Veronica T. Herrera was supposed to start her first degree murder trial next week in connection with the death of her 2-year-old daughter Nakita last summer — but the trial is now delayed until May.
The 29-year-old Herrera was originally accused of burning the body of her 2-year-old daughter in a burn barrel at her Homedale residence in August. Now she is accused of killing the toddler as well. Herrera is also charged with four counts of felony injury to child.
Herrera is now set to begin her jury trial May 14 in front of 3rd District Judge Thomas Ryan in Owyhee County. Herrera waived her speedy trial rights in late December so her attorneys could have more time to work on the case.
Owyhee Prosecutor Doug Emory said Thursday he would not seek the death penalty against Herrera, who could still be sent to prison for life, without parole, if found guilty of first degree murder.
An Owyhee County grand jury found late last year that Herrera, "with the intentional application of torture," intentionally inflicted "extreme and prolonged pain," by "inflicting repeated acts of blunt force trauma upon (Nakita) by means of physical force ... emotional abuse, and/or lack of physical and/or medical care, which caused bruising, pain, burns, broken bones, and injuries," that led to the toddler's death on Aug. 16.
Grand jurors also found the abuse that led to the toddler's death occurred between July 1 to Aug. 16, according to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
Prosecutors do not need to prove premeditation to charge first degree murder when the victim is under the age of 12, but they do need to prove that the death occurred in the commission of another crime.
Herrera told police Nakita was fatally injured after she hit her head while potty training Aug. 15. Herrera also said was scared and "freaked out" about the possibility of losing custody of her other children if she told police what happened, so she decided to burn the toddler's body, according to court documents obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
Herrera ended up turning herself into Nampa police on Aug. 18 and confessing, according to court records. She is being held in the Owyhee County Jail on a $1 million bond as she waits for the trial to begin in January.
According to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman, Herrera told police that her daughter Nakita, who just turned 2 in August, jumped off her potty chair during training and hit her head on a heater. Herrera said that led to Nakita's death hours later.
To make sure that no one found Nakita, Herrera told police, she put the body in a barrel behind her house on Washington Street and started a blaze Aug. 16 that burned for as long as two days.
Herrera is charged with four counts of felony injury to child because she is accused of having her four other kids — ages 12, 9, 8 and 3 — "assist in the burning" of Nakita's body, according to the grand jury indictment. Court records say Herrera is accused of having her kids put items in the burn barrel to keep it going.
On the morning of Aug. 18, Herrera walked up to an officer outside a Nampa police station. Crying, she told the officer that she did something bad, that her child was hurt and that she made it worse, according to documents.
Later, Herrera told a Nampa police detective that "God will never forgive her" for what she has done, according to probable cause documents obtained by the Statesman.
Each count of felony injury to child is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
UPDATE Updated Friday, Apr 26 at 7:11 AM
MURPHY, Idaho – A Homedale mother accused of killing her two-year-old daughter and burning up her body in a barrel to cover up the crime has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and five other felony charges.
Owyhee County Prosecutor Doug Emery tells KTVB that 29-year-old Veronica Herrera has struck a deal with prosecutors. They have agreed to reduce the first-degree murder charge to involuntary manslaughter in exchange for the guilty plea. She was set to go on trial on May 14.
Herrera also pleaded guilty to failure to properly report a death, destruction of evidence and three counts of injury to a child. Emery says two of those injury to a child counts were because Herrera forced siblings to participate in the burning of the body.
Prosecutors say two-year-old Nakita was abused, tortured and killed by her mother, who then burned the body for several days to cover up the crime. The body was discovered last August.
Veronica's mother, Robyn Herrera, told us her daughter Veronica did have a drug problem in the past.
Emery says Herrera faces a maximum of 40 years in prison for all six felonies. She will likely have to serve at least 15 years. It will be up to a judge to determine her punishment. Sentencing is set for July 25.
Herrera has five other children and at last word they were staying with other family members.
