La. mom convicted of throwing her 2 sons into lake, killing infant and injuring the other

SHREVEPORT, La. (TCD) -- A jury convicted a 34-year-old woman on two counts for throwing her two young children into a lake two years ago, killing the 10-month-old and injuring the other.

On Wednesday, Sept. 13, Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office Public Information Officer Ivy Woodard announced Ureka Black was found guilty of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder for throwing her sons off the Cross Lake Bridge. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before reaching the verdict.

Jury selection began Sept. 11. The verdict comes almost exactly two years after the tragedy.

On Sept. 24, 2021, Shreveport Police responded to Cross Lake Bridge after receiving a call about a child floating in Cross Lake. That victim was declared deceased. Officials found a second victim, who was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police apprehended Black at the Texas-Louisiana state line.

KSLA-TV reports prosecutors showed a video of the surviving son, who was 5 years old at the time of the incident, speaking with officials about how Black told him he "needed to go with God," and she "rolled" him into the water.

The boy reportedly added, "I don’t want to go with God ever again."

Black represented herself at the trial, though she did not cross-examine the lead detective or even testify. She reportedly said during her own closing arguments that she was portrayed as a "crazy, drug addict, killer, child killer."

She will be sentenced Sept. 28.

MORE:

• Special Report - Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office
• On the steps of the Caddo Parish Courthouse - Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office
• Woman found guilty of throwing her sons off Cross Lake Bridge; 1 survived, other died - KSLA
• Children thrown from Cross Lake Bridge, 9/24/2021 - Shreveport Police via KSLA
• Louisiana mom accused of throwing children into lake, killing 1 and injuring the other, 9/27/2021 - TCD