Edwina Rice of Wagoner wept Thursday afternoon as she said her grandson’s killer was found guilty of first-degree murder in Oklahoma County District Court.

The jury recommended a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole for Bradley Eric Fabinski, who was convicted of the first-degree murder of Christopher Don Alexander Jr.

“When I get over having to relive all this — I’ll feel better. My baby is at rest now,” Rice said.

Fabinski, 26, will be formally sentenced at 9 a.m. July 17.

Fabinski was just shy of his 22nd birthday when he told police the toddler had been injured as they came down the stairs at their apartment. He was living with the child’s mother at the time and was caring for the boy while the mother worked.

Fabinski said at the time that C.J. let go of his finger and tumbled down the stairs.

As a result of her experience as a grandparent, Rice helped spur two area legislators to sponsor legislation for grandparents’ rights. Wade Rousselot, D-Okay, sponsored House Bill 1682. It was sponsored in the Oklahoma Senate by Sen. Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee.

Rice still sobs when she talks about her grandson and being cut off from contact with him after she questioned a small gash in his ear and bruises over the Christmas holidays in 2004.

She contacted Department of Human Services about suspected child abuse on Dec. 27, 2004.

Rice said the last time she saw C.J. he was nearing his second birthday. He lay motionless in an Oklahoma City hospital bed. Tubes were in his head, which was four times its normal size.

Her former daughter-in-law called her after the child was taken to the hospital in February 2005.

Rice and her husband had kept him most weekends — before Rice inquired about his bruises and the gash and the mother stopped any visitation.

The Rices were present when Gov. Brad Henry signed the legislation into law in 2007.

“No one should be shut out of grandparents’ rights, because no one should get that call at 5:20 a.m. and be told that their grandbaby is on life support,” Rice said earlier.

If the judge follows the jury’s recommendations, Fabinski probably will not be eligible for parole until he’s 60, Rice said she was told Thursday.