Man gets 20 years in beating death of toddler
A Burlington County man was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison in the 2013 beating death of a 1-year-old child.
A Burlington County man was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison in the 2013 beating death of a 1-year-old child.
Steven Donaldson, 32, of Shamong, must serve at least 17 years before he will be eligible for parole, county Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi said.
Donaldson was convicted in November of killing Claudia Nunes while caring for her in the Cinnaminson Township home of his girlfriend on Feb. 12, 2013.
His girlfriend, who was serving as the girl's foster mother, was at work at the time. Claudia had turned a year old the day before she was killed.
Authorities said Donaldson claimed that the toddler fell and struck her head on the floor as he prepared to change her diaper. He called 911 and reported that she was not breathing, authorities said.
Claudia was taken to Kennedy University Hospital in Cherry Hill, where she was pronounced dead.
An autopsy determined that she died from blunt force trauma to the head.
During Donaldson's trial, county Medical Examiner Ian Hood testified that the child suffered a fractured skull, brain swelling, and bleeding.
A jury found Donaldson guilty of aggravated manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.
Donaldson still faces a separate charge of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, Bernardi said. State police found heroin and drug paraphernalia in Donaldson's vehicle and on his person when they visited his home in October 2015 to discuss a hit-and-run car accident, the prosecutor said.
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