Opinion ID: 2552553
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Defendant's Biological Family Background

Text: Defendant's mother, Markita Thornton, was a habitual substance abuser before and after defendant's birth. She drank and used drugs before learning she was pregnant with defendant, and her mother testified that she saw Markita drunk during the pregnancy, though Markita denied it on the witness stand. Defendant's biological father, Steve Miller, beat Markita during her' pregnancy with defendant, including delivering a blow to her abdomen during her seventh or eighth month. Miller died when defendant was four years old. Markita Thornton testified that Miller saw defendant only about seven times. Markita Thornton testified that defendant's aunt was mentally a little slow and, as far as she knew, had never attended school. A doctor had diagnosed her as being cognitively impaired. Markita Thornton repeated the third grade, was expelled from one junior high school, and attended but did not graduate from high school. She had a history of minor crimes dating back to her teenage years.