Grand Rapids - The death of two year old Aiyana Cisneros was described by a Kent County judge Monday as "profoundly sad, disturbing and horrible." Judge James Redford said "It's unbelievable how horrible this poor child's life was at the end.
That end was in July of 2005. Today, her month, Samantha Winkler was sentenced after earlier pleading guilty to second degree murder in the child's death. Winkler, however, has been supported by a pair of polygraph tests, in her claim that she never inflicted the blows that claimed her daughter's life; but acknowledged she failed to get her child the medical attention that may have spared her life.
Winkler contends her former boyfriend, Pedro Navarro, is responsible for killing the child. Navarro has not been charged in the death.
Winkler has been helpful as police continue to pursue the case. For that reason, and for her secondary role in the death, Judge Redford Monday went below the sentencing guidelines in sentencing Winkler to thirteen and half to sixty years in prison.
Winkler told the court "I could have prevented this...I accept responsibility for what happened."
Peter Ross