A Texas mother has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for causing the death of her one-month-old baby in June 2023. The case highlights the serious consequences of child abuse and family violence.
What Happened?
Samanta, 23, brought her unresponsive one-month-old son, Fletcher, to a Children’s Hospital in Texas. The baby was pronounced dead on arrival, triggering a police investigation.
Initially, Samanta told officers she had swaddled her son and placed him face-up in a bassinet before taking a nap. When she woke up, she found him face-down and unresponsive. She then called the baby’s father, who contacted emergency services.
Autopsy and Admission
An autopsy revealed Fletcher had a skull fracture on the left side of his head caused by blunt force trauma. This finding contradicted Samanta’s initial story.
When confronted, Samanta admitted to striking her son about three times on the head with an open palm. She said she acted out of frustration due to his crying.
Legal Proceedings and Sentence
Samanta was arrested and charged with injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony punishable by up to life in prison. She was held on a $200,000 bond.
At sentencing, Judge Cristine accepted her guilty plea and sentenced her to 30 years in prison. The judge also confirmed the case involved family violence and ordered Samanta to have no contact with the baby’s father.
She will serve her sentence under the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.