Mother gets 27 years for death of 2-month-old boy

MASON - A Lansing woman was sentenced a minimum of 27½ years in prison Wednesday for the death of her 2-month-old son.

"I'm still amazed at the brutality (of the abuse) and the lack of remorse you've shown in this case," Ingham County Circuit Judge William Collette told Alexandra Alexi. "This poor, little boy didn't have any reason to die."

Alexi, 24, pleaded guilty in April to second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse in connection with the death of Julian Alexi, who died in September 2014 after suffering massive head injuries and numerous broken bones. The plea agreement set her minimum sentence at 27½ years. Collette gave her concurrent 27½-to-60-year terms on those two charges.

The boy was in cardiac arrest and wasn't breathing when he was taken to the emergency room, a doctor testified in a previous hearing. He had head injuries,19 rib fractures and scratches all over his skin, according to testimony. The fractures and scratches were all at different stages of healing, meaning they could have started as early as the first month of his life and continued until he was admitted to the hospital, the doctor testified.

When she entered her plea in April, Alexi told Collette she caused Julian to suffer several rib injuries, a broken collar bone and head injuries. She also admitted shaking her son.

"He was being fussy, and I couldn't calm him down," she told the judge.

Alexi said she gave her son to her boyfriend at the time, knowing that he was going to shake him and cause him serious harm. The boyfriend hasn't been charged, although the investigation remains open, Chief Assistant Ingham County Prosecutor Lisa McCormick said.

Alexi's sentencing was delayed by a week after a witness came forward and offered an alibi for her, according to statements in court. Alexi asked to withdraw her guilty plea to the murder charge based on the witness' story. But Assistant Ingham County Prosecutor Bill Crino objected, calling the witness' testimony "preposterous," and Collette denied the motion.

Alexi told Collette on Wednesday that she takes full responsibility for what happened to her son but said she is "not a murderer."

"Hopefully, the truth will come out one day," she said.

Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.