BENTONVLLLE -- Melissa McCraw-Hummer stood a few feet away from the woman she trusted to care for her infant daughter but who instead caused her death. The mother told the babysitter she forgave her.
Melissa Garcia-Rivera, 21, admitted in court Monday she placed 7 pounds of pillows and blankets on top of 8-month-old Maisy Lane Hummer, which caused her death. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Circuit Judge Robin Green sentenced Garcia-Rivera to five years in prison with a five-year suspended sentence after her release. It is likely Garcia-Rivera, who is in the country illegally, will be deported after she completes her sentence.
McCraw-Hummer spoke during sentencing proceedings.
"I would like to talk to you now," she said to Garcia-Rivera. "In the early days after her death, I questioned everything. I wondered what awful parent would allow their child to be watched by someone who could do something like this.
"I questioned every decision I made as a parent and whether I even deserved to be Maisy's mom," she said.
McCraw-Hummer said she blamed herself for not protecting her daughter. "You may think that this will be the time when I condemn you," she said to Garcia-Rivera. "Declare my hatred for you. Threaten you. But I don't want to do that."
She said Garcia-Rivera knew she committed an awful act and has to live with that guilt daily. Garcia-Rivera will not be able to be with her young son, who loves and needs his mother, McCraw-Hummer said.
"You don't need to hear any condemnation from me," she said. "It would only hurt both of us more. What I want you to know is that I forgive you."
Some people in the silent and packed courtroom wiped away tears.
Wade Hummer, Maisy's father, said he's reminded of his daughter nearly everywhere he sees children.
"I have two nieces within 16 months of our daughter's age, and while I would love to see them, my grief does not allow it because they will grow up and she will not," he said.
Hummer said he will always wonder what his daughter would be like, what field she may have chosen and the positive impact on humanity she would have left.
"She will never be forgotten by me or my family, but I wish I could have spent more time with our daughter," he said.
Garcia-Rivera was arrested Oct. 12.
Maisy was dead when she was taken to Mercy Medical Center on Oct. 10, according to a probable cause affidavit. Medical staff told Rogers police the girl's body had no obvious signs of injuries and the cause of death was unknown, according to the affidavit.
Police interviewed Garcia-Rivera, who said she was frustrated with the child but didn't intentionally hurt her. Garcia-Rivera said she placed the baby in a toddler bed and put two pillows on the child when she was on her stomach. She said she left the baby for an hour, and, when she went back to check, the baby wasn't breathing, according to the affidavit.
Garcia-Rivera said she never intended to harm Maisy and she was sorry that her wrong actions caused Maisy's death.
"I am sorry," Garcia-Rivera said. "I am terribly sorry."
Garcia-Rivera said she and her family loved Maisy.
McCraw-Hummer said she wanted her daughter to be remembered.
"As Wade and I try to move forward with life and find happiness again, I want to ask that people not forget her," she said. "We had a daughter named Maisy Lane Hummer. She was 8 months old and full of life. She had dimples and a button nose. She was my whole world."
NW News on 03/27/2018
