People v. Bowman
Velna Prince left her five-week-old baby, Tyshae, with the defendant, Tyrone Bowman. Upon returning, she found Tyshae in distress with severe head injuries. Doctors later confirmed blunt head trauma and blood clots, which were inconsistent with the defendant's claim of an accidental fall. Tyshae subsequently died. The defendant was convicted of depraved indifference murder and sentenced to 25 years to life. On appeal, the defendant argued insufficient evidence for depraved indifference, claiming his actions were more consistent with intentional murder or lacked the required mental state. The court affirmed the conviction, finding that the jury rationally concluded reckless rather than intentional conduct, and the defendant's acts demonstrated wanton cruelty and utter indifference to human life, exacerbated by his failure to seek help.