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Adoptive parents sentenced to prison for death of Sabrina Ray

Marc and Misty Ray, the adoptive father and mother of 16-year-old Sabrina Ray, have been sentenced to prison.

Marc and Misty Ray, the adoptive father and mother of 16-year-old Sabrina Ray, have been sentenced to prison. 

Ray was found dead inside her Perry home in May 2017, weighing only 56 pounds. Sabrina died due to severe malnutrition, according to the Iowa State Medical Examiner. 

Two other minors in the home, H.R. and M.R., were confined along with Sabrina, with windows covered from the outside and a lock placed on the door. 

Both were sentenced Friday in Dallas County. 

“These children came to you from broken homes, with broken hearts, in need of healing,” said Judge Terry Rickers. “Sabrina and her siblings weren’t lesser members of the family.” 

Marc Ray pleaded guilty in December 2018 to Child Endangerment Resulting in Death and three counts of Kidnapping in the Third Degree. He was sentenced Friday to 80 years in prison with a mandatory minimum time served of 35 years. 

After pleading guilty earlier in January to Kidnapping in the First Degree and two counts of Kidnapping in the Third Degree, Misty was sentenced to a mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole, as well as an additional 20 years.

Both are required to pay $150,000 in restitution to the estate of Sabrina Ray. 

“I want to do one right thing by pleading guilty,” Misty Ray said during Friday’s sentencing hearing. “There are no words to express how incredibly sorry I am for the hurt I caused our children.”

Marc Ray declined to speak. 

Sabrina Ray’s adoptive brother, Justin Ray, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for physically assaulting Sabrina. Carla Bousman, her grandmother, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for false imprisonment and child endangerment. 

Josie Bousman, Sabrina’s cousin, is scheduled for a March 26, 2018 trial after Judge Terry Rickers noted that Josie “has agreed to testify for the State” and would need a trial date to be set after Sabrina’s parents. 

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