Information gathered from KTVB.com and the Idaho Statesman
More: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/08/21/2239234/prosecutor-mom-burned-daughterin.html
Update:
by Karen Zatkulak & KTVB.COM
Bio | Email
KTVB.COM
Posted on September 4, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Updated Thursday, Sep 5 at 6:31 PM
Related:
•Veronica Herrera makes tearful apology in court
•Protecting our children: Investigating child abuse in Idaho
•Mom admits killing 2-year-old daughter, burning child's body
•Homedale mom accused of killing daughter charged with more crimes
•Woman charged with murder in death of 2-year-old daughter
•Woman pleads not guilty to burning daughter's body
•Hearing postponed for mom accused of burning 2-year-old's remains
•PDF: Homedale Police Report
•Homedale woman accused of burning 2-year-old's body in barrel
MURPHY, Idaho -- A Homedale mother who killed her two-year-old daughter and then burned the child's body to cover up the crime could spend up to 30 years in prison for her actions.
Owyhee County Judge Thomas J. Ryan imposed a 15-year fixed sentence upon Veronica Herrera, with another indeterminate sentence of 15 years. The Homedale mother also won't have access to her five remaining children without approval of state counselors.
Judge Ryan commented that Thursday's sentencing was difficult because the case was so unusual and the crime was brutal.
"We don't know if anything more sinister or evil was going on because Herrera destroyed the evidence," Ryan said.
A small gathering of family members sat in silence as the 30-year-old was sentenced. They left quietly after the verdict was read and Herrera was led out of the courtroom.
HERRERA PLEADS GUILTY
Earlier this year, Herrera pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and five other felony charges in connection with the death of her two-year-old daughter, Nakita.
Prosecutors say Herrera abused and tortured Nakita before killing her. She then burned the girl's body for several days to cover up the crime.
During Wednesday's hearing, we learned disturbing details about Nakita's life and death.
Nakita's grandmother, Robyn Herrera, recounted the horrific moment last August when prosecutors say Veronica killed her young daughter. They say Herrera then burned the child's body in a barrel for two days, buying lighter fluid twice to keep the fire going, and even enlisting the child's siblings to help.
MORE DISTURBING DETAILS
Herrera told police Nakita died after she fell from a child's potty and hit her head on a nearby heater. However, Dr. Paul McPherson testified that before Nakita's death there was evidence that she suffered bruising in many places on her body, a severe burn, and malnutrition while in her mother's care.
There was also testimony in court about Herrera's past meth addiction, along with the woman's signs of depression.
A forensic anthropologist testified that investigators had recovered about 85 percent of the human remains in the barrel, and that Nakita's bones were fragmented, then burned.
Court documents show Herrera told detectives she didn't tell anyone Nakita had died because she "Didn't want to lose her children."
Prosecutors say Herrera also forced some of Nakita's siblings to participate in burning their sister's body. She pleaded guilty to two counts related to that.
The 30-year-old Homedale mother had faced up to 40 years in prison for her actions. As the sentencing stands, she'll serve at least 15.
The 29-year-old Herrera was originally accused of burning the body of her 2-year-old daughter in a burn barrel at her Homedale residence in August. Now she is accused of killing the toddler as well. Herrera is also charged with four counts of felony injury to child.
Herrera is now set to begin her jury trial May 14 in front of 3rd District Judge Thomas Ryan in Owyhee County. Herrera waived her speedy trial rights in late December so her attorneys could have more time to work on the case.
Owyhee Prosecutor Doug Emory said Thursday he would not seek the death penalty against Herrera, who could still be sent to prison for life, without parole, if found guilty of first degree murder.
An Owyhee County grand jury found late last year that Herrera, "with the intentional application of torture," intentionally inflicted "extreme and prolonged pain," by "inflicting repeated acts of blunt force trauma upon (Nakita) by means of physical force ... emotional abuse, and/or lack of physical and/or medical care, which caused bruising, pain, burns, broken bones, and injuries," that led to the toddler's death on Aug. 16.
