Mother's Tearful Testimony in Tysons Toddler Death

Prosecution rests in trial of toddler's grandmother

The mother of the 2-year-old girl killed at Tysons Corner gave tearful testimony Wednesday about the night her daughter was tossed off a sixth-level pedestrian bridge at Tysons Corner Center by her grandmother.

Mary Kathlyn Ogdoc took her 2-year-old daughter, Angelyn, to the mall last November with her parents, including Angelyn's grandmother, Carmela dela Rosa. Ogdoc, who avoided looking at her mother and referred to her only as “Carmela” and “the defendant,” described for the jury turning around on the walkway and seeing her mother leaning over the railing but no longer holding Angelyn. She said she yelled, “What just happened,” and then ran to daughter on the ground below, News4’s Julie Carey reported.

Ogdoc described seeing a blank expression on dela Rosa's face after the incident.

Dela Rosa killed Angelyn out of hatred for her son-in-law for getting her daughter pregnant out of wedlock, according to the prosecution. Ogdoc testified that dela Rosa began crying and stormed out of the room when she learned about the pregnancy. On Ogdoc’s 21st birthday, the card from her mother included a note saying she felt betrayed and disappointed because Ogdoc got pregnant and married young.

The commonwealth rested its case Wednesday.

Defense lawyers argue that dela Rosa was legally insane when she dropped Angelyn off the walkway. Their first witness was dela Rosa’s husband, who said his wife’s mental health steadily declined in the months leading up to the child’s death, Carey reported. He also said dela Rosa loved Angelyn and he never would have thought she could do that to her.

Jurors heard a videotaped confession from dela Rosa on Tuesday. They also saw surveillance video showing dela Rosa throwing Angelyn off the walkway.

Dela Rosa could get up to life in prison.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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