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Teen jailed for 100 years after fracturing baby's skull

An 18-year-old man has been sentenced to up to 100 years in prison for the death of his eight-month-old daughter after he pleaded guilty to several charges.

The Des Moines Register reports that Jayden Straight, from the US state of Iowa, pleaded guilty on Friday to second-degree murder and several related charges as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

Straight’s daughter Raija died in July 2018 after suffering serious internal injuries including broken ribs, ruptured spleen, retinal haemorrhaging and multiple skull fractures.

Prosecutors said that doctors determined the girl’s injuries were the result of a deliberate assault.

Straight received the maximum sentence for each of the six charges he pleaded guilty to, and his sentences must be served consecutively up to 100 years total.

Pictured is a mugshot of Jayden Straight (left) and his daughter Raija (right).
Jayden Straight was jailed over the murder of his daughter Raija. Source: KCCI

According to Metro, Straight was just 17 at the time of the baby’s murder, which occurred after his partner left him alone with the girl while she ran errands.

He fled after his partner returned and discovered the baby’s fatal injuries. Metro reports he has not offered a motive to police.

Robin Head, the young girl’s great grandmother, said the child had brought her joy in the eight months she was alive.

“I can’t never explain that feeling of holding her, laughing with her, touching her, walking with her, crawling with her,” she said, according to Metro.

With AP

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