Peabody mother sentence in baby's death

By Michaela Stanelun, Globe Correspondent

A Peabody woman was sentenced this morning to 15 to 17 years in state prison after being found guilty last week of shaking her baby to death
nearly two years ago.

Jennifer Ward, 39, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the November 2007 death of her 9-month-old daughter.

In last week's trial in Salem Superior Court, the prosecution said that Ward shook and beat Jocelyn Mae Ward-Anderson to death in an angry rage.
The baby had been fussing for over two hours prior to being shaken to death, and suffered a fractured skull, brain damage, and fractures to her
shoulders and left arm.

Judge David Lowy sentenced Ward to 15 to 17 years after hearing the prosecution's request for 18 to 20 years in state prison.  Ward has already
served almost two years in jail.

The maximum penalty for involuntary manslaughter is 20 years in state prison.