Mother Sentenced to 10 Years to Life for Premeditated Attempted Murder of Daughter

DATE:  February 25, 2016

CASE:  Porche Wright

PROSECUTOR:  Deputy District Attorney Nancy Cochrane, Special Assaults & Child Abuse Unit

The Honorable Geoffrey Goodman sentenced Porche Wright to 10 years to life in prison.  On January 28, 2016, Wright pled no contest to premeditated attempted murder and admitted the allegation that she personally inflicted great bodily injury. 

On April 4, 2015, Wright was upset with her 7-year-old daughter for not listening to her.  Wright doused her daughter with gasoline and lit her on fire. Once her daughter was aflame, Wright placed her in the bathtub and put out the fire.  Her daughter was on fire long enough to leave scorch marks in the bathtub.

Wright’s boyfriend, who had left the house the night before, returned that morning to find the little girl severely burned. He told Wright they needed to call for help, but she insisted they not contact anyone.  The boyfriend left the house, claiming he was going to the store to get burn cream. He called 9-1-1 as soon as he left the house.

First responders entered the home, where there was an overwhelming smell of gasoline.  They found the little girl standing in the hallway with severe and significant burns. She was transported to Shriner’s Hospital, where she underwent surgeries.  Her daughter suffered second and third-degree burns to over a third of her body and will be scarred for life.

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