A Minnesota woman, Julissa Thaler, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of her 6-year-old son, Eli Hart.
A Hennepin County judge gave Julissa Thaler a life sentence, providing some legal closure to a case that deeply impacted the local community and Eli's grieving family.
Thaler's arrest occurred when a concerned caller reported seeing her car with a shattered rear window and a blown-out tire.
Eli's body was found in the trunk of the car soon after.
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| Julissa Thaler and a cop who responded to her car |
Motive
Reports say Julissa Thaler killed her 6-year-old son Eli Hart because of a serious custody battle over who would take care of Eli between Thaler and his father, Tory Hart.
Evidence shows that Thaler and Hart were engaged in the custody dispute, with Hart filing a petition in March 2022 to gain full custody.
Prosecutors argued that this custody battle was the motive for Thaler's premeditated murder of Eli
Thaler also conducted internet searches on "excessive amounts" of life insurance for a child and "How much blood can a 6-year-old lose?", suggesting she may have planned Eli's murder.
The prosecution presented this as evidence of premeditation
They say Thaler desired to maintain custody of Eli, even if it meant killing him.
Drama In Court
In January of 2023, a jury found Thaler guilty of first- and second-degree murder.
The courtroom was filled with emotion during the sentencing.
Eli's family displayed a framed class photo of the young boy as they addressed the judge, sharing heartfelt memories and the impact of his loss.
Nikita Kronberg, Eli's former foster mother, spoke tearfully, saying, "Eli meant the world to so many people. He was so kind and amazing. Always had a smile on his face. He made friends so easily and wanted to explore all the time."
The family also shared how shocked they were about the custody fight between Thaler and Eli's father, Tory Hart.
This legal battle ended with Eli being placed in Thaler's care.
In response, Tory Hart has sued Dakota County employees for wrongful death because they gave custody to Thaler.
This case is scheduled for trial in federal court in 2024.
"Everyone knows Eli Hart as the victim of this senseless and horrific crime. But Eli was so much more," said Josephine Josephson, Tory Hart's partner.
"Eli was an amazing 6-year-old boy who always woke up full of energy and laughter."
Addressing Eli directly, she added, "You were the happy 6-year-old boy, our little boy, that we loved so deeply."
When Thaler was given the opportunity to speak in court, she maintained her innocence, stating, "I'm innocent. F--- you all. You're garbage."
In the aftermath of the sentencing, Eli's family announced their intention to focus on positive actions in Eli's memory.
They plan to raise money for a playground in Mound to honor Eli and to push for changes that would stop this kind of tragedy from happening to other children in the future.
"We now have legal closure on this heartbreaking tragedy," said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.
"But nothing will ever fill the void in the world that Eli left behind. I hope his family can slowly move forward and eventually find some level of peace."
The emotional impact statements from Eli's family highlighted the deep loss they have endured.
Josephine Josephson emphasized, "Eli was an innocent, loving 6-year-old boy. He did not deserve this. Eli deserved to grow and have a safe and happy life."
Nikita Kronberg reflected on Eli's strength and joy, noting, "He was the strongest 6-year-old that I knew. He could easily do 20 pushups, and have a huge smile on his face while doing them."
As the community struggles with this tragic loss, Eli's family hopes their efforts to honor his memory will provide some comfort and help prevent future tragedies.
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