An unfeeling babysitter who caused the death of a toddler by throwing him against a wall has been sentenced to life in prison.
Kimora Hodges inflicted severe head injuries on 22-month-old Kyrie Starks by repeatedly hitting him over several hours, resulting in a seizure. Hodges tried to blame the child’s condition on ingesting soap.
Following Kyrie’s death one week after sustaining the injuries, Hodges, 24, was charged with first-degree child abuse and felony murder. A jury convicted her after a six-day trial in Michigan, US.
During a babysitting session in June 2022, Hodges became violent towards Kyrie, whom she occasionally cared for on behalf of her neighbor, Taylor Starks. Despite noticing the toddler’s abnormal appearance, Hodges failed to promptly seek medical help.
Despite undergoing emergency surgery, Kyrie could not be saved. Hodges, from Roseville, Michigan, was arrested for causing blunt trauma to the child’s head.
After being questioned for nearly two hours, Hodges eventually requested legal representation. Despite this, she continued to make incriminating statements during police interrogation.
The Court of Appeals ruled that a significant portion of Hodges’ statement, considered the most damning, was inadmissible due to procedural errors during questioning.
Hodges was subsequently sentenced to life in prison for murder and received an additional 15 to 40 years for first-degree child abuse. During the court proceedings, Taylor Starks expressed forgiveness but also emphasized the lack of accountability from Hodges for the tragedy involving her son.