The Latest: Closings conclude in mom’s ’91 murder trial

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The Latest on the trial of a mother accused of killing her 5-year-old son in 1991 (all times local):

5 p.m.

Closing arguments have concluded in the trial of a Florida woman charged with murder in the death of her 5-year-old son 25 years ago.

Prosecutors characterized Michelle Lodzinski as a struggling young mother whose son had become a burden to her. They told jurors she killed the boy and dumped his body in a ditch near where she used to work, then went to a carnival and concocted a story about his being abducted.

Earlier Wednesday, Lodzinski’s attorney argued that no forensic evidence ties Lodzinski to items found near where the body was recovered. He also told jurors three carnival workers testified they saw a boy who looked like Timothy Wiltsey at the carnival.

The trial has been going on since mid-March. Jurors will begin deliberations after the judge gives them instructions Thursday morning.

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1:40 p.m.

An attorney for a woman charged with killing her 5-year-old son in 1991 says eyewitness testimony and a lack of forensic evidence are enough to cast serious doubt on the case against her.

Jurors are hearing closing arguments in the New Jersey trial of Michelle Lodzinski. The former Port St. Lucie, Florida, resident was charged with murder in 2014 after investigators reopened the case.

Attorney Gerald Krovatin (kroh-VAYT’-ihn) told jurors Wednesday that no forensic evidence ties Lodzinski or Timothy Wiltsey to a blanket found near where Timothy’s remains were discovered in 1992.

Prosecutors presented witnesses who said the blanket came from Lodzinski’s apartment. They contend that proves the boy wasn’t with Lodzinski at a carnival when he disappeared, as she has claimed.

Prosecutors were to give closing arguments later Wednesday.

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9:30 a.m.

Closing arguments are expected Wednesday in the murder trial of a Florida woman charged with killing her son in New Jersey in 1991.

Prosecutors have presented evidence they say proves Michelle Lodzinski was lying when she told authorities Timmy Wiltsey disappeared while they were at a carnival.

They say a blanket found near the boy’s body several months later came from Lodzinski’s apartment.

Lodzinski’s lawyer has focused on the fact that no forensic evidence directly ties the boy or his mother to the blanket.

Former law enforcement officials testified Lodzinski offered conflicting accounts of the boy’s disappearance.

Long a suspect, Lodzinski was arrested near her home in Port St. Lucie, Florida, in 2014 after a former baby sitter identified the blanket.

The trial began in mid-March.