Grand jurors also found the abuse that led to the toddler's death occurred between July 1 to Aug. 16, according to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
Prosecutors do not need to prove premeditation to charge first degree murder when the victim is under the age of 12, but they do need to prove that the death occurred in the commission of another crime.
Herrera told police Nakita was fatally injured after she hit her head while potty training Aug. 15. Herrera also said was scared and "freaked out" about the possibility of losing custody of her other children if she told police what happened, so she decided to burn the toddler's body, according to court documents obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
Herrera ended up turning herself into Nampa police on Aug. 18 and confessing, according to court records. She is being held in the Owyhee County Jail on a $1 million bond as she waits for the trial to begin in January.
According to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman, Herrera told police that her daughter Nakita, who just turned 2 in August, jumped off her potty chair during training and hit her head on a heater. Herrera said that led to Nakita's death hours later.
To make sure that no one found Nakita, Herrera told police, she put the body in a barrel behind her house on Washington Street and started a blaze Aug. 16 that burned for as long as two days.
Herrera is charged with four counts of felony injury to child because she is accused of having her four other kids — ages 12, 9, 8 and 3 — "assist in the burning" of Nakita's body, according to the grand jury indictment. Court records say Herrera is accused of having her kids put items in the burn barrel to keep it going.
On the morning of Aug. 18, Herrera walked up to an officer outside a Nampa police station. Crying, she told the officer that she did something bad, that her child was hurt and that she made it worse, according to documents.
Later, Herrera told a Nampa police detective that "God will never forgive her" for what she has done, according to probable cause documents obtained by the Statesman.
Each count of felony injury to child is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
UPDATE Updated Friday, Apr 26 at 7:11 AM
MURPHY, Idaho – A Homedale mother accused of killing her two-year-old daughter and burning up her body in a barrel to cover up the crime has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and five other felony charges.
Owyhee County Prosecutor Doug Emery tells KTVB that 29-year-old Veronica Herrera has struck a deal with prosecutors. They have agreed to reduce the first-degree murder charge to involuntary manslaughter in exchange for the guilty plea. She was set to go on trial on May 14.
Herrera also pleaded guilty to failure to properly report a death, destruction of evidence and three counts of injury to a child. Emery says two of those injury to a child counts were because Herrera forced siblings to participate in the burning of the body.
Prosecutors say two-year-old Nakita was abused, tortured and killed by her mother, who then burned the body for several days to cover up the crime. The body was discovered last August.
Veronica's mother, Robyn Herrera, told us her daughter Veronica did have a drug problem in the past.
Emery says Herrera faces a maximum of 40 years in prison for all six felonies. She will likely have to serve at least 15 years. It will be up to a judge to determine her punishment. Sentencing is set for July 25.
Herrera has five other children and at last word they were staying with other family members.
Information gathered from KTVB.com and the Idaho Statesman
More: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/08/21/2239234/prosecutor-mom-burned-daughterin.html
Update:
by Karen Zatkulak & KTVB.COM
Bio | Email
KTVB.COM
Posted on September 4, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Updated Thursday, Sep 5 at 6:31 PM
Related:
•Veronica Herrera makes tearful apology in court
•Protecting our children: Investigating child abuse in Idaho
•Mom admits killing 2-year-old daughter, burning child's body
•Homedale mom accused of killing daughter charged with more crimes
•Woman charged with murder in death of 2-year-old daughter
•Woman pleads not guilty to burning daughter's body
•Hearing postponed for mom accused of burning 2-year-old's remains
•PDF: Homedale Police Report
•Homedale woman accused of burning 2-year-old's body in barrel
MURPHY, Idaho -- A Homedale mother who killed her two-year-old daughter and then burned the child's body to cover up the crime could spend up to 30 years in prison for her actions.
