@sacramentourbanmedia916: Parole has been denied for a Louisiana mother who has spent 18 years behind bars for the death of her infant son during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Tiffany Woods was found guilty of second-degree murder in 2008 in connection with the 2005 death of her 5-month-old son, Emmanuel, in Shreveport. She had been sentenced to life in prison, though that term was later reduced. Emmanuel was born prematurely, weighing just three pounds, and spent his first month in a neonatal intensive care unit. Doctors determined he had a metabolic disorder that prevented him from properly processing certain fats, leaving him vulnerable to dangerously low blood sugar and at heightened risk of sudden death. Because of his condition, he required frequent feedings. He was released from the hospital only weeks before Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. Woods and her family moved between shelters — first staying in a sports arena, then a motel, and later a rental home — as they tried to weather the storm and its aftermath. According to Woods’ account to the parole board, Emmanuel began vomiting large amounts of formula. She continued feeding him formula until her WIC assistance ran out. With supplies depleted, she switched to cow’s milk, unaware of the medical risks. Health experts generally advise against giving cow’s milk to infants under one year old. Woods said she believed her son was improving but later realized he was not. “I didn’t know what to do,” she told the board, describing the decision as one made in survival mode amid crisis conditions. Emmanuel died in November 2005 as his health declined. Woods, who was 25 at the time, and her husband, then 18, were charged and convicted of murder. Under Louisiana law, certain accidental deaths can result in murder convictions, and the couple initially received mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole. In 2023, then-Gov. John Bel Edwards commuted Woods’ sentence, reducing it to 36 years and making her eligible for parole after serving half that time. Despite support from two members of the parole panel — who cited her strong institutional record, participation in rehabilitation programs and a low risk assessment for reoffending — Woods’ request was denied on Feb. 10 after one of the three board members voted against her release. Louisiana’s parole system requires a unanimous decision for approval.#fyp #viral

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Friday 20 February 2026 19:03:02 GMT