"Mother's Plea: Mercy for Autistic Teen Who Brutally Beat Teacher"

The mother of Brendan Depa, a 6-foot 6-inch autistic teenager who brutally beat a teacher's aide unconscious in Florida, has claimed that prison would be a "death sentence" for her son. Brendan, now 18, pleaded no contest as an adult for first-degree aggravated battery. The victim, Joan Naydich, suffered severe injuries including five broken ribs and a severe concussion. Naydich has called for the maximum sentence of 30 years, while Brendan's mother has pleaded for mercy, citing her son's difficult life and trauma. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 31.