Hollywood woman guilty in stepson’s death

“What could be more gross and flagrant than watching that child die?” Prosecutor Neva Rainford-Smith

Analiz Osceola, the Hollywood mother accused of lying to cops about her missing 3-year-old stepson eight years ago and failing to seek medical attention as he lay dying, was found guilty Friday of aggravated manslaughter.

Osceola, 32, was not charged with murdering little Ahziya because no one could prove she caused the injuries that killed him in March 2015.

But in an emotional closing argument delivered Friday morning, prosecutor Neva Rainford-Smith told jurors that the boy might still be alive today if Osceola had called 911. Instead, as he suffered, she ignored him.

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. He also had a fracture on his leg, according to trial testimony.

“There is no question Ahziya was beaten to death,” Rainford-Smith said. “There is no question he was drugged into oblivion.”

She said Osceola wrapped the boy’s leg in an ace bandage so tightly that “it cut off circulation to his leg,” Rainford-Smith said.

The aggravated manslaughter charge required the prosecution to prove Osceola acted with reckless disregard for human life that was “gross and flagrant.”

“What could be more gross and flagrant than watching that child die?” the prosecutor said. “Watching as he writhed in pain and groaned, and she does nothing!”

Defense lawyer William Cone argued that Osceola tried to save the child’s life and tended to him throughout the night, conceding only that her efforts fell short. Osceola did not testify during the trial, which started Monday. For most of the trial, she couldn’t even bring herself to face the jury.

Osceola called police to report her stepson missing on March 20, 2015. Two days later, his body was found in the laundry room of the family home.

“He died lying on a comforter,” Rainford-Smith said. “But in her mind, that was too good for him.” Police found him in a garbage bag.

Osceola faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when she is sentenced by Broward Circuit Judge Marina Garcia Wood on April 14.

SUN SENTINEL MIKE STOCKER/SOUTH FLORIDA Analiz Rodezno Osceola was convicted of aggravated manslaughter on Friday in the death of Ahziya Drew Osceola, her 3-year-old stepson, whose body was wrapped in plastic bags and found inside a Baby Einstein toy box in a laundry room, according to police.