Victoria Fox: Killer nanny who admitted shaking 4-week-old 'miracle' baby to death gets 25 years
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: Victoria Frances Fox, a nanny, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for killing Phoenix Grove, a four-week-old baby. Fox unfortunately turned into a nightmare nanny when she "grew upset" over the baby boy's cries before killing him.
A Singapore couple, who cannot be identified, hired Fox, 40, to watch their son Grove while they attended the delivery of their twins by a surrogate. To await the birth, the couple rented an Airbnb in San Diego and took their oldest son, a babysitter and Grove with them. The couple decided to hire a second nanny because they were expecting twins, and Fox was the obvious choice, court records show. Grove, however, who was abandoned by Fox when she was barely four weeks old, died horribly and tragically on August 21, 2021, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. San Diego Superior Court Judge Daniel Goldstein called the case "horrific" at Fox's sentencing hearing Tuesday, March 1. Fox stood in court with a stern expression on her face and expressed her "deep regret" through her public lawyer. She remained impassive throughout the sentencing hearing.
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Victoria Fox 'grew upset' over baby's cries
Authorities said the incident occurred in a Pacific Beach residential neighborhood near Kate Sessions Park on Windsor Road near Loring Street. The San Diego Union Tribune reports that Fox told authorities Grove woke up around 2.30 am on the day of the incident and was crying. About a half-hour later, he was still crying, at which point Fox's mood changed; she reportedly "grew upset."
Fox reportedly admitted to investigators that she was exhausted when she made the aggressive attempt to silence the baby's cries. Grove was flung onto the bed, squeezed tighter than she had ever squeezed a child, and shaken before being flung away again by the angry nanny. Fox informed Grove's mother via text messages over the course of several hours that the boy was not eating much and was having trouble with gas. Around 2.pm, Fox inquired about the mother's expected return time, at which point she panicked and left the house.
How did Phoenix Grove die?
Police and prosecutors claimed Grove died from wounds sustained when Fox threw him on a bed, pinned him and shook him. San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Ramona McCarthy said, "Phoenix died within a day or so of his injures. He suffered an extreme head trauma, extreme subdural hemorrhaging and a fractured femur, however, what he died from was the result of blunt force trauma," according to NBC San Diego.
The child was limp, had blue lips and was barely breathing, according to court testimony. Prosecutors contend Fox insisted the baby was dehydrated and did not need medical attention. The couple found out that Fox had lied to them about the "excellent" recommendations they had received after Grove died. McCarthy stated, "There's no question that it sends a chilling effect to parents in our community."
'We think of Phoenix every day'
The couple provided the court with this brief written statement that McCarthy read, "On behalf of our late son Phoenix, my wife and I want to thank the incredible support we have received from all investigating officers and the Prosecutors Office."
"We think of Phoenix every day and this horrific event still affects us as a family deeply. We hope this sentence means no other family or child will experience what we have been through at the hands of Ms Fox," the statement concluded.