Owyhee County Judge Thomas J. Ryan imposed a 15-year fixed sentence upon Veronica Herrera, with another indeterminate sentence of 15 years. The Homedale mother also won't have access to her five remaining children without approval of state counselors.
Judge Ryan commented that Thursday's sentencing was difficult because the case was so unusual and the crime was brutal.
"We don't know if anything more sinister or evil was going on because Herrera destroyed the evidence," Ryan said.
A small gathering of family members sat in silence as the 30-year-old was sentenced. They left quietly after the verdict was read and Herrera was led out of the courtroom.
HERRERA PLEADS GUILTY
Earlier this year, Herrera pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and five other felony charges in connection with the death of her two-year-old daughter, Nakita.
Prosecutors say Herrera abused and tortured Nakita before killing her. She then burned the girl's body for several days to cover up the crime.
During Wednesday's hearing, we learned disturbing details about Nakita's life and death.
Nakita's grandmother, Robyn Herrera, recounted the horrific moment last August when prosecutors say Veronica killed her young daughter. They say Herrera then burned the child's body in a barrel for two days, buying lighter fluid twice to keep the fire going, and even enlisting the child's siblings to help.
MORE DISTURBING DETAILS
Herrera told police Nakita died after she fell from a child's potty and hit her head on a nearby heater. However, Dr. Paul McPherson testified that before Nakita's death there was evidence that she suffered bruising in many places on her body, a severe burn, and malnutrition while in her mother's care.
There was also testimony in court about Herrera's past meth addiction, along with the woman's signs of depression.
A forensic anthropologist testified that investigators had recovered about 85 percent of the human remains in the barrel, and that Nakita's bones were fragmented, then burned.
Court documents show Herrera told detectives she didn't tell anyone Nakita had died because she "Didn't want to lose her children."
Prosecutors say Herrera also forced some of Nakita's siblings to participate in burning their sister's body. She pleaded guilty to two counts related to that.
The 30-year-old Homedale mother had faced up to 40 years in prison for her actions. As the sentencing stands, she'll serve at least 15.
Veronica T. Herrera was supposed to start her first degree murder trial next week in connection with the death of her 2-year-old daughter Nakita last summer — but the trial is now delayed until May.
The 29-year-old Herrera was originally accused of burning the body of her 2-year-old daughter in a burn barrel at her Homedale residence in August. Now she is accused of killing the toddler as well. Herrera is also charged with four counts of felony injury to child.
Herrera is now set to begin her jury trial May 14 in front of 3rd District Judge Thomas Ryan in Owyhee County. Herrera waived her speedy trial rights in late December so her attorneys could have more time to work on the case.
Owyhee Prosecutor Doug Emory said Thursday he would not seek the death penalty against Herrera, who could still be sent to prison for life, without parole, if found guilty of first degree murder.
An Owyhee County grand jury found late last year that Herrera, "with the intentional application of torture," intentionally inflicted "extreme and prolonged pain," by "inflicting repeated acts of blunt force trauma upon (Nakita) by means of physical force ... emotional abuse, and/or lack of physical and/or medical care, which caused bruising, pain, burns, broken bones, and injuries," that led to the toddler's death on Aug. 16.
Grand jurors also found the abuse that led to the toddler's death occurred between July 1 to Aug. 16, according to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
Prosecutors do not need to prove premeditation to charge first degree murder when the victim is under the age of 12, but they do need to prove that the death occurred in the commission of another crime.
Herrera told police Nakita was fatally injured after she hit her head while potty training Aug. 15. Herrera also said was scared and "freaked out" about the possibility of losing custody of her other children if she told police what happened, so she decided to burn the toddler's body, according to court documents obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
Herrera ended up turning herself into Nampa police on Aug. 18 and confessing, according to court records. She is being held in the Owyhee County Jail on a $1 million bond as she waits for the trial to begin in January.
According to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman, Herrera told police that her daughter Nakita, who just turned 2 in August, jumped off her potty chair during training and hit her head on a heater. Herrera said that led to Nakita's death hours later.
