Pueblo West mother found guilty of first-degree murder, child abuse two years after 3-year-old son died from brain injury

PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- A Pueblo West woman has been found guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse after her three-year-old son suffered a severe brain injury that resulted in his death in 2024.

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According to the Pueblo County District Attorney's (DA) office, 40-year-old Samantha Kimberly was found guilty of first-degree murder, two counts of child abuse and accessory to a crime. The DA's office says she will be sentenced on October 26.

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Kimberly was first arrested in June of 2024 after her three-year-old son was found unconscious and her 14-year-old son had visible injuries, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office (PCSO). A few days later a second woman, Brittany Farmer, was arrested in connection with the incident.

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The three-year-old victim in the case later died from his injuries after he had been in critical condition since he was found. That bumped Kimberly and Farmer's charges up to include murder. The 14-year-old who was found was later placed into the custody of the Department of Human Services.

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The DA's office says through Kimberly's three-week trial, officials presented evidence that both victims had sustained months of physical abuse, and the three-year-old had suffered a severe brain injury that resulted in his death.

"We appreciate the jury's verdict in this tragic and difficult case," Pueblo County District Attorney Kala Beauvais said. "We extend our gratitude to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation and support during the prosecution to achieve justice for the victims. Any homicide case is difficult, but those challenges are amplified when the victims are children. We remain committed to protecting victims of crime and pursuing justice with the utmost care and determination.”

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