A drunken father left his two-year-old daughter to die when the vehicle they were traveling in caught fire in September 2024 in northwest Ohio.. The defendant, Nicholas Stemen, 34, saved her life but lied to police about the whereabouts of the girl, whose charred body was later found strapped to a child seat in the back seat of the car.
The case shook the community and concluded this Monday with a sentence of a minimum of 22 years and a maximum of 27 and a half years in prisonissued by the corresponding court, reported the local press.
Driving drunk and driving erratically
According to the affidavit, Stemen later confessed that he had consumed at least 10 alcoholic drinks before being seen driving erratically. by police officers. The vehicle was traveling with a flat tire before the driver stopped in the city of Lima, where the car burst into flames.
When the officers arrived, they found Stemen visibly affected by alcohol, with difficulty standing, the smell of drink and altered speech. The man watched his 2013 GMC Terrain pickup truck burn completely, but initially claimed that no one else was inside.
He lied about the girl before she was found
When questioned, Stemen admitted to having a daughter, but assured that “she was with her grandfather”. However, after extinguishing the fire, the fire chief checked the interior of the vehicle and discovered the girl’s small body tied to her child seat, with visible signs of skin and blood, according to the court file.
The defendant later admitted that he lost consciousness inside the vehicle due to alcohol and that he did not remember the moments before the fire.
Serious charges and exemplary sentence
Last month, Stemen pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, aggravated arson and child endangerment. During the hearing this Monday, he claimed to “not remember” what happened.
The girl’s mother, Lillyanna, sent a devastating statement that was read in the room: “My girl is gone. And for what? Because her father enjoyed a night of drinking. He killed her,” she said, as reported by Lima News.
The woman added that the little girl was taken from all those who loved her and asked for an exemplary sentence.
The local Police Department highlighted that the case is an extreme example of the consequences of driving under the influence, especially when minors are involved.
The sentence proposes that Stemen will remain in prison for at least 22 years, although it could be extended to 27 years and 6 months, according to the judge.
Keep reading:
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