Texas Mother Pleads Guilty in Toddler’s 2014 Death Case

A Texas woman accused of trying to hide evidence in the 2014 death of her 2-year-old son and failing to find him medical care has pleaded guilty.

Meagan Work pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and injury to a child by omission under a plea agreement in Travis County District Court on Thursday.

"She has accepted responsibility for her part, and is going to leave her fate in the hands of the judge," said Darla Davis, Work's attorney.

The 24-year-old's plea bargain eliminates the need for a jury trial, which had been scheduled for Aug. 20.

"By entering this plea, we avoid the expense and effort of a jury trial," District Attorney Margaret Moore said. "Plus, for the state, it's very satisfying to have her admit to her guilt."

The plea bargain was reached after prosecutors agreed to drop a charge of injury to child by commission that alleged Work caused her son's death, said Davis. Work contends she didn't hurt her son Colton Turner.

Work's felony case has been delayed for years due to misleading statements she made to investigators about Colton's disappearance. Her former boyfriend, Michael Turner, 33, is serving 20 years in prison in the toddler's death after pleading guilty in 2016 to injury to a child.