California father sentenced to 25 years to life for killing infant daughter
Officials described the case as one of extreme child abuse and brutality
A California man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the 2020 killing of his 8-month-old daughter, a case prosecutors described as a brutal act of child abuse that resulted in devastating injuries.
Jesse Manuel Figueroa was sentenced on May 29 after being found guilty earlier this year of murdering his infant daughter, Raina, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said the child died in 2020 after Figueroa struck her while caring for her, causing severe trauma.
Investigators later determined that the force of the blow was so extreme it caused catastrophic brain injury.
According to prosecutors, Figueroa initially claimed he was taking his daughter to a family barbecue when she suddenly became unconscious and began bleeding from her nose. However, medical findings later contradicted his account.
Hospital staff reportedly observed a bruise on the infant’s cheek in a pattern consistent with an adult handprint, raising immediate concerns of abuse.
A subsequent autopsy revealed that Raina had suffered fatal brain damage caused by a violent impact.
The medical examiner concluded the force of the strike was so severe that her brain shifted within her skull.
Authorities also alleged that Figueroa had a history of abuse involving his other two young children, who were reportedly subjected to degrading punishment, including being forced to kneel on rice.
At the time of the incident, prosecutors said Figueroa was already under a restraining order that prohibited unsupervised contact with the infant.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen condemned the crime, saying the child “would have been 6-years-old today instead of a name on a murder case,” and described the case as one marked by “brutality” and “senselessness.”
He added that the sentence ensures the defendant will no longer pose a threat to children.
The case has drawn widespread condemnation as prosecutors say it represents one of the most disturbing instances of child abuse in the county in recent years.