Babysitter Pleads Guilty To Kidnapping Toddler

SALEM (CBS) - A babysitter accused of kidnapping and torturing a toddler pleaded guilty in court Friday.

"I have seen and felt the way this has traumatized my family and loved ones, and cannot begin to imagine the devastation and trauma felt by the victim's family," Abigail Hanna said.

Hanna, 22, broke down in court as she pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, kidnapping and assault and battery of the two year old Hamilton girl in November 2015.

"The remorse I feel is so great I cannot put it into words, a day does not go by that this does not weigh heavily on my heart," she said.

Prosecutors say the Topsfield woman used to babysit the little girl but was fired because the parents thought she was unreliable.

She later broke into their home and snatched their two year old girl while she slept. She then shaved the girl's head and burned her multiple times with a cigarette then left her on the side of the road naked.

On Friday, a judge sentenced her to five to seven years in state prison. Abigail, who has a history of mental illness, did not have a criminal past and says she regrets her horrific criminal acts.

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.