INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A mother has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for her role in the death of her 9-month-old daughter in 2023, according to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO). In December 2023, Ingris Marleni-Hernandez took her 9-month-old daughter, Ana, to the hospital , where it was determined she had suffered severe trauma in the head and neck area. Marleni-Hernandez was unable to provide a legitimate explanation of her daughter’s injuries, and according to officials, the victim’s injuries were consistent with abusive head trauma, likely consistent with violent shaking. In November, Marleni-Hernandez pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent and aggravated battery. In accordance with the agreement, the sentence was open to the court with a sentencing floor of 12 years in prison, and the counts were to run consecutively. The defense counsel argued for a sentence of 12 years. Prosecutors sought a sentence of 30 – 32 years (the maximum). The court sentenced Marleni-Hernandez to 30 years in the Indiana Department of Correction. “Any time a child loses their life, it is heartbreaking. But when that child is merely months old and completely dependent on a parent for safety and love— it is devastating,” said Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears. “The court’s sentence reflects the gravity of the defendant’s actions and our commitment to pursuing justice for children, like Ana, who cannot protect themselves.” ...read more read less