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Ame Deal update: Valley woman found guilty after girl was locked in box

Posted at 11:58 AM, Jun 26, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-26 19:31:21-04

Jurors in the murder trial of an Arizona woman charged in the death of a 10-year-old girl who was locked in a small plastic storage box reached a verdict on Monday afternoon.

The court announced the jury found Sammantha Allen guilty of murder. She was accused of helping her husband lock Ame Deal in a box that was left outside overnight as punishment in July 2011.

Authorities said Deal suffocated and was found dead the next day as temperatures surpassed 100 degrees.

The bin only had small holes near the handles for air, according to prosecutors, who are seeking the death penalty for Allen.

They also found Allen guilty of child abuse, intentional or knowing child abuse and negligent child abuse.

Jurors began deliberating on Monday morning in the trial that began two weeks ago.