Fayetteville woman was sentenced to probation Wednesday in the 2019 starvation death of her 8-year-old disabled grandson.
Geneen Ballenger, 55, pleaded guilty to child abuse and reckless disregard for human life in the death of her grandson, Robert Williams. In exchange for the plea, an involuntary manslaughter charge against Ballenger was dismissed.
Prior to sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Alicia Marks told Cumberland County Superior Court Judge Claire Hill that Robert and his twin were placed into Ballenger's care in 2017 when the children's mother became incapable ofcaring for them.
Robert was quadriplegic and had cerebral palsy and epilepsy, Marks said.
According to Marks, the boy weighed just 18 pounds when he was found dead in Ballenger's Berriedale Drive home on April 15, 2019.