Kansas – A Kansas woman, 30-year-old S. AviIes, was sentenced last week by Judge Erik WiIIiams to serve a term of Iife with parole eligibiIity after twenty five years for the first-degree murder of her chiId, Jakob, 2. The parent also received additional sentences totaling about forty one months for chiId abuse and aggravated endangering a child.
Earlier this year, a jury found the parent guiIty of first-degree murder along with counts of child abuse and child endangerment in the death of the victim, who died in Kansas in 2019. The investigation process began in Sept. 2019 after officers responded to assist emergency medical services after a report that a child was not breathing in a home. The child was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after arrival.
Responding officers testified that when they arrived they saw the victim with excessive bruising covering his body. The autopsy showed multiple contusions to his head, trunk, and extremities. Prosecutors presented evidence that the mother was aware her then-partner, B. Mejlia, was abusing the boy, but continued to leave the child with him.
Witnesses told officers that the victim’s mother left him in the care of her then-artner at times despite signs of physical harm. They said they heard or saw that the child had bruises and may have been harmed before the final incident. One witness was an officer who saw the bruising on the victim’s body and relayed that the child had severe trauma before death.
At trial, the parent testified (or her attorneys argued) that she did not actively cause the victim’s fatal injuries, but the jury rejected defenses and found her guilty. Her co-defendant is charged with similar offenses including murder, child abuse, and endangerment. He is expected to stand trial in December 2025.
The investigation involved EMS and Kansas authorities responding to the 2019 call, conducting the autopsy to determine cause of death, interviewing neighbors and family, reviewing medical and physical evidence including bruises and trauma on the body, and gathering testimony about caretaking practices and knowledge of injuries.
Judge WiIIiams ordered the forty one months to run consecutively with the life sentence under which the parent can seek paroIe only after serving 25 years. The case drew attention in Kansas due to the severity of the victim’s injuries and questions about oversight of children in situations of suspected abuse.