Woman accused of child abuse gives jurors her side

Despite the picture painted by her former stepchildren and other witnesses, Sara Anne Woody said she was a loving, Christian woman who tried to raise her children and stepchildren as best as she could.
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As the two blended their families, Sara Woody said she was in the middle of a difficult pregnancy. She had several medical issues and was constantly weak and nauseated, she told jurors.

Sara Woody began watching the children and later homeschooling them when her older stepson continued to struggle in school, she said.

She told jurors she found a Christian-based curriculum and began trying to teach her children herself, even though she had never technically been a teacher or had any formal training.

Sara Woody began struggling with all her newfound responsibilities – watching the children and battling the older stepson to do his chores and schoolwork – while constantly vomiting and trying to keep on weight.

Woman accused of child abuse gives jurors her side