Sunday, July 1, 2012

Charlotte, MI: 18-27 Year Sentence for Child Killer

Joshua Piercefield of Grand Ledge is sentenced to 18-27 years prison for the death of Olivia Truax, his girlfriend's 3-month-old infant left in his care in May of 2011.

CHARLOTTE - A Grand Ledge man is sentenced to 18--27 years in prison for killing a three-month old child last year.

Joshua Piercefield, 23, received his sentence Friday for the death of Olivia Truax. Truax was the infant child of Piercefield's girlfriend at the time. Prior to a trial, Piercefield pleaded guilty last month to second degree murder.

The child became unresponsive and had to be hospitalized during a family trip to Ohio. Medical personnel determined the child had suffered severe brain trauma. She never recovered and died May 10th, 2011. Following an 8-month investigation by state police, Piercefield was arrested. Investigators determined that Olivia suffered her head injuries during the two previous days while in P Piercefield's care at a home in Eaton Rapids.

"Today's sentencing hearing was the most emotional court hearing that I have witnessed during my 23 year State Police career. The victim statement read by Jessica Truax, the mother of Olivia, was one of the most impactful statements that I have heard; it truly detailed the sadness and heartache that the Truax family has experienced since Olivia's death", said Detective Sergeant Kyle McPhee, one of the lead State Police detectives on this case.

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