Savannah Lucero: Los Angeles Couple Convicted Of Starving, Beating 4-Month-Old Baby To Death


In yet another case of young baby being killed by the very people who were supposed to protect and care for her, a Los Angeles couple was convicted on Thursday in connection with the death of their 4-month old baby. According to police officials from the town of Downey in Los Angeles County, California, the baby was starved and beaten to death by her own parents. The duo, 26-year-old Ashley Debra Jones and her partner, 26-year-old Johnathan Lucero, were both found guilty of causing the death of the little baby identified as Savannah Lucero and have been convicted.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the convictions happened at the L.A. County Superior Court where Judge Raul A. Sahagun found the couple guilty of inflicting abuse on their 4-month-old daughter that resulted in her death. According to a statement issued by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Ashley Debra Jones was found guilty of second-degree murder and child abuse. Her partner, Johnathan Lucero, was convicted on felony child abuse charges. According to prosecution attorneys, the judge was convinced of the fact that the couple “willfully caused and permitted” the infant girl to be injured and harmed, which led to her death.

The incident dates back to December of 2013, when on New Year’s eve, the baby was found unresponsive inside the home by a relative. The home was located in Downey, in Los Angeles county. The family member, who was sharing the home with the couple, called 911, who reached the home within minutes. The child was then quickly rushed to a nearby hospital. However, doctors were not able to save her life and little Savannah was declared dead shortly after her arrival.

Following her death, an autopsy was conducted to ascertain the cause of death. The coroner’s report had some disturbing details. To start with, the cause of death was listed as “blunt force trauma” which meant that the baby was beaten to death. The autopsy revealed that the baby had a fractured skull, cerebral contusions, multiple rib fractures, a lacerated liver, bruised lungs, and contusions to her diaphragm. Savannah was also found to be severely malnourished. Officials suspected that the baby was routinely starved for food.

Both the parents were arrested one day after Savannah’s death and were charged with the crime. The trial took nearly three years. While both the parents have been found guilty of causing the death of their own child, they have yet to be sentenced. According to reports, Ashley Debra Jones, if convicted would be sentenced to 15 years-to-life in state prison. Johnathan Lucero, on the other hand, faces a possible sentence of 10 years in prison. Both are expected to be appear for sentencing in a Norwalk courtroom on Nov. 15.

This is unfortunately not the first time that we have heard of babies being injured or killed by their own parents or the people who were supposed to take care of them. Earlier this year, the Inquisitr reported about the tragic case of 2-year-old baby Ariana, who was allegedly raped and killed by her mother’s boyfriend.

The man behind the act, 22-year-old Manahawkin, New Jersey, resident Michael Disporto, Jr., was arrested and is now facing trial. The toddler’s mother, 26-year-old Amber Bobo, was also arrested in connection with the case and was subsequently charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. According to investigators, the mother was accused of not making arrangements to ensure medical aid reached the child, even after seeing visible injuries and signs of abuse on her child’s body. Bobo, in her defense, claimed that she was “talked out of” taking Ariana to a doctor by Disporto.

[Featured Image Via Pixabay]

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