By Christine Ferretti
The Detroit News
Mount Clemens, Mich. — Lauren Furneaux’s last memory of her 2-year-old daughter is filled with screams and tears as the child was carried away in a gas station parking lot for a court-ordered visit with her father.
Hours later, prosecutors say, the girl’s stepmother fatally beat and sexually assaulted the toddler over temper tantrums and toilet training accidents.
On Monday, a Macomb County Circuit Court jury deliberated about two hours before convicting Renee Marie King of felony murder and one count each of first-degree child abuse and criminal sexual conduct in the Nov. 20, 2010, death of Lily Lynette Furneaux-Wolfenbarger.
King, 30, will be sentenced to mandatory life in prison without parole April 10.
For Furneaux, the verdict was bittersweet.
“We’re ecstatic,” she said. “Still, it doesn’t bring Lily back.”
Furneaux and Lily’s father, Jeff Wolfenbarger, had shared custody. She and her family say they suspected Lily was being abused under King’s care and documented the bruises and black eyes in a bid for full custody.
“It was still not enough,” she said. “I just want to hold her again. You are supposed to protect your daughters from the evil in the world and I couldn’t protect her.”
Prosecutors say King struck Lily’s head at least 20 times and sexually assaulted her while the two were alone in the home King shared with Wolfenbarger.
King’s attorney Jason Malkiewicz says she had a pre-existing medical condition and Lily’s injuries stemmed from two accidental falls.
Malkiewicz said Monday he was “shocked” by the jury’s quick decision and that King’s relatives are standing by her. “They all believe, as do I, that Renee didn’t do this. They are crushed,” he said, adding King maintains her innocence. “This was nothing more than a horrible accident.”
King told investigators she took Lily with her in the shower after the child became ill. King said she lost her grip on Lily as she tried to lift the girl up to rinse her hair and the child fell. King claimed she later fell on top of the child after exiting the shower.
During the two-week trial, Assistant Prosecutor Therese Tobin presented various accounts from King about how the child became injured and efforts to revive her.
Malkiewicz said authorities never tried to verify King’s story, which he claims has “always been consistent.” He also detailed King’s medical visits for episodes of falling prior to Lily’s death.
Tobin noted a doctor ordered further tests, but King never followed through. Instead, Tobin said, she was taking a level of pain medication that was “closing in on the level of toxic.”
County Prosecutor Eric Smith said Lily was one of six child death cases in the county in 2010.
Smith commended Furneaux for creating a foundation in her daughter’s name. She’s raised about $35,000 for child advocacy groups and abuse prevention and her “Justice for Lily” Facebook page has about 34,000 followers.
“I’m proud of Lauren and all that she’s done for child abuse prevention,” he said. “She’s not only kept the memory of Lily alive, but found a way to help other children.”
Copyright 2012 The Detroit News
All Rights Reserved