Dresher, PA – A mother has been sentenced to decades in prison after admitting to her role in the death of her 21-year-old son. Sherrilynn Hawkins was found guilty of charges including third-degree murder and neglect of a dependent.
Hawkins received a sentence of 25 to 50 years in a state correctional facility. Her son, Tylim Hatchett, died last year, weighing just 59 pounds.
In court on Monday, Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Wendy G. Rothstein imposed the sentence. First Assistant District Attorney Ed McCann noted that Hawkins showed no remorse during the proceedings.
Hawkins, along with her friend Loretta Harris, was responsible for Tylim’s care. Investigators found that they had neglected him for long periods, often leaving him alone for up to 24 hours at a time.
The 21-year-old suffered from cerebral palsy and required consistent care. Tylim was discovered unresponsive in their home on September 18 after Vernon Hatchett, his father, waited two hours to call for help.
An autopsy determined that the cause of death was complications from neglect. Police reported that Tylim had lost significant weight in the months leading to his death, dropping from 91 pounds to 59 pounds.
Both women had been compensated by a home health care agency for care they had failed to provide. Prosecutors allege that they falsified records to receive payment while neglecting Tylim’s needs.
Harris, who also faces charges, is set to be sentenced in December. Vernon Hatchett remains wanted on felony charges related to the neglect and death of his son. Authorities are offering a reward for information leading to his arrest.
