Northeast Iowa Woman Could Spend Rest of Her Life in Prison for 2022 Death of Child

A northeast Iowa woman, found guilty last month for causing the death of a child in her care over three years ago, could spend the rest of her life in prison.

In May 2023, 70-year-old Shirley Weber of Cresco was charged with child endangerment causing death, a Class B felony punishable by up to 50 years in prison. 

According to the criminal complaint, Weber was operating an unlicensed daycare on June 28, 2022, when she placed a 16-month-old Lucas Schloesser in his car seat and only fastened the top buckle.  However, the toddler slid down in the car seat and was choked by that top buckle. He died July 1, 2022.

On July 11th, after a five-day trial, a Howard County jury returned a guilty verdict against Weber. On July 22nd, the defense filed motions for an arrest of judgment and a new trial for Weber. They argued the verdict was contrary to the weight and sufficiency of evidence and that she did not receive a fair and impartial trial.

The State filed resistance motions countering the defense’s claims and, on Monday (08.25), Howard County District Court Judge Richard Stochl denied Weber’s motions before sentencing her to serve up to the maximum of 50 years in prison, despite almost 20 letters in support of Weber asking for leniency in her sentence. 

Weber gets credit for time served and the sentence does not set a minimum amount of prison time to be served before she is considered for parole.