Who is Jenna Boedecker? Missouri mom appeals 60-year sentence given after daughters die in hot car
CLAY COUNTY, MISSOURI: A woman convicted and sentenced in the deaths of her two daughters has reportedly appealed against her sentence. Jenna Boedecker was given multiple sentences earlier in August after being found guilty in May.
On August 3, Boedecker was sentenced to nearly 60 years in prison after being found guilty of nine counts, which included two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of child endangerment, one count of fourth-degree domestic assault and one count of first-degree property damage, WDAF-TV reported.
Who is Jenna Boedecker?
Boedecker was convicted in the deaths of two-year-old Ireland Ribando and seven-week-old Goodknight Ribando on July 4, 2018, after she reportedly left them inside a hot SUV before they were declared dead because of hyperthermia. The incident took place at their home in the 15600 block of Cameron Road. Boedecker, who had a history of drug abuse, found her lifeless young daughters inside her Jeep Patriot before going to a neighbor’s house for help.
Boedecker received 44 years for two counts of second-degree murder, and 16 years for four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, making it 60 years behind bars. She was reportedly ordered to go through the prison terms subsequently.
‘There are no winners in a case like this’
At the time of Boedecker’s sentencing, Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said, as reported by KCTV5, “Any crime against a child is especially tragic, but that tragedy is magnified when the crime is committed by the person those children should have been able to trust most in this world.”
“The essential responsibility of any parent is to try their very best to keep their children safe from harm. This defendant failed fundamentally in that duty. There are no winners in a case like this, and unfortunately, no decision in court can bring back these precious children,” Thompson further stated.
Thompson added, “But we hope today’s decision can help the family and everyone impacted to find closure. We understand that for some people, it can feel like the wheels of the criminal justice system turn too slowly, but I can assure you that in Clay County, the wheels turn steadily toward justice.”
‘Lock her up and throw away the key’
Meanwhile, the case attracted a lot of attention online with a person commenting on Facebook, “It would be interesting to know how they decided the number of years those precious darling little children's lives are worth. There is no amount of time that will bring them back. Where is the justice in this? Will she appeal? Will she get out early with good behavior? The judicial system fails once again. Don't misunderstand, I'm glad she's facing repercussions for what she did. She ought to be facing a whole lot worse imo.”
Another person wrote, “Lock her up and throw away the key.” A third added, “How could you do that to your own children? How can a person just forget their kids in a car? I have 3 kids. 2 of them are 18 and 16 but I have a 2-year-old daughter also and I always and I mean always take her out of the car, same with my other 2 when they were little or even teenagers. May those 2 precious innocent little babies rest in peace My heart hurts for those 2 babies.”