Fort Worth, Texas – A 17-year-old girl from Fort Worth has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the murder of her newborn baby. This tragic case, which has captured the attention of the community, reached its conclusion on Friday, January 12, 2024.
The incident dates back to September 9, 2021, when the teenager gave birth to a baby girl, Dayana, in the bathroom of her family home. Following the birth, emergency services were called, and both mother and child were rushed to the hospital. However, the newborn had sustained a severe skull fracture and was bleeding internally. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, including MedStar’s Samantha Sandoval and nurses at JPS Hospital, the baby could not be saved and passed away after approximately six hours.
Assistant District Attorney Lee Sorrells and ADA Kyle Morris led the prosecution in this harrowing case. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Dayana’s death a homicide, attributing it to blunt force injuries to the head. The juvenile mother, whose identity remains protected due to her age, was charged with capital murder of a person under 10 years old.
During the trial, shocking details emerged from chat messages on the girl’s cell phone. Conversations with the baby’s father revealed a mutual desire not to keep the baby, with discussions of using abortion pills and physical harm. One message even mentioned wrapping the baby “in a towel and hitting it.”
The teenager confessed to the killing and chose to leave the sentencing decision to the jury. Following the conviction, Child Protective Services took another child from her custody. Prosecutors Sorrells and Morris had attempted to have the teen certified as an adult for the trial, but 323rd District Judge Kim decided to keep the case in the juvenile court system.
As a result of the sentence, the teen will initially be sent to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Before her 19th birthday, a decision will be made on whether she should be transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to complete her sentence.
The case, which involved DA Investigator Esther Goodwin, also highlighted the vital role of the Fort Worth Police Department in maintaining community safety. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of such cases and the complex legal and ethical considerations involved in juvenile justice.
