An atrocious incident unfolded in court as it was revealed that a heartless couple callously brought their lifeless nine-day-old infant to the hospital, laughing despite the tragic circumstances.
Hilary Johnson II, 24, received a 19-year prison sentence, while Z’ibreyea S. Parker, 22, was handed a 10-year sentence after admitting guilt earlier in the year for the tragic demise of their newborn daughter, I’ijayah Johnson.
On May 4, 2024, Johnson and Parker arrived at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters with I’ijayah, who showed no signs of life and was cold to the touch. They claimed she had fallen from her stroller two days earlier while Johnson was out jogging, a story inconsistent with the severe injuries the infant had sustained.
Hospital staff noticed alarming signs of abuse on I’ijayah’s body, including severe burns on her feet and other body parts, cuts on her head and face, and bruises on her back.
Following a police investigation, it was determined that I’ijayah’s death resulted from blunt trauma to her head and torso, with additional injuries, including burns and broken ribs, indicating a pattern of abuse.
Johnson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, and Parker pleaded guilty to child abuse with serious injury. The plea deal dropped Parker’s murder charge and Johnson’s child abuse count.
In response to the sentencing, Attorney Ramin Fatehi emphasized the vulnerability of newborns and the tragic fate that befell I’ijayah due to her parents’ actions.
The grandfather of I’ijayah, Hilary Johnson Sr., had expressed concerns about his son and daughter-in-law’s capability as parents prior to the infant’s death, highlighting missed opportunities to prevent the tragedy.
At the time of I’ijayah’s birth, Johnson and Parker, both struggling with mental health issues, were living in a tent beneath a highway. Despite offers of assistance, they chose to decline help and continued their troubled lifestyle.
Reflecting on the situation, Johnson Sr. expressed disbelief at the drastic change in his son and daughter-in-law’s behavior, emphasizing his hopes for a better life for I’ijayah before her tragic end.
