Fayette woman sentenced to life in prison for child’s death
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Fayette woman was sentenced Monday to life in prison in the April 2021 death of a child.
In January, Jennifer Johnson, 49, was found guilty of felony murder in the second degree and two counts of first-degree child endangerment in the April 2021 death of Hannah Kent.
Judge Brouck Jacobs sentenced Johnson to life in prison on the murder count and 15 years on each of the endangerment counts.
According to court documents, Hannah’s mother, Lanetta Hill, found the child about 8:30 a.m. unresponsive and cool to the touch after returning home and immediately noticed bruising. Hill took the infant to Women’s and Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Testimony during the first two days of the trial detailed Hannah’s condition after being left in Jennifer Johnson’s care. Police and medical witnesses described bruising and brain injuries consistent with recent trauma.
Hill gave a victim-impact statement in court on Monday afternoon.
"I left my baby in her care believing she would be safe, loved and protected. Instead, my daughter was harmed and lost her life. The person I trusted to watch over my child became the reason I will never hold her again. That betrayal will stay with me forever," Hill said.
Investigators testified they found baby formula on Johnson’s clothing, and testing showed blood on the shirt belonged to Hannah.
“I constantly replay the moment I entrusted her care to someone I believe was my friend, and the guilt and heartbreak are unbearable,” Hill said during Monday's impact statement. “No punishment can bring my baby back, but I ask the court to fully recognize the severity of this crime, not only the taking an innocent life, but the deep betrayal of trust that made it possible.”
Johnson's daughter Angela Johnson was not pleased with the outcome of the case.
"I feel crushed. I feel like none of this… this case wasn’t taken serious. I feel like the jury trial was a piece of crap. There was a lot of errors that obviously no one even paid attention to," Angela Johnson said after the trial. "With me getting back on a lot of the reports that was given back on what happened, I just think my mom should not be in there (prison)."
Jennifer Johnson denied any knowledge of what had happened. Phone records, however, showed messages sent from her phone about drugs during hours she said she was asleep.
"She's told us that she didn't do it. She has remorse for the baby dying. Everyone's going to cry when someone dies," said Elizabeth Beaman, who is Jennifer Johnson's daughter-in-law. "She cared for this family. She cared for everybody. She's a caring person, but. She's not going to have remorse for something she didn't do. She’s not going to admit to something she didn’t do."
