An atrocious couple, identified as the parents of a nine-day-old baby girl, callously laughed as they brought her lifeless body to a medical facility after fatally beating her, a court case revealed.
Hilary Johnson II, aged 24, received a 19-year prison term on October 31, while Z’ibreyea S. Parker, aged 22, was sentenced to 10 years. Both had earlier pleaded guilty to charges linked to the death of their newborn daughter, I’ijayah Johnson.
The disturbing incident occurred on May 4, 2024, when Johnson and Parker took I’ijayah, who was unresponsive and cold, to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. They falsely claimed that the infant had fallen from her stroller two days earlier while Johnson was out jogging, leading to her injuries.
However, medical professionals at the hospital discovered that I’ijayah’s injuries did not align with the parents’ account. Prosecutors reported that the couple’s behavior at the hospital was unsettling, with them struggling to provide basic information about their daughter and even laughing during the check-in process.
The local CBS affiliate WTKR disclosed that Parker downplayed I’ijayah’s injuries, stating they were not severe. The parents admitted to attempting home remedies before seeking medical help when the baby displayed concerning symptoms.
Medical staff noted multiple signs of abuse on I’ijayah’s body, including severe burns on her feet and other areas, cuts on her head and face, and bruises on her back. The autopsy confirmed that the baby girl suffered blunt trauma to her head and torso, with deep partial-thickness burns on her feet contributing to her tragic death.
In a plea deal, Johnson admitted to second-degree murder, while Parker pleaded guilty to child abuse with serious injury. The prosecutors dropped Parker’s murder charge and Johnson’s child abuse count.
Following the sentencing, Attorney Ramin Fatehi emphasized the vulnerability of newborn victims like I’ijayah and the importance of seeking justice in such cases. I’ijayah’s grandfather, Hilary Johnson Sr., expressed his concerns about the parents’ capability to care for the baby, highlighting missed opportunities to prevent the tragedy.
At the time of I’ijayah’s birth, Johnson and Parker, who faced mental health challenges, were living in a tent under a highway. Despite offers of assistance, they declined help and chose to continue their unstable living situation. Johnson Sr. reflected on the tragic turn of events and hoped for a different outcome for his granddaughter.
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