THE DARK SIDE OF FLORIDA
Maria Argentine
#X19573
photo courtesy FDC
Full Name: Maria Ann Argentine
Date of birth: June 5, 1960
Conviction: 1st-degree murder
County: Osceola
City: Kissimmee
Current Location: Lowell Correctional Institution
Date of Crime: September 24, 1998
Tentative discharge date: Life
Victim(s): Anthony James Argentine
Date of birth: June 5, 1960
Conviction: 1st-degree murder
County: Osceola
City: Kissimmee
Current Location: Lowell Correctional Institution
Date of Crime: September 24, 1998
Tentative discharge date: Life
Victim(s): Anthony James Argentine
The death of little Anthony James Argentine was no accident. The 4-year-old boy’s mother, Maria Argentine, 38, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for poisoning her young son. Anthony was found dead on Saturday, September 24, 1998, in a motel room near Kissimmee.
Shortly after Maria and Anthony’s father, Craig, were divorced in November 1995, Maria began accusing Craig of molesting Anthony. Craig, an auto mechanic, vehemently denied the accusations and never substantiated the allegations.
In the previous week, during the bitter custody dispute with over the child, a judge had ordered that Anthony live temporarily with his aunt and uncle in St. Cloud, so his father, Craig, could visit him. Maria had kept the pair apart for more than two months. By the time the order was signed and Craig went to pick Anthony up, Anthony was already at the Travelodge East Gate Orange with Maria.
Notes found in the hotel room, written by Maria, indicated she planned to poison their child and then herself. She was found near death in a breezeway near the motel office. Maria testified that she left a prescription sleep agent, tamazepam, in the motel bathroom in a bottle without a childproof cap. She said she awoke to find Anthony on the floor and capsules and powder strewn about.
The six-man, six-woman jury didn’t believe the child would willingly eat pills that likely tasted bitter. The medical examiner testified that Anthony had ingested potatoes and some granular material. “It was basically the contents of the stomach. There were no capsules in the stomach.” No one could imagine Anthony pulling apart 30 capsules and eating the powder.
Shortly after Maria and Anthony’s father, Craig, were divorced in November 1995, Maria began accusing Craig of molesting Anthony. Craig, an auto mechanic, vehemently denied the accusations and never substantiated the allegations.
In the previous week, during the bitter custody dispute with over the child, a judge had ordered that Anthony live temporarily with his aunt and uncle in St. Cloud, so his father, Craig, could visit him. Maria had kept the pair apart for more than two months. By the time the order was signed and Craig went to pick Anthony up, Anthony was already at the Travelodge East Gate Orange with Maria.
Notes found in the hotel room, written by Maria, indicated she planned to poison their child and then herself. She was found near death in a breezeway near the motel office. Maria testified that she left a prescription sleep agent, tamazepam, in the motel bathroom in a bottle without a childproof cap. She said she awoke to find Anthony on the floor and capsules and powder strewn about.
The six-man, six-woman jury didn’t believe the child would willingly eat pills that likely tasted bitter. The medical examiner testified that Anthony had ingested potatoes and some granular material. “It was basically the contents of the stomach. There were no capsules in the stomach.” No one could imagine Anthony pulling apart 30 capsules and eating the powder.
Source: Orlando Sentinel
