Kristina Huemann Siedlecki was convicted by a jury on Thursday and faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
Special Projects/Investigations Manager
The mother of an 8-month-old who suffered severe burns and died was convicted of second-degree murder in Sacramento County.
Kristina Huemann Siedlecki was convicted by a jury on Thursday and faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
(Previous coverage in the video above.)
According to Sacramento County detectives, Jannah Abughazaleh was found unresponsive and died Aug. 25, 2024, after sustaining second-degree and third-degree burns to 25-35% of her body.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said Siedlecki’s husband Hussein Abughazaleh had put her in a bath with dangerously hot water that burned her.
According to detectives, despite the child’s injuries, both parents decided not to seek professional medical attention until it was too late and she died of the burn complications.
The DA’s office said internet searches on Siedlecki’s phone showed she understood the danger of not treating the injuries and avoided seeking help over fears of being arrested.
On the morning of Jannah’s death, Siedlecki noticed her breathing had changed and she later became limp and unresponsive. But she went on social media while Abughazaleh contacted a friend for help 45 minutes later, the DA’s office said.
Abughazaleh was also arrested and accused of murder. He later died in jail.
Siedlecki’s sentencing is set for Oct. 23.
KCRA 3 previously spoke to the grandmother of the baby, Naomi Magness, who said she was concerned with the baby’s safety, even prior to the child’s birth. She said she contacted CPS hoping to protect the welfare of the child.
Magness said that with no word from CPS, she called an abuse hotline, which connected her to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, and then the coroner’s office, confirming the child had died.
Magness explained she feels the child protective services system failed her family.
Sacramento County said at the time, “Due to legal and confidentiality guidelines, we are unable to confirm, deny, or discuss any specific reports.”
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