Cheryl Busch, charged with shooting and killing her 19-month-old daughter on the family’s Shore Road property in November 2008, has pleaded guilty to the crime.
Busch, 41, has admitted to killing her 19-month-old daughter with a .357 Magnum.
Her trial has been pushed back several times, with he most recent delay moving the scheduled jury-trial date from March 26 to April 9. Busch, though, pleaded guilty to the murder charge at a Friday pre-trial hearing, according to the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office.
Her sentence hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 18 at the San Benito County Courthouse.
Previously, Busch spent time at Patton State Hospital after she had been admitted there in March 2010. After she took part in a trial competency program at the hospital, a judge last May ruled she was mentally competent for trial. About five months ago, public defender LaForge filed another motion on her behalf contending she is mentally incompetent for a jury trial. A judge in late November ruled for a second time that Busch is mentally competent to stand trial.
She previously pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. She faces 25 years to life in prison. Busch is not eligible for the death penalty.
