WALKER, LA (WAFB) -
A mother has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the 2007 homicide of her 15-month-old daughter.
Johnnie Garner, 29, of Walker, LA, pleaded no contest to Manslaughter before Judge Bruce Bennett on October 24, 2011. Assistant District Attorney Charlotte Herbert handled the prosecution.
Garner arrived at a neighbor's home, on August 11, 2007 carrying her unresponsive daughter, Jalaya Allen. She claimed that the child had pulled a computer monitor down from a low table onto herself.
Although Garner said she did not want to contact the police, the neighbor called 911. Garner explained to law enforcement that the computer monitor fell on the child's head and chest, and that the hard drive fell onto her lower body. First responders took Jalaya to Ochsner Hospital in Baton Rouge where doctors were unable to revive the child and she died that night.
Dr. Gilbert Corrigan, who performed the autopsy revealing Jalaya had suffered multiple injuries to her body, including bruises to her face, a fractured rib, and a torn liver, stated that it was possible the injuries occurred how Garner said. However, the Livingston Parish Coroner, Dr. Ronald Coe, told law enforcement that he did not believe the story matched the injuries Jalaya exhibited.
Coe contacted the Jefferson Parish Coroner's office, inquiring about a second opinion. Dr. Karen Ross reviewed the case and explained that it was also highly unlikely that the multiple various points of injury Jalaya sustained came from a computer falling.
Police took the computer to expert in ergonomics, Trevor Bardinson, to study how much force it would have taken to pull the computer from its' table. He stated that although it would be possible for her to pull the monitor down, it was very unlikely she would be able to pull down both components at once, like Garner claimed.
Garner must complete 85% of her sentence without benefit before she can become eligible for parole, said Perrilloux.
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Johnnie Garner (Source: LPSO)
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