[lily.]

ST. CHARLES COUNTY • A mother who admitted she encouraged her boyfriend to sexually assault her 4-month-old daughter — who later died from the attack — has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

During the December 2012 assault, the baby was beaten and strangled, apparently to quiet her crying.

Jessica Lynn Howell, 26, pleaded guilty Friday to felony abuse of a child and felony murder. Felony murder means that Howell is responsible for the baby’s death because the girl died during the commission of a felony — child abuse — a crime that Howell had encouraged, authorities said.

Before Circuit Judge Dan Pelikan handed down the sentence, he asked Howell if she wished to make a statement.

She shook her head no to which Pelikan responded: “You’re not sorry? Don’t you have any remorse? Don’t you wish you had your baby back in your arms?”

Through tears, Howell said: “My actions were foolish. I didn’t understand the weight of my actions.”

Pelikan said that the crimes Howell committed were “monstrous.”

“We all feel badly for that little girl,” he said. “No words can describe the horror she must have gone through. You’ll have a long time in prison to pray for her soul and yours.”

Howell, who lived in O’Fallon, Mo., met her boyfriend, Jordan Lafayette Prince, though Facebook while she was pregnant, police said.

Howell found out he was a sex offender through an internet search. Prince had sexually abused a 4-year-old in Idaho, and she had spoken to Prince about it, police said.

Despite this, she took the baby, Ashlynn Lillith Peters, to Prince’s mobile home in the 3600 block of Fremont Drive in St. Charles to spend the night.

She also sent a series of text messages to Prince — when Ashlynn was just one month old — encouraging him to have sexual contact with her daughter, according to court documents.

First responders who came to Prince’s home Dec. 2, 2012, found that Ashlynn was not breathing, police said. The baby was flown to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, where she died the next day.

An autopsy revealed the cause of death was asphyxiation. The child also suffered serious injuries related to the sexual assault that caused internal bleeding. Those injuries would have caused her death even without the strangulation, according to court documents.

In addition, the baby had bruises to her chest, abdomen, left arm, back and legs. She also was the victim of blunt force trauma to the left side of her head, causing a cut to her ear and bleeding near her skull.

Prince, 26, is facing charges of first-degree murder, abuse of a child and forcible sodomy in Ashlynn’s death. His case is set for trial March 23.

Howell’s plea was part of a deal with prosecutors. If found guilty at a trial, Howell could have gotten a maximum of 30 years in prison on each count. She must serve 85 percent of the sentence before she is eligible for parole.

Howell had two other children. One of them has been adopted and the other is in foster care, officials said.

After the hearing, St. Charles County Prosecutor Tim Lohmar said the case was one of the worst crimes imaginable.

“This mother tragically failed to protect her child in the most disgusting, unthinkable, and unnatural way,” he said.

Source

This might be the most awful news story I have ever read. What is wrong with people? So sick and tragic.

[Smithy]

I think the mother should be sentenced for longer than the guy who killed her daughter, wtf was she thinking

[lily.]

As a mum, these stories are particularly troubling to me. I would kill someone to protect my children, yet these people encourage others to hurt their children. It's horrific.

[lostalex]

It should be declared a mistrial. Why is the judge allowed to spout his religious beliefs? saying you have a long time to PRAy for the SOUL of your baby and your own, that is clearly religious language.

I hope the judge is reprimanded for imposing his religious beliefs on the court.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by lostalex

It should be declared a mistrial. Why is the judge allowed to spout his religious beliefs? saying you have a long time to PRAy for the SOUL of your baby and your own, that is clearly religious language.

I hope the judge is reprimanded for imposing his religious beliefs on the court.

Yes. That's the issue here, clearly.

[Vicky.]

This story actually makes me feel ill. What a pair of monsters.

[lily.]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

This story actually makes me feel ill. What a pair of monsters.

I read it last night and felt physically sick. I hope the two of them never get out of jail. The woman has 3 other children, who thankfully won't be at risk now.

[Kazanne]

What a vile ,vile excuse for a mother,she should have got life in solitary with the sound of a screaming baby playing 24/7,vile bitch

[kirklancaster]

This is sickeningly far more prevalent than many are aware of, but usually no prosecutions are brought or when they are, ridiculously lenient sentences are handed down - at least this judge was more severe in his sentencing.

I'm afraid though, he did not go far enough; the monster of a boyfriend should have been castrated and the bastard of a 'mother' should have been sterilised to prevent either of the evil demons from ever creating any more poor innocent babies.

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

This is sickeningly far more prevalent than many are aware of, but usually no prosecutions are brought or when they are, ridiculously lenient sentences are handed down - at least this judge was more severe in his sentencing.

I'm afraid though, he did not go far enough; the monster of a boyfriend should have been castrated and the bastard of a 'mother' should have been sterilised to prevent either of the evil demons from ever creating any more poor innocent babies.

Couldn't agree more Kirk.
What a pair of evil bstds.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

What a vile ,vile excuse for a mother,she should have got life in solitary with the sound of a screaming baby playing 24/7,vile bitch

I agree

[jennyjuniper]

With a bit of luck, this vile monster and her equally monstrous boyfriend will be put amongst mothers and fathers, who will mete out their own justice.

[Niamh.]

Not long enough imo.

[Shaun]

Stories like this make me wonder how anyone can stomach having to conduct post-mortems and forensic analysis in such cases. I cannot imagine anything more soul-destroying and heartbreaking.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Stories like this make me wonder how anyone can stomach having to conduct post-mortems and forensic analysis in such cases. I cannot imagine anything more soul-destroying and heartbreaking.

..yeah that has to be the worst thing, it's heart-breaking enough when you know some of what Welfare and Social workers have to know and listen to every working day ...



...it's really so hard to even comprehend how she would start a relationship with a sex offender before her baby was born, let alone what they did...

[lily.]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Stories like this make me wonder how anyone can stomach having to conduct post-mortems and forensic analysis in such cases. I cannot imagine anything more soul-destroying and heartbreaking.

Oh god... I never thought about that...

I've always thought that it must be horrific for the jury to see photographic evidence. But, being a detective or medical examiner must be even more awful.

I suppose if you do a job like that you would have to develop a way to shut off from the emotion of it.

[AnnieK]

Sickening....

[Crimson Dynamo]

[Kizzy]

Not long enough, Don't you wish you could unread something?

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Not long enough, Don't you wish you could unread something?

Often Kizzy,often.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

Often Kizzy,often.

Well I'm sat here in tears, tbh I wouldn't have shared this.

[GiRTh]

Absolutely disgusting.

[Marsh.]

Reminding me of what I read in that awful Ian Watkins case.

Just unthinkable and disgusting. Pure evil. No humanity there at all.

[Angelika]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Reminding me of what I read in that awful Ian Watkins case.

Just unthinkable and disgusting. Pure evil. No humanity there at all.

If only these people could be identified before they have children and inflict barbaric deeds on them. Everyone should undergo mental health assessment before babies are born to them as part of ante-natal care. Partners should be interviewed and accessed as well. Afterall, by the time the baby is born its rights are entrenched in law and protected. The baby deserves to be born into a safe environment to caring parents.

[Z]

Makes your heart sink, reading something like that... horrendous