A Florida woman has been sentenced to prison for her role in the tragic death of her 14-week-old son. Lily Scheip, aged 35, received a manslaughter conviction in August for the death of her infant son, Dominic. Initially facing a second-degree murder charge, the case took a turn when an autopsy identified “serious head trauma” as the cause of death, classifying it as a homicide. On Monday, Scheip was handed a 10-year prison sentence, with credit for time already served since her arrest in March 2022.

The incident unfolded on the night of November 8, 2021, in Sarasota, Florida, when police were called to the home of Scheip’s neighbor. The neighbor dialed 911 after witnessing Scheip emerge from her house, carrying Dominic in her arms. She rushed to a nearby residence where a nurse lived, seeking help for her unresponsive baby.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene, attempting to revive Dominic, who was then transported to the hospital and placed on life support. Despite efforts, the baby showed signs of head trauma and lacked brain activity, ultimately passing away on November 11, 2021. Although no external injuries were visible initially, an autopsy later revealed bruising on Dominic’s head, a prior skull fracture, and a brain bleed. Medical experts concluded that the injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma inflicted by Scheip.

Details from the police affidavit indicate that on the day of the incident, Scheip’s husband was absent for most of the day, leaving her alone with Dominic and their older son. Scheip recounted attempting to feed Dominic a bottle at 9 p.m., but he refused and appeared lethargic. She placed him in his bassinet before joining her older son to watch television. Upon returning to check on Dominic some 20 minutes later, she found him unresponsive.

Police said in the affidavit that on the day Dominic was hospitalized, Scheip’s husband was away from the home for most of the day while Scheip was alone with the baby and the couple’s older son. Scheip said she tried to feed Dominic a bottle at 9 p.m., but he would not take it and “appeared drowsy.” She put Dominic down in his bassinet and went to watch television with her older son for about 20 minutes. When she returned to check on Dominic, he was unresponsive.

In the affidavit, police said Scheip admitted to an incident in September 2021 when she dropped Dominic from a recliner while burping him. Police learned that Dominic had suffered a “series of injuries” since his birth in August 2021. She had no explanations for his other injuries.

Before Scheip’s trial began, her attorneys were able to get the charge of second-degree murder reduced to manslaughter after proving that there was no malicious intent. She was found guilty of manslaughter on Aug. 15. A judge sentenced her to 10 years in prison plus four years probation. With credit for time served, she will only have to spend another five years behind bars.

At her sentencing on Monday, Scheip’s parents defended their daughter. Her mother told the court, “I can’t imagine, in my wildest imagination, her hurting my grandson intentionally.”

Scheip’s in-laws, however, felt differently and requested the maximum sentence of 15 years. Her brother-in-law told the court, “Dominic’s death has cast a permanent shadow over our family. And it has aged my parents before my eyes.”

The prosecuting attorney, assistant state attorney Karen Fraivillig, felt the same way. She told local ABC affiliate WWSB, “Ten years is not enough. Nevertheless, I understand the judge’s rationale.”