An Arizona woman, Shawn Main, 53, was handed down a life sentence for the 2015 murder of a 3-year-old girl she was in the process of adopting, 12 News reports. The Pinal County Superior Court found Main guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse following the death of the child, named Tiana, who suffered from severe injuries and diaper rash when she was brought to a local hospital.

Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer spoke on the gravity of the crime, noting, "Children are the most vulnerable in our community and it's a tragedy this young girl's life was cut so short," and added that "Those who abuse children need to be held accountable," according to statements obtained by AZ Family. Main refused to admit her role in Tiana's death, claming to authorities that the child's injuries occurred from repeated falls, an explanation the state contested, citing the injuries as inconsistent with falling and more indicative of blunt force trauma.

During the trial, the court heard that Tiana was living with Main, Maria C. Tiglao, and Tina Morse, her biological mother, along with three boys while they were attempting to adopt four girls, prosecutors described how Main had given conflicting statements about the nature of the incidents leading to Tiana's injuries; in the end, her defense did not convince the jury.

Morse had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of child abuse and received a two-year prison sentence in December 2016, meanwhile Tiglao, who faces five counts of child abuse, still has her case pending. After the court pronounced Main's sentence, she expressed disbelief, retorting, "I couldn't believe you got it so wrong," her words echoing a profound refusal to engage the weight of her actions, an account provided by AZ Family.