Baby sitter sentenced to 13 years in prison
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Madison-area baby sitter has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for causing the death of an infant in her care.
Dane County Circuit Judge David Flanagan handed down the sentence Thursday during an emotional hearing in a packed courtroom.
A jury in April convicted 38-year-old Jennifer Hancock of first-degree reckless homicide in the death of 4-month-old Lincoln Wilber in 2007. An autopsy concluded the boy died from non-accidental abusive head trauma.
Hancock told the baby's parents Thursday that she didn't know why the boy died. She says she wished she could provide the answer.
Hancock was the only adult caring for the child in a Verona home when he suffered a head injury. Hancock told police she found him unresponsive when she checked on him.
Jul 4, 2009 at 5:25 p.m.
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ConcernedCitizen_aka_Disgusted- I think your sitter should have been held responsible for your injury...
Jul 3, 2009 at 8:56 a.m.
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How can they conclude the head trauma occured on the babysitters watch? Look at Vanessa Redgrave's daughter. She hit her head skiing felt fine and then died hours later. What if something happened at home that morning and then he died later at the babysitters? I guess no one will ever know.....
Jul 3, 2009 at 12:50 a.m.
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Concerned>>>> Woody
why do you feel that child abusers should get off on a"accident" or "cirmunstancle" evidence?
Jul 2, 2009 at 8:22 p.m.
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The symptoms here were nothing like SIDS and the defense was not shaken baby syndrome, but a genetic blood disorder (which the child had been cleared of having), aggravated by another infant falling on him.
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Details on the trial were published here:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/ldlnze
Jul 2, 2009 at 5:53 p.m.
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Medical examiners can determine whether or not a child died from SIDS or SBS. I'm sure they took into account that an injury could have taken place before the baby was brought to her. Very terrible & unfortunate for the family.
Jul 2, 2009 at 4:49 p.m.
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Some people are just STUPID .... this is why killers get off with so little time in jail, defense lawyers love morons who can't see the writing on the wall.So concerned and woody: what do you think it was that caused this head trauma... a sneeze? She should have got no less than life, she took one.
Jul 2, 2009 at 4:47 p.m.
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concernedCitizen--I think you are commenting on a different article. Scroll up.......read.... Then leave your comment!
Jul 2, 2009 at 4:17 p.m.
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Medical experts said the baby suffered from abusive head trauma. I don't think the 4-month did that on his own.
Jul 2, 2009 at 4:12 p.m.
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What proof was there that the baby sitter caused the abusive head trauma? Was it just circumstantial evidence or her word against the parents? It's hard to make a judgement with little information.
Jul 2, 2009 at 4:01 p.m.
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ConcernedCitizen_aka_Disgusted- Are you a moron? Learn how to read. The article states the autopsy showed the death was from non-accidental abuse. Do you know what that means? It means it wasn't an accident. Your damn right she should have gotten more of a sentence.
Jul 2, 2009 at 3:45 p.m.
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A woman life is destroyed because of an accident? And you think she should get more time? What is wrong with you people? It is a tragedy that this baby died, but from what the article says, it was clearly an accidental death, or something like SIDS. Why do people have such an unquenchable need to assign blame for every disaster? Why is a woman being punished for an act of God? My God, what is happening to our civilization?
Jul 2, 2009 at 3:29 p.m.
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This sentence is ridiculous.
Jul 2, 2009 at 3:03 p.m.
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How can she only get 13yrs!! This poor baby died in her care, a baby that can't yet crawl or walk.
Jul 2, 2009 at 2:46 p.m.
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Not enough...
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