Denay Foster was sentenced to 20 years in prison by an Erie County Supreme Court Judge.
Foster pleaded guilty to causing fatal injuries to her 5 month-old daughter in September 2015. Five-month-old Ver'Naylah Laventure died of blunt force trauma.
Judge Sheila DiTullio said during sentencing, "Cases like these are the most difficult because mothers should not kill their children." The maximum sentence Foster faced was 25 years; Judge DiTullio sentenced Foster to 20 years with a five-year post release supervision.
Judge DiTullio says her decision was carefully considered. She cited details that came to light during trial, saying baby Laventure was brought to the hospital with multiple bruises and bumps on her head and was dead for hours before she was brought to the hospital. Foster did not contact any emergency services. She also initially blamed her two year-old son for the baby's injuries.
Foster later admitted to killing her daughter. During her sentencing she told the court she knows what she did was unfair and that she apologizes for her actions.
