A woman has been handed a life sentence for the murder of her four-week-old baby in a horrific manner.
In 2005, 25-year-old China Arnold was residing with her partner, Terrell Talley, and her kids in Dayton, Ohio. Arnold took her newborn daughter, Paris, to the hospital in early August while under the influence of alcohol. The infant displayed no signs of life, leading to Arnold’s arrest, although she was later released due to insufficient evidence against her at the time.
Subsequently, it was revealed that Arnold had placed the baby inside a microwave in her home, where traces of the infant’s DNA were discovered, and activated the appliance following a dispute with her boyfriend regarding the child’s paternity. Medical experts concluded that Paris had died from severe heat exposure after being subjected to high temperatures inside the microwave for over two minutes.
Arnold confessed to her former cellmate that she killed her daughter out of fear that her boyfriend would uncover her infidelity, as he was not the baby’s biological father. The baby’s body exhibited multiple heat-related injuries consistent with an internal temperature of 42C.
In 2006, Arnold was incarcerated again and faced trial in 2008. Despite defense claims of alternative suspects and testimonies, Arnold was ultimately found guilty of aggravated murder, resulting in a life sentence without parole. Appeals to overturn the sentence were unsuccessful, with psychologists noting Arnold’s average intelligence and absence of severe mental disorders aside from mild depression and substance abuse. Arnold is currently serving her sentence at the Dayton Correctional Institution after being considered for but ultimately excluded from capital punishment.