A mother was jailed for life, as she was found guilty of murdering her 19-month-old daughter by pouring scalding water.
In March of this year, Katie Crowder, 26, poured scalding water over her child, Gracie’s face and body while the latter was already sat in a pool of equally hot water.
Crowder then spent the next hour covering her tracks at her home before taking the child to her parent’s house in the same street to ask for help.
A post-mortem examination revealed that the child suffered deep burns covering 65 percent of her body, and would have cried out “vigorously” as she suffered organ failure.
During the trial, prosecutors said that Baby Gracie’s death “was not an instant death,” as “it would have taken in the region of one hour for her to die.”
While Crowder denied the charges filed against her and claimed that she “would never hurt” her daughter, a jury unanimously found her guilty of the crime.
Justice Jeremy Baker sentenced her for life, and told her that she must serve a minimum 21 years behind bars.
“You have been convicted of the murder of your 19-month-old daughter Gracie on March 6, 2020. What happened to Gracie on that Friday morning is as disturbing as it is tragic,” the justice said.
Her death would not have occurred swiftly. On the contrary, Gracie would have continued to suffer pain and distress for a significant period of time, an hour or more, during which the loss of fluid led to a loss of blood pressure and eventually a loss of vital organs – namely her heart.
“I am satisfied that, for whatever reason, instead of seeking prompt medical attention for Gracie which may well have saved her life, you did not seek assistance from your parents, who lived a few doors away, until after you knew Gracie had died.
“Thereafter, all attempts to save her life, both by the paramedics at the scene and the doctors at the hospital, were rendered futile.”