Lisa Benedetto’s 2-year-old son Trysten Adams, died back in 2014 while he was living with Michael Beer in Beer's Port St. Lucie home. On Monday, she addressed a judge before Beer was sentenced in connection with the boy's death.
“My whole world has changed, my family has been completely torn apart," Benedetto said tearfully.
The medical examiner found Adams died of blunt force trauma and had lacerations to his liver.
"It was a tragic accident. An accident that I reviewed seeing if there was anything I could have done differently, but there was none," Beer said before Judge Gary Sweet.
Beer’s three sisters spoke on their brother’s behalf.
“All around good guy. Help anybody who needs help," said Linda Campbell.
A jury found Beer guilty of aggravated manslaughter in June.
Before sentencing him to the maximum of 30 years in prison, Judge Sweet said the defense’s contention during the trial that the boy's injuries were the result of overzealous CPR, was “preposterous”.
“Obviously there was a monster inside of him that made him commit such a heinous crime," said Trysten's Grandmother Elizabeth Taccetta.
“Very disappointed in verdict. Very disappointed in the sentence. This is a gentleman with no prior criminal history. He had fostered 13 foster kids," said defense attorney Lance Richard.
Richard said he plans to file an appeal Tuesday.
