Chester County Mom Gets 42-94 Years For Son's Murder

The mother of a 3-year-old Chester County boy who was tortured and beaten to death in 2014 was sentenced to a lengthy prison term Monday.

Jillian Tait, 33, of Coatesville, will serve 42 to 94 years in jail. She was sentenced Monday in Chester County court after she pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in connection with the horrific death of her son Scott McMillan.

Tait's boyfriend, Gary Lee Fellenbaum, 25, was sentenced in September to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to first degree murder.

The tragic incident led the District Attorney's Office to pursue the death penalty against the pair, although due to Tait's plea, the death penalty was taken off the table for her sentencing.

From Nov. 2 to Nov. 4 of 2014, the pair tortured Scott for days, performing a range of unthinkable acts on the child, including beating him with a metal rod, aluminum siding, a frying pan, a homemade whip, and fists, authorities said. Throughout the torture he was routinely hung from the ceiling by his feet and taped to a chair, according to the DA.

Tait and Fellenbaum went car shopping and took a nap as the child lay dying, officials said.

The incident occurred in the West Caln Township mobile home where Tait and Fellenbaum lived as a couple, authorities said. Fellenbaum's estranged wife, Amber Fellenbaum, also lived there; she has since pleaded guilty to endangering a child.

Scott's brother Ryan, aged 6 at the time, was also tortured but survived and was hospitalized. An 11-month-old infant also living in the West Caln Township mobile was unharmed.

The horrific incident sparked outrage in the community and sparked numerous fundraisers to fight child abuse. The Crime Victims Center of Chester County established a Trust Fund for Ryan.

"The news of Scotty's death rocked our community to the core," said CVC board member Laura Sweeney Derrico in 2014. "It is heartbreaking to know that Ryan will have to grow up without his brother by his side. It is our hope that through the creation of this trust, Scotty's memory will live on and help Ryan on his journey to healing. Through this trust, Ryan will know he is not alone; he has a community surrounding him."

To learn more about the trust and to donate, see here.

According to Philly.com, a plea deal was reached with Tait because she has "accepted responsibility," and is less responsible for her son's death than Fellenbaum.

Image via Chester County District Attorney's Office