Tate found guilty of first degree murder and aggravated child abuse
Judge sentences Tate to life in prison
Eric Tate is fingerprinted after being sentenced on June 9, 2011, to life in prison following his conviction for the murder of his then-girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter in 2006.
Photographer: WFTS
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 06/09/2011
TAMPA - Eric James Tate will never see the outside of a prison again.
On Thursday a Tampa jury found the 23-year-old guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse following the 2006 death of his then-girlfirend's 2 1/2 year-old daughter, Heather Marie Romance.
Following the verdict a judge sentenced Tate to life in prison.
The girl died under while Tate was babysitting her. He told his girlfriend, Amy Romance, the child had fallen off a couch and hit her head.
Doctor’s evaluated Heather at the hospital where she died. They say they found bruises all over her body and that she had been raped. Prosecutors dropped the rape charges before jury selection began.
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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