text: A baby sitter accused of fatally shaking a 14-month-old baby in her care has been convicted of aggravated manslaughter and child endangerment but acquitted of murder. Michelle Heale of Tom's River, New Jersey claimed she was trying to burp Mason Hess when he began choking on his applesauce in August 2012. But when she pulled him off her shoulder his neck snapped backwards, killing the boy. However she now faces 30 years in prison after a jury found her guilty of killing the youngster. When the verdict was read out, the 46-year-old sobbed uncontrollably and told her lawyer over-and-over again: 'I didn't do it.' She then turned to her husband and, according to the Asbury Park Press, told him to make sure her five-year-old twins do not forget her. Scroll down for video . Michelle Heale (pictured left in court on Friday) of Tom's River, New Jersey, has been found guilty of killing Mason Hess (right) by snapping his neck after shaking him . During her testimony, she broke down as she reenacted what happened in court using a doll . Heale was babysitting Mason as she was a friend of the family (Mason's mother Kellie above) and her husband Michael and Mason's father Adam worked together as detectives . She was then placed in handcuffs and taken into custody to await her sentence next month. Heale testified that the toddler went limp after she hit him between his shoulder blades to save him. The boy was flown to a hospital and died three days later. Doctors later determined the boy suffered severe brain, spine and retinal damage from a violent shaking. But jurors heard conflicting medical testimony. During 'I hit him hard on the back. I may have hit him harder than I should have,' Heale said through tears after demonstrating on the doll. 'I hit him about four or five times, and then I felt the applesauce come out. I felt it on my shoulder and I felt it on my shirt.' Thinking the crisis had been averted, she took Mason of her shoulder. 'As I brought him down, his head snapped back ... he was completely limp,' she said. 'His eyes were open, but he wasn't doing anything. ... Everything was flopping.' Mason died on September 1 after being airlifted to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Courtesy of Asbury Park Press/APP.com . Medical examiners determined that Mason (above with his parents Kellie and Adam) died as a result of homicide caused by blunt cerebral trauma . The Heale and Hess families, including Mason's mother Kellie, had been friends for years. Heale spent most of her day expressing her disbelief over the situation, first being told she had to leave Mason at the hospital as she was suspected of hurting him and then being charged with murder. 'I thought they were going to take my kids from me because I was told that I had hurt Mason,' Heale said. 'I thought that once they were made aware that I had my own kids that they were going to take them from me.' Heale, was able to keep custody of her children. She told the jury at the end of her testimony: 'I would never hurt Mason or anybody.'
target: Michelle Heale of New Jersey claimed she was trying to burp Mason Hess .
  But jury said she killed him by snapping his neck as he was choking .
  Was charged with aggravated manslaughter and endangering a child .
  Sobbed uncontrollably as the verdict was read out and said: 'I didn't do it'
  Turned to her husband and asked him to make sure her five-year-old twins don't forget her .
  She faces up to 30 years in prison when she is sentenced next month .