LAKEWOOD, CO – A Colorado woman was sentenced to 18 years in prison for severely abusing a 2-year-old boy, leaving him with lasting injuries that require him to be fed through a tube. The case has drawn attention to the responsibilities of caregivers and the serious consequences of neglect.

Mckinley Slone Hernandez, 26, was caring for Giovanni, a toddler who sustained critical injuries that included traumatic brain injury and retinal hemorrhaging. The babysitter’s actions have irrevocably altered the child’s life, officials said.

The investigation began on September 1, 2023, when Hernandez brought a critically ill Giovanni to a local hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was quickly transferred to a children’s hospital for emergency surgery. Giovanni’s injuries were life-threatening, with doctors noting he had multiple bruises and extensive trauma.

During the sentencing, Giovanni’s mother, Stefanie Reichert, laid bare the grave implications of Hernandez’s actions. “His future dreams, like sports or joining the military, were stripped away not by choice, but due to someone’s decision,” she said, highlighting the lifelong challenges her son now faces.

Hernandez had been operating an unlicensed daycare out of her home, where Giovanni stayed in late August and early September. Surveillance footage revealed the boy appearing to fall or be pushed from a camper trailer in the presence of Hernandez, who was then seen biting him and delaying his hospital visit despite his condition worsening.

Prosecutors argued that Hernandez delayed seeking medical care for Giovanni out of self-interest, a critical oversight given the timing and seriousness of his condition. Tyra Forbes, a lead prosecutor in the case, called Hernandez’s delay in seeking treatment “incredibly aggravated.”

Hernandez was eventually convicted of child abuse in April, with the court ruling that Giovanni’s injuries stemmed not only from the trauma of the fall but from systematic abuse over two days. Her boyfriend’s quick action in performing CPR was credited with saving the child’s life.

Judge Chantel Contiguglia stressed the duty of a caregiver to prioritize the child’s well-being above all else. “The priority should always be getting help for the child,” she stated during the hearing.

Reichert continues to share Giovanni’s journey of recovery online, marking his slow but steady progress. She expresses deep gratitude for the medical staff who have been instrumental in his ongoing recovery, noting the role they play in improving her son’s quality of life.