Mother found guilty of killing son days after getting full custody

In a case that raised concerns about the behavior of child welfare officials, a Minnesota woman who asked a store clerk for ammunition that would “blow the biggest hole” was found guilty Wednesday of fatally shooting her 6-year-old son, just 10 days old. After getting full custody of her.

According to investigators, Ellie was in her mother’s car in a Lake Minnetonka Regional Park parking lot in Minnetrista when she was shot. After stopping him for a traffic violation on May 20, police discovered the body in the trunk.

Julissa Thaler pleads guilty to all counts in murder of her 6-year-old son Eli Hart https://t.co/E3W3EaHuv1 pic.twitter.com/Pg9Wjxax1I

— WCCO – CBS Minnesota (@WCCO) February 9, 2023

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Defense attorney Brian Leary said he contributed to the boy’s death but did not shoot him in a closing statement. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, he claims there were no witnesses, photos or videos implicating him in the murder.

“He was not charged with the crime they proved,” Leary said. “They couldn’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the gun was in her hand when she discharged it nine times into her child,” the prosecutor said. “He destroyed evidence, lied to authorities and got away.”

Both Thaler’s testimony and his defense witness list were empty. Life in prison is the mandatory sentence for the crime. A judgment date has been set for February 16.

Eli’s father Thaler and Tori Hart were engaged in a custody battle. After Eli’s death, Hart filed a lawsuit against Dakota County Social Services, claiming that staff returned her son to Thaler despite concerns about his deteriorating mental health and alleged drug use.

In a statement issued after the verdict, Tori Hart expressed the family’s gratitude to the jury, judge, Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and trial partners for their hard work. Eli might have avoided this horrible and heartbreaking situation if he had never been sent back to a dangerous environment.

Late Wednesday morning, both the state and Thaler’s defense team rested their cases. The defense rested without calling a witness, telling Judge Jay Kwame that he would not take the witness stand against the recommendation of his lawyers.

The lead detective in the shooting death of 6-year-old Ellie Hart, Kyle Kirschner, contacted prosecutors to close their case. According to Raguse, Kirschner went beyond a specific “excess” and provided persuasive testimony about Google search results discovered on Thaler’s computer and other electronic devices.

Defense lawyer Rebecca Knuthhead brought in more discovery phrases that were found during cross-examination, including inquiries about blood banks and Red Cross blood donations. They implied that the question “how much blood can a 6-year-old lose” was taken out of context and instead addressed blood donation.

Lead defense attorney Brian Leary acknowledged that Thaler “aided and abetted” Ely’s murder but insisted that “he was not charged with any crime that they proved.”

On May 20, 2022, Thaler was stopped by the police for a traffic violation and they later found Eli Hart’s body in the trunk of his car. A shotgun was used to shoot the youth multiple times and a weapon was also found in the trunk.

Eli’s father Thaler and Tori Hart were engaged in a custody battle. After Eli’s death, Hart filed a lawsuit against Dakota County Social Services, claiming that staff returned her son to Thaler despite concerns about his deteriorating mental health and alleged drug use.

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