State Glance

Woman pleads guilty to using salt in death of her ailing son

TUCSON — A Tucson woman accused of killing her ailing 4-year-old son with table salt in 2015 has pleaded guilty to seconddegree murder.

Pima County prosecutors say 35-year-old Ashley Castro reached a plea agreement in the case Monday.

They say Castro is facing up to 25 years in prison when she’s sentenced on Sept. 30.

Castro was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder after her young son died at a hospital in November 2015.

Authorities say Ezekiel Castro was being treated for a heart condition at the time.

Tucson police say Ashley Castro admitted to giving her son a mixture of salt and water that she carried for use as a mouthwash.

Authorities say the high level of sodium put the child in critical condition, leading to several hemorrhages and a stroke.

Body ID’d as Lake Pleasant drowning victim in May

PHOENIX — Authorities have identified the body of a man who drowned in Lake Pleasant two months ago.

Maricopa County Sheriff’s officials say the body of 49-year-old Ronald Hylton was found July 13 southeast of Roadrunner Island by a boater at the lake located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Phoenix.

The body was taken to the county Medical Examiner’s Office and was positively identified as Hylton.

Sheriff’s officials say at this time in the investigation, all information and evidence obtained provides no indication of foul play.

Hylton was a passenger aboard a personal watercraft on May 26 when he fell into the water.

Authorities say Hylton wasn’t wearing a life vest and struggled to stay afloat before going under water and not resurfacing.

Tucson woman gets 20-year term in fatal hit-and-run

TUCSON — A Tucson woman accused of driving impaired in a fatal hit-andrun crash in 2017 has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Pima County prosecutors say 32-year-old Erin Eman was sentenced Monday.

In May, Eman pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder charge and various other offenses related to the July 2017 car crash that led to the death of 21-year-old Hannah Parkhurst.

A jury also found Eman guilty of aggravated DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, criminal damage, drug possession and endangerment.