To make sure that no one found Nakita, Herrera told police, she put the body in a barrel behind her house on Washington Street and started a blaze Aug. 16 that burned for as long as two days.
Herrera is charged with four counts of felony injury to child because she is accused of having her four other kids — ages 12, 9, 8 and 3 — "assist in the burning" of Nakita's body, according to the grand jury indictment. Court records say Herrera is accused of having her kids put items in the burn barrel to keep it going.
On the morning of Aug. 18, Herrera walked up to an officer outside a Nampa police station. Crying, she told the officer that she did something bad, that her child was hurt and that she made it worse, according to documents.
Later, Herrera told a Nampa police detective that "God will never forgive her" for what she has done, according to probable cause documents obtained by the Statesman.
Each count of felony injury to child is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
UPDATE Updated Friday, Apr 26 at 7:11 AM
MURPHY, Idaho – A Homedale mother accused of killing her two-year-old daughter and burning up her body in a barrel to cover up the crime has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and five other felony charges.
Owyhee County Prosecutor Doug Emery tells KTVB that 29-year-old Veronica Herrera has struck a deal with prosecutors. They have agreed to reduce the first-degree murder charge to involuntary manslaughter in exchange for the guilty plea. She was set to go on trial on May 14.
Herrera also pleaded guilty to failure to properly report a death, destruction of evidence and three counts of injury to a child. Emery says two of those injury to a child counts were because Herrera forced siblings to participate in the burning of the body.
Prosecutors say two-year-old Nakita was abused, tortured and killed by her mother, who then burned the body for several days to cover up the crime. The body was discovered last August.
Veronica's mother, Robyn Herrera, told us her daughter Veronica did have a drug problem in the past.
Emery says Herrera faces a maximum of 40 years in prison for all six felonies. She will likely have to serve at least 15 years. It will be up to a judge to determine her punishment. Sentencing is set for July 25.
Herrera has five other children and at last word they were staying with other family members.
Information gathered from KTVB.com and the Idaho Statesman
More: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/08/21/2239234/prosecutor-mom-burned-daughterin.html
Update:
by Karen Zatkulak & KTVB.COM
Bio | Email
KTVB.COM
Posted on September 4, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Updated Thursday, Sep 5 at 6:31 PM
Related:
•Veronica Herrera makes tearful apology in court
•Protecting our children: Investigating child abuse in Idaho
•Mom admits killing 2-year-old daughter, burning child's body
•Homedale mom accused of killing daughter charged with more crimes
•Woman charged with murder in death of 2-year-old daughter
•Woman pleads not guilty to burning daughter's body
•Hearing postponed for mom accused of burning 2-year-old's remains
•PDF: Homedale Police Report
•Homedale woman accused of burning 2-year-old's body in barrel
MURPHY, Idaho -- A Homedale mother who killed her two-year-old daughter and then burned the child's body to cover up the crime could spend up to 30 years in prison for her actions.
Owyhee County Judge Thomas J. Ryan imposed a 15-year fixed sentence upon Veronica Herrera, with another indeterminate sentence of 15 years. The Homedale mother also won't have access to her five remaining children without approval of state counselors.
Judge Ryan commented that Thursday's sentencing was difficult because the case was so unusual and the crime was brutal.
"We don't know if anything more sinister or evil was going on because Herrera destroyed the evidence," Ryan said.
A small gathering of family members sat in silence as the 30-year-old was sentenced. They left quietly after the verdict was read and Herrera was led out of the courtroom.
HERRERA PLEADS GUILTY
Earlier this year, Herrera pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and five other felony charges in connection with the death of her two-year-old daughter, Nakita.
Prosecutors say Herrera abused and tortured Nakita before killing her. She then burned the girl's body for several days to cover up the crime.
During Wednesday's hearing, we learned disturbing details about Nakita's life and death.
