Woman admits killing baby by throwing her

A Colorado Springs woman Thursday admitted killing her 8-month-old baby by throwing the girl so hard that she died from head injuries.

Tracie Preston’s admission came as part of a deal where she agreed to plead guilty to child abuse resulting in death and child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, and prosecutors agreed to drop a first-degree murder charge.

Preston’s daughter, Bianca Limerick, died in March 2006.

Preston will be sentenced to between 55 and 75 years. Fourth Judicial District Judge Robert Lowrey will decide the prison term at an Aug. 6 sentencing hearing.

When Lowrey asked Preston, 37, what she did, Preston said: “I threw her and she hit her head on the bed rail.”

Preston admitted she was “really stressed out” and that her oldest daughter was crying and demanding her attention. That girl, 2 at the time, lives with family in Illinois.

On the second charge, Preston admitted pulling Bianca’s arm so hard the bone snapped.

An associate coroner who performed an autopsy on the baby ruled she had “battered baby syndrome,” an indication of repetitive child abuse.

El Paso County Department of Human Services officials investigated two reports of abuse involving Bianca, who was reported once to have bruises covering her face.

Investigators also found she had at least a dozen old rib, arm and leg fractures.

Colorado Springs police found Bianca’s body in a childsafety seat March 15, 2006, in the back of Preston’s minivan. Preston had driven the van with the baby’s corpse in it for at least a day, including a trip to Denver, police said.

State mental health officials evaluated Preston and found her competent to stand trial.

Deputy District Attorney Deborah Pearson said they needed to see a pre-sentence investigation on Preston before deciding what sentence to seek.

Deputy Public Defender Eydie Elkins said she saw no need to keep Preston in prison longer than 55 years.

“She will never, ever be a problem for the rest of her life,” Elkins said.

Preston suffers from a developmental disability and emotional problems, Elkins said.

She remains in the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center without bond.