Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Judge reduces woman’s bond
Stepmom accused in death of child
A Broward judge on Monday lowered the bond for Analiz Osceola, the Hollywood woman accused of manslaughter in the 2015 death of her 3-year-old stepson.
Osceola, 26, has been in custody since March 2015, after rescue workers found the battered body of Ahziya Osceola in the laundry room of the family’s Hollywood home.
A Broward Medical Examiner's report later concluded that Ahziya died from blunt impact abdominal trauma. He had bruises on his face and body, his pancreas was broken into three pieces and his liver was torn.
Osceola had originally reported the child missing, but changed her account after Hollywood police found the boy’s body. The manslaughter charge alleges she failed to provide needed medical treatment for her stepson.
Defense lawyer Melisa McNeill reminded Broward Circuit Judge William Haury that Osceola’s charge is not a capital
offense — she faces 15 years in prison if convicted.
Under Florida law, a person charged with an offense that does not carry a life sentence is typically given a reasonable bond. Osceola’s was set at $200,000 for the manslaughter charge and $10,000 for providing false information to law enforcement.
Previous efforts to lower her bond were unsuccessful, but on Monday, Haury decided to reduce her bond to $15,000 on the first count and $5,000 on the second.
Under the terms of her release, Osceola will be on house arrest with an ankle monitor, unable to leave her home except for visits to her lawyer, court dates or religious services.
Osceola’s husband, Nelson Osceola, had been charged with child neglect, but the charge was dropped last year. Nelson Osceola filed for divorce on Oct. 26, according to the Broward Clerk of Courts website.