Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:
OR
Log in using your WRAL.com account:



Wrong email/password combination.

Forgot password?

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:
OR
Register for a WRAL.com account using our web form.

Login Options

1:28 p.m. • 2-12-12

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Today: Clear.
    • Hi: 41° F
  • Mon: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 50° F
  • Tue: Rain.
    • Hi: 53° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image

Marketplace Links

Social Links

Main Menu

Trial Begins For Angier Woman Accused In Drowning Death Of Stepson


e-mail print friendly

Opening arguments and testimony began Wednesday in the trial of a woman charged with involuntary manslaughter in the drowning death of her stepson.

Jarrett Odom died and his twin brother, Garrett, was hospitalized after swimming in the pool at their house. Police say Sandra Odom was watching her twin stepsons and her five other children at the time of the drowning.

However, they say her account of what happened seems to conflict with the 911 call she made.

The prosecution claimed in their opening statements that Odom left the boys unattended for about four minutes. The defense claimed Odom never left the boys unattended.

"Involuntary manslaughter can be defined by 4-year-old Jarrett Odom as his stepmom going into the house, leaving him in a 4-foot-deep swimming pool for 10 minutes," prosecutor Margaret Cloutier told the jury.

"Nobody is accepting what she says, even though her children have been interviewed and have said the same thing, None of the children have said that the twins were left alone in the pool," defense attorney Tom Maher said to the jury. "Nobody will listen to her and no one will listen to her children."

Jurors listened to the 911 tape in which Odom called for help and testimony from emergency rescue people who were at the scene of the drowning. Ken Snell, the medical examiner, testified that Odom's death appears to have come from drowning.

The defense said they plan to state that Odom took the kids out of the pool when they became ill. She put the twins to bed for a nap.

"She walked into the kitchen area, where she could see into the bedroom where Jarrett was and she noticed that he had bubbles by his mouth and didn't look right," Maher said. "She got closer and he was turning blue. She said, 'Jarrett, what happened, what are you doing?' and realized that there was a real problem here."

The prosecution said they plan to play a tape where Odom allegedly changes her story.

Two of Odom's older children as well as Odom herself are expected to testify.

e-mail print friendly

0 Comments


WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

View Comments 0 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

View Comments 0 COMMENTS
Report It

Multimedia

Click Here