Nakita's grandmother, Robyn Herrera, recounted the horrific moment last August when prosecutors say Veronica killed her young daughter. They say Herrera then burned the child's body in a barrel for two days, buying lighter fluid twice to keep the fire going, and even enlisting the child's siblings to help.
MORE DISTURBING DETAILS
Herrera told police Nakita died after she fell from a child's potty and hit her head on a nearby heater. However, Dr. Paul McPherson testified that before Nakita's death there was evidence that she suffered bruising in many places on her body, a severe burn, and malnutrition while in her mother's care.
There was also testimony in court about Herrera's past meth addiction, along with the woman's signs of depression.
A forensic anthropologist testified that investigators had recovered about 85 percent of the human remains in the barrel, and that Nakita's bones were fragmented, then burned.
Court documents show Herrera told detectives she didn't tell anyone Nakita had died because she "Didn't want to lose her children."
Prosecutors say Herrera also forced some of Nakita's siblings to participate in burning their sister's body. She pleaded guilty to two counts related to that.
The 30-year-old Homedale mother had faced up to 40 years in prison for her actions. As the sentencing stands, she'll serve at least 15.
The 29-year-old Herrera was originally accused of burning the body of her 2-year-old daughter in a burn barrel at her Homedale residence in August. Now she is accused of killing the toddler as well. Herrera is also charged with four counts of felony injury to child.
Herrera is now set to begin her jury trial May 14 in front of 3rd District Judge Thomas Ryan in Owyhee County. Herrera waived her speedy trial rights in late December so her attorneys could have more time to work on the case.
Owyhee Prosecutor Doug Emory said Thursday he would not seek the death penalty against Herrera, who could still be sent to prison for life, without parole, if found guilty of first degree murder.
An Owyhee County grand jury found late last year that Herrera, "with the intentional application of torture," intentionally inflicted "extreme and prolonged pain," by "inflicting repeated acts of blunt force trauma upon (Nakita) by means of physical force ... emotional abuse, and/or lack of physical and/or medical care, which caused bruising, pain, burns, broken bones, and injuries," that led to the toddler's death on Aug. 16.
Grand jurors also found the abuse that led to the toddler's death occurred between July 1 to Aug. 16, according to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
Prosecutors do not need to prove premeditation to charge first degree murder when the victim is under the age of 12, but they do need to prove that the death occurred in the commission of another crime.
Herrera told police Nakita was fatally injured after she hit her head while potty training Aug. 15. Herrera also said was scared and "freaked out" about the possibility of losing custody of her other children if she told police what happened, so she decided to burn the toddler's body, according to court documents obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
Herrera ended up turning herself into Nampa police on Aug. 18 and confessing, according to court records. She is being held in the Owyhee County Jail on a $1 million bond as she waits for the trial to begin in January.
According to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman, Herrera told police that her daughter Nakita, who just turned 2 in August, jumped off her potty chair during training and hit her head on a heater. Herrera said that led to Nakita's death hours later.
To make sure that no one found Nakita, Herrera told police, she put the body in a barrel behind her house on Washington Street and started a blaze Aug. 16 that burned for as long as two days.
Herrera is charged with four counts of felony injury to child because she is accused of having her four other kids — ages 12, 9, 8 and 3 — "assist in the burning" of Nakita's body, according to the grand jury indictment. Court records say Herrera is accused of having her kids put items in the burn barrel to keep it going.
On the morning of Aug. 18, Herrera walked up to an officer outside a Nampa police station. Crying, she told the officer that she did something bad, that her child was hurt and that she made it worse, according to documents.
Later, Herrera told a Nampa police detective that "God will never forgive her" for what she has done, according to probable cause documents obtained by the Statesman.
Each count of felony injury to child is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
UPDATE Updated Friday, Apr 26 at 7:11 AM
MURPHY, Idaho – A Homedale mother accused of killing her two-year-old daughter and burning up her body in a barrel to cover up the crime has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and five other felony charges.
