Carlos Beltran 4 years old  Beaten to death

The couple who were adopting Carlos plead guilty to reduced charges in a plea agreement. Christine Moyer, 36, was sentenced to two years on probation for endangering the welfare of children and her 33-year-old husband, Peter, was sentenced to one to five years in state prison for involuntary manslaughter. Additional charges of third-degree murder, aggravated assault and simple assault were dropped, because the case rested primarily on circumstantial evidence.

The judge told the Moyers before sentencing them that "this is the most tragic case I've come across in my career as a judge and years of practice." It's all the more tragic because it comes as an attempt of good intentions. Somewhere this well intentioned episode took a turn otherwise, leading to Carlos' death. I suppose there are times when we all would like to turn back the clock. My heart bleeds for you," the judge said before passing sentencing and recommending that Mrs. Moyer seek psychological counsel.

While on the stand testifying at a suppressed hearing, the Moyers answered questions succinctly and politely. Neither showed any outward sign of emotion while testifying, but Mrs. Moyer cried as she left the courtroom after sentencing. 

Carlos, named Scott by the Moyers, came to the relative tranquility of the Moyers from war ravaged San Salvador through an adoption agency.

Papers filed with the court indicated Carlos was spanked three to four times a week during the first several months in the couple's custody in an effort to stem what the Moyers viewed as intentional and disobedient defecation, urination and vomiting. As the disciplinary spankings progressed, the papers revealed, Carlos was made to drop his pants and brace himself against a bed while Mrs. Moyer struck him across the buttocks with her husband's belt. 

''At first she didn't realize when she would hit him on the buttocks with the belt, his body was so small the belt was wrapping around his abdomen and striking not only in the buttocks but halfway around his body,'' a police investigator wrote in the affidavit. 

A pathologist with the medical examiner's office who performed an autopsy on Carlos the day after he died in his bed, said the boy died of multiple injuries that could not have been caused accidentally. 

Bruises to Carlos' head, some fresh and some older, as well as defensive injuries - those sustained in an attempt to ward off or cushion blows -- and pattern injuries -- those leaving an outline of the object used in striking the body -- all were consistent with evidence of child abuse, the pathologist said. 

The fatal blow came 24 to 36 hours before the boy's death, according to the pathologist. It tore the boy's bowel membrane, causing internal bleeding and allowing fecal contents to spill into the boy's belly. 

Mrs. Moyer maintained in her statement to police that she struck Carlos in the face the evening before he died after he vomited for a second time. The blow raised a bruise over his right eye. 

She also said that her husband came home from work that night and also struck the boy in the face with his hand -- a contention Mr. Moyer denied. 

The vomiting continued through the night, the couple said in their statement, so they put him to bed in a bathtub on a thin mattress, where he stayed until morning. In the morning, the boy complained of being hot, his stomach was heaving, he had a difficult time eating or staying awake, he was in pain and was dehydrated. 

Mrs. Moyer said in the papers that she put the boy to bed and left home to attend her father's retirement party. By 11:30 a.m., when checked by her husband, Carlos was dead in his room.

You've been listening to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"
music by by Elton John -- lyrics by Tim Rice

There's a calm surrender
To the rush of day
When the heat of the rolling world
Can be turned away
An enchanted moment
And it sees me through
It's enough for this restless warrior
Just to be with you

Can you feel the love tonight?
It is where we are
It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
That we got this far
And can you feel the love tonight
How it's laid to rest?
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best

There's a time for everyone
If they only learn
That the twistin' kaleidoscope
Moves us all in turn
There's a rhyme and reason
To the wild outdoors
When the heart of this star-crossed voyager
Beats in time with yours

Can you feel the love tonight?
It is where we are
It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
That we got this far
And can you feel the love tonight
How it's laid to rest?
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best