Danielle Ivy Dechert, 27, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the death of her 5-month-old daughter, Rheylene Ledesma. Dechert pleaded guilty to Injury to a Child – Recklessly Causing Death/Serious Bodily Injury in the 33rd Judicial District Court of Blanco County, Texas, on August 30, 2024.
Court documents allege that Dechert, under the influence of an illegal substance, smothered her infant daughter while “co-sleeping.”
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Furthermore, Dechert failed to seek medical assistance for over eight hours after the child’s death.
Dechert’s sentence was enhanced due to a prior felony conviction for Evading in a Motor Vehicle and Endangering a Child from an unrelated incident in 2014.
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The case was investigated by Texas Ranger Jose Rodriguez and prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Amanda Dillon and Jamie Tillman, with assistance from Sgt. Brian Seales from the Office of the Attorney General.
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