Owyhee County Prosecutor Doug Emery tells KTVB that 29-year-old Veronica Herrera has struck a deal with prosecutors. They have agreed to reduce the first-degree murder charge to involuntary manslaughter in exchange for the guilty plea. She was set to go on trial on May 14.
Herrera also pleaded guilty to failure to properly report a death, destruction of evidence and three counts of injury to a child. Emery says two of those injury to a child counts were because Herrera forced siblings to participate in the burning of the body.
Prosecutors say two-year-old Nakita was abused, tortured and killed by her mother, who then burned the body for several days to cover up the crime. The body was discovered last August.
Veronica's mother, Robyn Herrera, told us her daughter Veronica did have a drug problem in the past.
Emery says Herrera faces a maximum of 40 years in prison for all six felonies. She will likely have to serve at least 15 years. It will be up to a judge to determine her punishment. Sentencing is set for July 25.
Herrera has five other children and at last word they were staying with other family members.
Information gathered from KTVB.com and the Idaho Statesman
More: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/08/21/2239234/prosecutor-mom-burned-daughterin.html
Update:
by Karen Zatkulak & KTVB.COM
Bio | Email
KTVB.COM
Posted on September 4, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Updated Thursday, Sep 5 at 6:31 PM
Related:
•Veronica Herrera makes tearful apology in court
•Protecting our children: Investigating child abuse in Idaho
•Mom admits killing 2-year-old daughter, burning child's body
•Homedale mom accused of killing daughter charged with more crimes
•Woman charged with murder in death of 2-year-old daughter
•Woman pleads not guilty to burning daughter's body
•Hearing postponed for mom accused of burning 2-year-old's remains
•PDF: Homedale Police Report
•Homedale woman accused of burning 2-year-old's body in barrel
MURPHY, Idaho -- A Homedale mother who killed her two-year-old daughter and then burned the child's body to cover up the crime could spend up to 30 years in prison for her actions.
Owyhee County Judge Thomas J. Ryan imposed a 15-year fixed sentence upon Veronica Herrera, with another indeterminate sentence of 15 years. The Homedale mother also won't have access to her five remaining children without approval of state counselors.
Judge Ryan commented that Thursday's sentencing was difficult because the case was so unusual and the crime was brutal.
"We don't know if anything more sinister or evil was going on because Herrera destroyed the evidence," Ryan said.
A small gathering of family members sat in silence as the 30-year-old was sentenced. They left quietly after the verdict was read and Herrera was led out of the courtroom.
HERRERA PLEADS GUILTY
Earlier this year, Herrera pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and five other felony charges in connection with the death of her two-year-old daughter, Nakita.
Prosecutors say Herrera abused and tortured Nakita before killing her. She then burned the girl's body for several days to cover up the crime.
During Wednesday's hearing, we learned disturbing details about Nakita's life and death.
Nakita's grandmother, Robyn Herrera, recounted the horrific moment last August when prosecutors say Veronica killed her young daughter. They say Herrera then burned the child's body in a barrel for two days, buying lighter fluid twice to keep the fire going, and even enlisting the child's siblings to help.
MORE DISTURBING DETAILS
Herrera told police Nakita died after she fell from a child's potty and hit her head on a nearby heater. However, Dr. Paul McPherson testified that before Nakita's death there was evidence that she suffered bruising in many places on her body, a severe burn, and malnutrition while in her mother's care.
There was also testimony in court about Herrera's past meth addiction, along with the woman's signs of depression.
A forensic anthropologist testified that investigators had recovered about 85 percent of the human remains in the barrel, and that Nakita's bones were fragmented, then burned.
Court documents show Herrera told detectives she didn't tell anyone Nakita had died because she "Didn't want to lose her children."
Prosecutors say Herrera also forced some of Nakita's siblings to participate in burning their sister's body. She pleaded guilty to two counts related to that.
The 30-year-old Homedale mother had faced up to 40 years in prison for her actions. As the sentencing stands, she'll serve at least 15.
