GADSDEN, AL – An Alabama woman has pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse, nearly three years after her 3-year-old stepdaughter was found dead. Haley Dee Metz, 33, entered a blind plea this week, acknowledging her role in the fatal injuries sustained by Aydah DiMaso without an agreed-upon sentence.
In return for her plea, prosecutors dropped an additional charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. The plea marks a crucial step towards concluding the parallel criminal cases against Metz and the child’s father, Nikolas Joseph DiMaso, 26. Meanwhile, a civil lawsuit against state child welfare authorities continues.
In October 2021, police responded to a Gadsden residence for a welfare check after family members reported finding the young girl unresponsive in a bathtub. Officers discovered that Aydah had succumbed to her injuries. Her father was swiftly apprehended, accused of fatally beating his daughter, according to court documents.
A law enforcement investigation revealed that the toddler had over 50 signs of trauma. “Aydah was a sweet soul with an infectious giggle, loved deeply by her grandparents,” a GoFundMe campaign for her family stated. They criticized the system for failing to protect her, claiming her death could have been prevented.
The criminal justice system passed a critical judgment in mid-June when DiMaso was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole after admitting to capital murder of a child under 14 and conspiracy to commit aggravated child abuse. Metz’s sentencing is scheduled for November.
Before her death, Aydah had been in her father’s care for only eight months. Court records highlight that her grandparents had fought unsuccessfully to maintain custody. Following the tragedy, her maternal grandmother launched a lawsuit against the Alabama Department of Human Resources. The grandmother, now leading Aydah’s estate, asserts that multiple agencies and individuals were negligent, ultimately causing the child’s death.
“All these agencies were aware that this poor child was suffering and in desperate need of help, yet they failed to act,” said plaintiffs’ attorney Tommy James early this year. James detailed the horrifying extent of the child’s injuries, including a healing broken arm and numerous marks covering her body.
The case reflects a broader issue within the child welfare system, which many families across the country face. The grandmother has vowed to seek justice and reform, emphasizing the fight to ensure her granddaughter’s death is not forgotten.
