The father of a 2-year-old boy who was killed allegedly by his own mother says he hopes the woman will be sentenced to the maximum penalty, he told NBCLA in an exclusive interview.

L.J., who preferred not to disclose his full name out of privacy reasons, said he wakes up every day hoping what he witnessed and has experienced the past year is just a bad dream. He said he believed his 2-year-old son, Aidan, was napping in another room the night of Sept. 22, 2025. Instead, L.J. made a horrific discovery in the bathroom of the family’s Placentia home.

“I was just knocking on the door like, ‘Are you still in there?’ Didn’t respond,” L.J. said as he recounted checking on their child’s mother, 41-year-old Melissa Lynn Beisel of Fresno.

Beisel was found in the bathroom with superficial stab wounds to her neck and arms, according to law enforcement. Aidan was found with her, unresponsive.

“She was sitting down in the shower, back against the wall with him on top of her,” L.J. said. “I reach in, grab his arm like, ‘Come on, Aidan. Let’s go.’ It hit pretty hard.”

Investigators said Beisel never called police. The District Attorney’s office said the L.J. called 911 after finding the boy’s mother in the shower with their dead toddler. Prosecutors said the case was initially investigated as an alleged drowning but eight months later, Beisel was arrested in Fresno on suspicion of murder and assault on a child.

“I don’t know what set her off,” L.J. said. “I have a million ‘Why’ questions but I’m probably not going to get answers to any one of them.”

According to L.J., Aidan was an energetic child full of life. He enjoyed running around and taking trips to the park. Now, as L.J. seeks justice for his little boy, he said he hopes the court will penalize Beisel to the maximum.

“That she’s convicted and has the maximum amount of anything they can throw at her,” L.J. said. “She does not belong out in public society. Lock her up and throw away the key.”

If convicted, Beisel faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.

On Tuesday, the woman appeared in court, where she did not enter a plea in connection with the case. She is being held behind bars without bail and is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 28.

Beisel’s attorney said they had no public comment following Tuesday’s court appearance.