44°
Clarence Thomas, 33, and Kayan Johns, 33, were both charged after Johns found their daughter, Natalia Johns, unresponsive on March 14, 2013, the district attorney said.
Autopsy reports revealed that Natalia Johns had injuries consistent with new and old trauma to the head.
Thomas was questioned by Yonkers detectives, giving various accounts of how the child could have sustained the numerous injuries. Johns said she noticed various bruising and other injuries on the infant but did not report it to authorities or try to get medical attention.
In addition, Johns admitted to allowing Thomas to remain as the primary caretaker for Natalia Johns and other children while she worked, the district attorney said.
Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree manslaughter and faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. Johns pleaded guilty to one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
“These parents, the father by his reckless actions and the mother by her denial of any abuse, tragically led to the death of their six month old daughter," DiFiore said in a statement. "A parent’s primary job is the care and protection of their children and in this case their inability to do so led to this terrible outcome. Thus, it now becomes incumbent on society and the criminal justice system to make sure that they are held accountable.”
Click here to follow Daily Voice Yonkers and receive free news updates.
