As he sentenced former daycare provider Jessica Cummings to prison Friday in the death of a 13-month-old girl in her care, Judge Joseph Bribiesca cited a mortality table.
Bribiesca said the table showed that the remaining life expectancy for a 13-month-old girl is 80.2 years.
"Eighty-point-two years was taken," Bribiesca said, referring to the death of Kailee Hundley.
In comparison, his 32-month prison sentence for Cummings -- two months shy of the maximum sentence -- is a "small price to pay for the taking of this life," he said of Kailee.
"She is gone forever."
Now, Cummings -- a new mother herself -- is headed to prison. Minutes after the judge announced her sentence, deputies had Cummings remove her jewelry, then put her in handcuffs as she tearfully said goodbye to relatives.
In December, a jury found Cummings guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Kailee's death on March 25, 2008.
The investigation determined that Cummings partially strapped Kailee into a car seat. The toddler slid down in the seat and strangled on a strap while being left by herself for more than two hours in a laundry room at Cummings' Wichita home, where she operated a daycare.
Prosecutors said the case had rested on the question of whether Cummings' actions were reasonable.
Her lawyer, John Stang, said after the sentencing that he was disappointed that Bribiesca relied partly on the mortality table.
Stang had argued "that there is no benefit to sending Ms. Cummings to jail, other than revenge or punishment."
He said she had been the one to call 911 when she found Kailee unresponsive, that she "felt awful" about the death, that she had cooperated with investigators and that she had no criminal history.
Now that she is going to prison, he said, she will leave behind a husband, a young daughter and an infant son who is not yet four weeks old and was breast-feeding until she was taken into custody.
Although her sentence is 32 months -- the maximum would have been 34 months -- she could be out of prison in about 27 months if she earns the so-called good-time credit.
Kailee's father, Mike Hundley, said he was relieved that Cummings is going to prison. Her sentence should send a message, Hundley said.
"Hopefully, other people will keep that in mind before they hurt babies and kids," he said.
In the courtroom Friday, Cummings sobbed as she told Kailee's relatives that she was "truly sorry" for the death.
She said her college education had focused on early-childhood development and that she had always wanted to work with children.
She said she thought the death would be viewed as a "horrible accident" and that she was "shocked" to be charged with involuntary manslaughter and "dumbfounded" that she was found guilty.
One by one, Kailee's relatives told the judge how devastated they felt by Kailee's death and that they wanted to see Cummings punished.
Rhonda Cornejo, Kailee's maternal grandmother, said Kailee's death "stole my heart" and was no accident.
Kailee's mother, Katie Cornejo-Robertson, recalled the joyful celebration of Kailee's first birthday. Now, she said the family has "only our memories and a headstone in the ground."
Cornejo-Robertson said prison time would give Cummings "time to reflect on the outcome" of her actions.
Cornejo-Robertson herself is awaiting trial April 13 on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old stepdaughter, Daytona Robertson. An autopsy found that Daytona suffered severe head injuries from a beating.
In court Friday, Bribiesca reminded Cornejo-Robertson that her comments were on the record and could be used against her.
After Cornejo-Robertson spoke, Kailee's paternal grandmother, Diane Hundley, told the judge, "I don't know how to console my son" about Kailee's death. "He gave his entire heart to her."
Diane Hundley told Cummings: "You had no right to treat her so badly."
Mike Hundley then faced Cummings. He wore a pink tie and pink shirt in memory of his daughter.
His voice broke as he sang part of the "Elmo" song his daughter enjoyed so much.
He told Cummings she still has her children.
"I can't have mine back."
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