Texas woman gets life in prison for killing 5-week-old daughter
Sarah Michelle Gilley-Wroe was convicted of capital murder after investigators linked severe head trauma on the infant to blunt force trauma.
By James Mitchell ·
A 24-year-old Texas mother has received a life sentence for the death of her infant daughter.
Sarah Michelle Gilley-Wroe was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in Midland, Texas. A jury found her guilty on one count of capital murder of a child under 10 years old.
The infant died on May 11, 2022, at Midland Memorial Hospital. Medical evidence determined the cause of death was severe head trauma. Investigators reported that the girl sustained two fractures in the back of her skull. The injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma.
Detectives reviewed Gilley-Wroe’s phone and found incriminating Google searches. While in custody, she made statements to authorities. She told a cellmate that she threw the baby against a wall and struck the girl until she stopped crying.
Officials stated that Gilley-Wroe was the only person alone with the child during the window when the crimes occurred. She initially claimed the injuries could have been caused by her aunt, the baby’s father, or her dog.
Medical experts compared the force required to cause the injury to the impact of a fall from a two-story building.
Sentencing concluded in November 2026.
