Woman sentenced to 24 years for child’s death at unlicensed Springfield day care

Woman sentenced for child's death at unlicensed Springfield day care  News-Leader

Woman sentenced to 24 years for child’s death at unlicensed Springfield day care

Springfield Day Care Owner Sentenced to 24 Years for Infant’s Death

Deborah Lundstrom showed no outward sign of emotion as a jury found her guilty in the death of eight-month old, Coleman Shirley, in 2022. The verdict was returned Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2024 in the Greene County Courthouse.

Introduction

Nearly three months after a jury recommended a prison sentence of at least 20 years, Deborah Lundstrom, the unlicensed Springfield day care owner whose negligence led to the death of an infant, has learned her fate.

Sentencing and Charges

Judge Todd Myers sentenced Deborah Lundstrom to 24 years on Monday. Lundstrom was found guilty in February of involuntary manslaughter, operating a child care facility without a license, and nine counts of child endangerment. These charges were filed after she left nine children under the age of 3 unsupervised at her home.

The Tragic Incident

On March 2, 2022, an 8-month-old boy was found unresponsive at Lundstrom’s illegal day care located in the 2800 block of North Washington Avenue. The infant was later declared dead. Lundstrom admitted to leaving the baby and eight other children alone for approximately 12 minutes while she made a trip to Hillcrest High School. Before leaving, she placed the baby in a car seat inside her home.

More:Jury recommends 20 years in prison for woman guilty of infant’s death at illegal day care

Cause of Death

An autopsy revealed that the child died due to strangulation by the buckle and strap of the child safety seat.

Inconsistencies in Lundstrom’s Statements

Initially, Lundstrom told investigators that the majority of the nine children left alone at her home were strapped in car seats while the toddlers were unrestrained. However, police body camera footage contradicted her statement, as Lundstrom could be seen initially telling the police that she took all nine children with her on her short trip.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age Indicator not mentioned in the article
SDG 4: Quality Education Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education Indicator not mentioned in the article
SDG 5: Gender Equality Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate Indicator not mentioned in the article
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere Indicator not mentioned in the article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The issue of the death of an infant due to negligence at an unlicensed day care is connected to SDG 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all. The article mentions that the day care owner was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, indicating a failure to provide a safe and healthy environment for the children under her care.

SDG 4: Quality Education

Although not directly mentioned in the article, the incident highlights the importance of quality education in early childhood development and care. The lack of proper supervision and care at the unlicensed day care raises concerns about the quality of education and care provided to young children.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

While not explicitly discussed in the article, SDG 5 is indirectly connected to the issue as it emphasizes the promotion of shared responsibility within households and families. The incident raises questions about the responsibility of the day care owner in ensuring the safety and well-being of the children under her care.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The issue of negligence leading to the death of an infant is connected to SDG 16, which aims to promote peace, justice, and strong institutions. The article mentions that the day care owner was found guilty and sentenced by a judge, highlighting the role of the justice system in holding individuals accountable for their actions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age

The incident of the infant’s death due to negligence at the unlicensed day care highlights the need to work towards achieving Target 3.2 of SDG 3, which aims to prevent such tragic deaths through proper care and supervision.

Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education

Although not directly mentioned in the article, the incident raises concerns about the quality of early childhood development and care provided at unlicensed day cares. Achieving Target 4.2 of SDG 4 would ensure that all children have access to quality early childhood education and care, reducing the risks associated with inadequate supervision.

Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate

While not explicitly discussed in the article, the incident raises questions about the shared responsibility within households and families in ensuring the safety and well-being of children. Achieving Target 5.4 of SDG 5 would promote a more equitable distribution of caregiving responsibilities and ensure the protection of children.

Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere

The incident of negligence leading to the death of an infant highlights the need to work towards achieving Target 16.1 of SDG 16, which aims to reduce all forms of violence and related death rates. Ensuring proper supervision and care at child care facilities is crucial in preventing such tragic incidents.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

No indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.

Fuente: news-leader.com

 

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.

 

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age Indicator not mentioned in the article
SDG 4: Quality Education Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education Indicator not mentioned in the article
SDG 5: Gender Equality Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate Indicator not mentioned in the article
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere Indicator not mentioned in the article