Blessing Woman Sentenced

A Blessing woman, Lauralei Crouch, 33, was sentenced to life without parole for the ’22 death of her former boyfriend’s two-year-old son, Wyatt Pickett. A Matagorda County jury found her guilty of capital murder in less than an hour. Prosecutors revealed the child suffered 143 bruises, some of which were days old. Crouch initially lied to investigators and sent text messages indicating guilt. She is appealing the verdict. Randall Pickett, the child’s father, is expected to stand trial for capital murder next year. The incident occurred while Crouch was babysitting.