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Woman gets life in prison for murdering 4-year-old son she thought was gay

Woman gets life in prison for murdering 4-year-old son she thought was gay

PORTLAND, Ore. — An Oregon woman has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of the murder of her 4-year-old son.

Jessica Dutro (left) and Brian Canady.
Jessica Dutro (left) and Brian Canady.

Prosecutors said Jessica Dutro believed her son was gay, and that was the motive behind the beatings that led to his death.

Dutro, 25, was convicted April 7 on one count of murder, five counts of murder by abuse, and one count of second-degree assault in the death of 4-year-old Zachary Dutro.

According to trial records, Dutro had instructed her boyfriend, Brian Canady, to “work on” her son, sending Canady a Facebook message that she thought Zachary was gay.

“He walks and talks like it. Ugh,” Dutro wrote.

An autopsy conducted by the state medical examiner’s office determined that Zachary died due to complications resulting from blunt force abdominal trauma.

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Court records revealed that Canady admitted kicking the boy in the stomach before his death.

The investigation ultimately revealed a history of physical abuse by the Durto and Canady.

On Friday, Canady, 24, was also sentenced for his role in the boy’s death. He had pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault before Dutro’s trial began last month.

Canady received a sentence of 12 and a half years in prison.

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