A California father, Jesse Manuel Figueroa, 36, was sentenced to 25 years to life for the death of his 8-month-old daughter, Raina. A jury found him guilty of murder earlier this year.
The Fatal Incident
On July 4, 2020, Figueroa brought his unconscious daughter to a Mountain View fire station, claiming she had mysteriously fallen unconscious while he was taking her to a family barbecue. Raina was rushed to the hospital but died a few days later.
An autopsy showed she died from blunt force trauma that caused brain hemorrhaging. Doctors noted a bruise on her cheek in the shape of an adult hand, and prosecutors said the blow was so severe it caused her brain to move inside her head.
History of Abuse
Investigators found Figueroa had also been abusive toward Raina’s mother and their other children, ages 2 and 3. Despite being restricted from unsupervised visits, he convinced Raina’s mother to let him watch her alone that day.
Family Reaction
Raina’s family expressed deep grief in court. Her grandfather said, “Raina mattered. Her life mattered. She was deeply loved and should still be here today.” District Attorney Jeff Rosen noted that Raina would have been six years old and called the case a tragic loss of an innocent child.
