An American father, Nicholas Stemen, is to serve a term in jail after he left his 2-year-old daughter to burn to death in the back of his car while he saved himself.
Stemen, 34, was formally handed a 22-year jail term on Monday, Nov. 17, for the horrific de@th of his daughter, Lillyanna, in September 2024 in northwest Ohio, United States of America.
The man confessed he had taken at least 10 drinks before setting out in his 2013 GMC Terrain, driving erratically, with one tyre missing.
He reportedly came to a stop in Lima with his car bursting into flames with his daughter inside, according to the affidavit.
Police got to the scene and met Stemen standing in the roadway, “visibly upset” that his car was burning
The police recorded that the man was reeking of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet, and was actually falling to the ground.
They also recorded that his eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slurred.
Stemen reportedly responded that there was no one else in the car when fire officials asked him as they worked to extinguish the flames.
He reportedly disclosed that he had a daughter who was staying with her grandfather.
The officials were, however, stunned to find a small body in the car seat inside the vehicle after the fire was extinguished.
The fire chief who first made the discovery determined that the body was human due to seeing skin and blood on the thighs..
Stemen told the court on Monday that he had no recollection of what happened leading up to his daughter’s death.
The baby’s mother lamented her death and blamed Stemen for taking the little child away from everyone who loved her during the sentencing hearing.
Stemen had pleaded guilty to aggravated arson, involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child in October.
The judge ruled that he will spend a minimum of 22 years and a maximum of 27 years and 6 months in prison.
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