Teen Sentenced To 25 Years For Beating Death Of 2-Year-Old
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- An 18-year-old is sentenced to 25 years in prison Tuesday for the beating death of a 2-year-old girl in June.
A Hennepin County District Judge handed down the sentence -- which was double the sentencing guidelines -- to Cody Feran-Baum in the death of 2-year-old Sophia O'Neill, his girlfriend's daughter. Police say the girl died of internal injuries after Feran-Baum kicked and stomped her.
According to the Hennepin County Attorney's office, the sentence is particularly harsh because Feran-Baum admitted to the court that he was in a position of trust over the child, which made the crime particularly cruel. They also said his initial lies in the investigation interfered with her medical treatment.
After the young girls grandmother and great-grandmother read impact statements to the court, the Hennepin County Attorney's office says Feran-Baum was asked if he wanted to say anything to the court, but was overcome with emotion, and said, "I can't." His attorney spoke on his behalf instead.