Who is Henrietta Rogers? Mother sentenced to 25 years in prison for strangling 10-year-old daughter to death
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN: A Milwaukee, Wisconsin, mother who was found guilty of fatally strangling her 10-year-old daughter was given a 25-year prison term.
During her trial in May, Henrietta Rogers, 48, was found guilty of first-degree reckless homicide.
After a dispute over Jada's refusal to have her hair braided in February 2022, police found Rogers' 10-year-old daughter Jada Clay inside their home, according to Fox 6.
After they got home from school, Jada's older brother and sister dialed 911, unlocked Jada's bedroom door with a screwdriver, and discovered her on the floor.
Prosecution asked for a longer sentence of 30 years in prison for Rogers
When the police arrived on the scene, the victim, according to the police, appeared to have been dead for a while.
The prosecution asked for a longer sentence of 30 years in prison for Rogers, claiming that strangling someone to death is a violently intimate crime.
For how many years Henrietta Rogers will be prisoned?
However, the defense requested a shorter hearing because they believe Rogers has a serious mental health problem. Rogers was ultimately sentenced to 25 years in prison by Judge Mark Sanders for the death of her child.
In addition, Rogers will be under extended supervision for 15 years, be subject to a mental health evaluation while on probation, and be required to look for work. She received credit for her service time, as reported by FoxNews.
Sanders claimed he was speechless in response to Rogers' actions. Sanders said, "[Jada] was old enough to recognize what was happening, and that realization must have made her last moments some of the most terrible I can imagine."
What did prosecutors claim?
Prosecutors claim that the only two people who had keys to the house were Rodgers and Clay's sister.
Clay's sister called Rogers to arrange for her to pick her up after school, but Rogers did not return the call. At that point, Clay's sister requested that Clay's brother pick her up.
Around 8 o'clock, after running some errands, the two returned home. At that point, they discovered the second door was ajar but the front door was still locked. Once inside, the two found Clay's body.
Rogers was later discovered by police in Schlitz Park, close to Aurora Urgent Care, where she was clearly distressed and sobbing. Rogers' daughter was found dead in her home, and the officers were informed of this.
The police then informed Rogers that her daughter had been discovered in her house with serious injuries, and they requested permission to search the area. Attorneys claim Rogers declined.
Rogers reportedly became agitated and questioned why officers were questioning her. Throughout her entire exchange with the police, she didn't inquire about Clay or how she felt.