A Missouri woman was arrested after she killed an 8-month-old child she was babysitting, with police saying that she “aggressively” burped the baby and lied about when she was sleeping.
Jennifer Johnson was sentenced to life in prison for second-degree murder after she was convicted by a Boone County jury in January, according to court records viewed by Luxury Handbag Shopping.
During the trial, prosecutors explained that Johnson, 49, was tasked with watching 8-month-old Hannah Kent in April 2021. Hannah’s mother, Lanetta Hill, said that it was the first time she had been asked to babysit and that she was longtime friends with Johnson.
“I left my baby in her care believing she would be safe, loved and protected,” Hill said at Johnson’s sentencing on Monday, February 23, as she gave a victim impact statement, according to KMIZ. “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.”
KMIZ also reported that police and medical witnesses testified during the trial, saying that they found bruising and brain injuries on Hannah that were consistent with recent trauma.
The victim’s sister reported that she saw Johnson burping Hannah “aggressively” on the night she died. Additionally, baby formula was also found on Johnson’s clothing that tested positive for “the presence of blood,” according to a probable cause affidavit viewed by Us.
“Detectives located a pink and white onesie in a kitchen pantry on a shelf,” the affidavit stated. “The onesie was soaking wet. [Hannah] was reportedly wearing that same onesie when she was left at the residence. When [Hannah] was transported to the hospital … [Hannah] was wearing only a diaper.”
When questioned about the child’s death, Johnson said she “wasn’t aware” that Hannah died until the family informed her the following morning at 11 a.m. She made the claim after she reportedly placed phone calls to several people, “in which Johnson seemed aware that [Hannah] had died and even made a reference to [Hannah’s] head injuries.”
In the phone calls, Johnson “said something like, ‘Her head, her head’ and ‘she’s gone,'” per the affidavit.
Meanwhile, Johnson’s unidentified friend told police she received a phone call from her around 9:11 a.m. the morning after, in which she said that “the baby died.”
Johnson initially claimed she went to bed after she gave Hannah a bottle and put her down around 2:15 a.m. However, phone records obtained by police show that she was texting people throughout the night while inquiring about getting drugs. Johnson denied the claim and insisted she “hadn’t done drugs in a long time,” though later admitted to using methamphetamine several days earlier.
Hannah’s mother arrived home around 8:30 a.m. the next day and found her daughter unresponsive. She then rushed Hannah to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
“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 the sentencing. “No punishment can bring my baby back, but I ask the court to fully recognize the severity of this crime, not only the taking of an innocent life, but the deep betrayal of trust that made it possible.”
Johnson was sentenced to life in prison on the murder count, as well as 30 years for first-degree child endangerment.
