Gilley-Wroe Sentenced to Life for Infant Murder in Midland
Jury convicts 24-year-old of capital murder based on skull fractures and statements made to a cellmate.
By Marco Ortega ·
Sarah Michelle Gilley-Wroe was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Friday for the death of her five-week-old daughter in Midland, Texas.
A jury found the 24-year-old guilty of one count of capital murder of a child under 10 years old. The infant died on May 11, 2022, at Midland Memorial Hospital after suffering severe head trauma.
Medical evidence revealed two fractures in the back of the victim's skull. Investigators determined these injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma. Experts stated that the force required to cause such damage equates to a fall from a two-story building.
Gilley-Wroe was the only person alone with the child during the period when the crime occurred. She initially claimed the injuries could have been caused by her aunt, the baby’s father, or her dog.
Detectives analyzed the defendant's phone and found incriminating Google searches. Authorities also cited statements Gilley-Wroe made while in custody. She told a cellmate that she threw the baby against the wall and struck the girl until she stopped crying.
