Michigan – In a heartbreaking case out of Michigan, a 41-year-old father, identified as J. Roldan, has been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison after a tragic incident where he suffocated his 6-month-old daughter, identified as Faith, to death during a night marred by excessive alcohol consumption. The sentence was handed down last week, following Roldan’s guilty plea to charges of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse.
The events unfolded on December 13, 2023, when, after consuming a substantial amount of alcohol, Roldan passed out on his couch, unknowingly on top of his infant daughter. The emergency services were called to the family’s home the following morning after Roldan woke up and discovered his daughter was not breathing. Despite immediate medical attention, Faith was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after her arrival.
During investigations, both parents admitted to their incapacitated states on the night of the incident. They also admitted to smoking pot the night before the fatal incident. Faith’s 30-year-old mother, identified as L. Powe, also faces similar charges as Roldan, with her trial set to begin this week. Reports from local news sources highlight the severity of the parents’ intoxication, with Powe describing herself as “very, very wasted” after drinking five beers and Roldan confessing to consuming between nine and ten beers.
Further complicating this tragic story, surveillance footage from the family’s living room captured the critical moments leading to Faith’s death. The video showed Powe accidentally dropping her daughter between Roldan and a couch cushion. Roldan, heavily intoxicated, shifted his position on the couch, ultimately suffocating his 6-month-old daughter to death without realizing it. The footage revealed that Powe, upon waking and not finding her daughter, retreated to her bedroom, leaving Faith under Roldan until the disturbing discovery the next morning.
The medical examiner confirmed that the cause of Faith’s death was asphyxiation. The harrowing nature of the video evidence was emphasized by the county prosecutor, J. Getting, who described it as “horrific” and disturbing to watch. This case highlights the dangers of substance abuse and the paramount importance of responsible parenting. Prosecutor Getting’s office expressed deep sympathy for the victim while underscoring the preventable nature of this tragedy. The devastating outcome of this case serves as a somber reminder of the responsibilities that come with parenthood and the fatal consequences that can arise from negligence.
As Roldan begins his sentence, the community and the families involved are left to mourn the loss of a young life cut tragically short. The pending trial of Powe will further decide the accountability in this heartrending case. The court’s decision to impose a substantial prison sentence on Roldan reflects the severity of the offense and the irreversible loss of young Faith, whose life ended far too soon under circumstances that could have been avoided.
