TUCSON, Ariz. - A woman who was arrested for poisoning her 4-year-old boy with table salt in 2015 reached a plea deal Monday.
Ashley Christina Castro pleaded guilty to second degree murder, which holds a sentencing range between 20 and 25 years. Castro will be sentenced at 1p.m. Sept. 30.
A stipulation of the plea agreement requires Castro to serve 100 percent of whatever sentence the judge hands down.
In 2015, Castro was arrested for poisoning her son, Ezekiel Castro, while he was being treated for a heart condition at Diamond Children's Hospital.
Castro admitted to police that she gave Ezekiel a mixture of salt and water that she carried to use as a mouthwash.
The salt drove Ezekiel to critical condition, leading to several hemorrhages and a stroke.
Police arrested Castro and found a large container of salt, feeding tubes with a crystal residue, salt packets, and rubber gloves with salt residue.
After Castro was arrested for child abuse, Ashley and the boy's father decided to stop medical treatment. That's when Ezekiel died, and Castro faced murder charges.
