NJ Baby Sitter Gets 20-Year Sentence In Child's Beating Death

PENNS GROVE, N.J. (AP) — A baby sitter who punched and fatally injured a young girl he was caring for has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Michael Oliver had pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the December 2014 death of 4-year-old Lynia Parsons.

The Penns Grove man was watching Parsons and three other children, ranging in age from 1 to 5, when she was injured. But it's not clear what spurred the attack.

Salem County prosecutors have said Parsons died from a lacerated liver caused by blunt force trauma. They also say Oliver previously served a prison term for injuring a child under his care in a similar fashion.

Speaking at Friday's sentencing, family members said Parsons loved the 44-year-old Oliver like an uncle and was always excited to see him.