Menifee County mother pleads guilty to murder of daughter

ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) – A Menifee County woman has pleaded guilty to the murder of her young daughter.

Laura Blanton entered the plea in Rowan County on Friday.

Blanton and her boyfriend, Robert Collins, were charged with the murder of her daughter, 19-month-old daughter Aria Blanton.

Aria Blanton died from multiple blunt force injuries on April 19th, two days after being rushed to Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington.

Investigators say Laura Blanton left her daughter in the care of Collins while she went to work at a convenience store.

Authorities say Collins brought the unresponsive toddler to Blanton’s workplace on April 17, 2017.

One of Blanton’s co-workers called 911.

In addition to murder, Blanton also pleaded guilty to an amended charge of complicity to criminal abuse.

She could face up to 20 years in prison.

Blanton is scheduled to be sentenced in October 2019.