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The Texas woman who was once known as the “Half-Ton Killer” for taking the blame in the death of her 2-year-old nephew has a new outlook on life after being cleared in the case and losing 800 pounds.
Mayra Rosalas weighed more than 1,000 pounds when she was charged with capital murder after being accused of rolling on top of the boy and crushing him to death in 2008, according to Houston television station KTRK.
She gained nationwide attention after TLC documented the case in the television program, “Half-Ton Killer?”
Prosecutors eventually dropped the charges against Rosales after determining she had lied to protect her sister.
Rosales explained that at the time, she had given up on life.
“I was dying. I don’t know if you had seen pictures before you could see it in my face. I had given up in life,” she told the television station. “I was alive but not living a life.”
Confined to her bed because of her weight, Rosales felt like she was a prisoner.
But about 7 years later and 800 pounds lighter, she has a much different outlook on life. She was able to lose the weight through multiple surgeries — including a lap band procedure — and dieting. She is 30 pounds away from her goal weight, the station reported Wednesday.
Whereas she once lived to eat, Rosales told KTRK her perspective has completely changed. “Food to me is I have to eat to live … it’s just something normal,” she said.
Rosales hopes sharing her story will encourage and motivate others who are struggling with their weight like she once did.
Her advice to them: “Do not lose hope and keep fighting because we only have one life, and it’s well worth fighting for it.”