Mother, boyfriend convicted in 2016 strangulation killing of 22-month-old child

A man and a woman were convicted of second-degree murder and felony child abuse Friday in the 2016 killing of a 22-month-old child.

Taylor Montgomery-Gutzman, 26, and Rebecca Thomas, 36, were found guilty of killing the woman’s child, Kash Thomas, and of abusing his twin brother, according to a news release issued by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office.

Montgomery-Gutzman, who prosecutors say strangled Kash to death on Oct. 13, 2016, was additionally convicted of fatal assault on a child, according to the release.

Rebecca and Montgomery-Gutzman, who was her live-in boyfriend, were arrested after officers with the Citrus Heights Police Department responded to a home in the 8000 block of Auburn Boulevard where Kash was unable to breathe, according to previous reporting by The Bee.

Sacramento County Child Protective Services records show that Kash was found bleeding from the mouth with bruises on his face and had suffered a burn on his foot possibly caused by a cigarette, according to previous reporting by The Bee.

Rebecca had previously pleaded no contest to petty theft in 2012, was arrested for driving under the influence in 2013 and pleaded no contest to reckless driving in 2015, according to previous reporting by The Bee.

Montgomery-Gutzman faces 31 years to life in prison, while Rebecca faces 21 years to life in prison. They are scheduled to be sentenced on July 12.

This story was originally published May 7, 2019 at 3:14 PM.