RICHMOND —
If Serenity Dawes were alive today, she’d be about three months shy of her second birthday.
She’d be walking and running, saying new words every day and enjoying things like Sesame Street, ice cream and dolls.
Instead, her father and mother, William and Diana Dawes, were sentenced Thursday in her beating death last year when Serenity was just 7 months old.
William Dawes, 28, pleaded guilty last month to murder and first-degree criminal abuse, and Diana Dawes, 28, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree criminal abuse.
Diana Dawes originally had been charged with complicity to murder, but the charge was amended in exchange for her guilty plea.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jennifer Smith recommended sentences of 35 years in prison for the father and 25 years for the mother.
In Madison Circuit Court on Thursday, Senior Judge Julia Adams agreed and sentenced the Dawes as recommended.
Adams, who retired as a 25th Judicial Circuit judge in 2008, was filling in Thursday for Judge Jean Chenault Logue.
“Nothing we can do in court will ever be enough,” Smith said after the sentencing when asked whether justice had been achieved for Serenity.
However, Smith said the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office was glad the case was resolved without a trial because that eliminates any chance for the Daweses to appeal their sentences.
Serenity was rushed to the hospital June 29, 2011, when she stopped breathing while at her Richmond home with her father, according to the Kentucky State Police. She was placed on life support at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, but there were no signs of brain activity.
Serenity died the next day.
During the change-of-plea hearing last month, Smith said Serenity’s autopsy showed she had multiple injuries, including a broken leg, two broken ribs, a grab or ligature bruise are her arm, bruising on her body and her brain in parts was "liquefied."
The official cause of death was complications from blunt force trauma, according to the medical examiner.
Smith said the evidence showed that Williams Dawes inflicted the injuries on his baby while Diana Dawes didn’t report the abuse or seek medical attention for her child.
Under Kentucky law, the Dawes were not eligible for the death penalty if they had both been convicted on murder charges. The maximum sentence they could have received was life in prison.
Smith pointed out that often in cases where parents kill their children, there’s no one to give a victim-impact statement to the judge at sentencing. So Smith said she had prepared a packet of information for Judge Adams to consider that included the medical examiner’s autopsy report and pictures of the conditions under which Serenity had lived as well as photos of her in the hospital shortly before she died.
“I was pointing out her injuries and asking that the parole board never, ever parole them,” Smith said.
After the sentencing, Smith also wanted to thank two people whose “very good work” helped prosecutors compile evidence in the case. They were social worker Karensa Johnson and Kentucky State Police Detective Joie Peters (retired).
Sarah Hogsed can be reached at shogsed@richmondregister.com or 624-6694.
Local News
Related Photos
-
William Leroy Dawes and Diana Dawes wait Wednesday in Madison Circuit Court to change their pleas in the beating death of their child, Serenity Dawes. William Dawes pleaded guilty to murder and first-degree criminal abuse, and Diana Dawes pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree criminal abuse. Photo by Kaitlin Keane/photos@richmondregister.com
Couple sentenced in beating death of infant
Plea deal eliminates chance for appeals
- Local News
-
-
Exit 95 rebuild delayed until 2017
Originally scheduled for 2014, the reconstruction of Exit 95 on Interstate 75 won’t take place until 2017, Madison Judge/Executive Kent Clark told a joint meeting of the Richmond and Berea chambers of commerce Friday.
The state Transportation Cabinet is delaying the project, Clark said, until a decision is made on the proposed highway that would run from Exit 95 to Nicholasville. -
Toyota bornlearning Academy graduates parents
Seven graduates received their certificates Thursday night, but not with the customary rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance.”
It was a celebration of the parents’ six-month journey with the Toyota bornlearning Academy at Berea Community School.
The academy works with parents and caregivers of children from prenatal to 5 years old on ways to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities. -
Caudill Middle School student showcase
Members of the Caudil Middle School Jazz Band entertain the crowd during the school's end of year student showcase Thursday.
-
Man arrested Friday after early morning break-in
Richmond police made an arrest Friday in connection with an early morning break-in at Jack’s Cleaners on West Water Street.
Scott Hobbs, 42, of McKee, was charged with first-degree burglary, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock
At 3:25 a.m., a witness reported seeing a man enter and exit the cleaners through a broken window and drive away, Brock stated in a news release. -
Grand jury indicts inmates in jail assault
Two inmates at the Madison County Detention Center were indicted Wednesday on charges related to the beating of another prisoner.
A Madison grand jury indicted 28-year-old Justin Morgan Howell and 26-year-old Lucas Wayne Shanks on charges of second-degree assault, second-degree escape and second-degree persistent felony offenders. -
The Incredible Child: Support group for parents of special-needs children meets Tuesday at library
Richmond now has a local chapter of The Incredible Child, a support group for families of children with all types of disabilities.
The group will host the family-friendly event “Read to Me” from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Madison County Public Library in Richmond. -
Pets from the Madison County Animal Shelter
This week's cats are two playful and friendly 16-week-old kittens, according to their previous owner. This week's dog is 4-month-old Sally, a spayed Labrador and Jack Russell mix. She's a super sweet dog, according to her previous owners.
-
Environmental groups seek court review from cabinet order
A coalition of environmental groups has once again asked Franklin Circuit Court to help them in their long-running battle with the Cabinet for Energy and Environment and a coal company which violated provisions of the federal Clean Water Act.
-
Berea couple accused of chaining children into bedroom
A Berea couple was charged Wednesday after they admitted to using chains and ropes to lock four children into a room, according to Berea police.
-
First Christian Church on Main Street.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Exit 95 rebuild delayed until 2017
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
