A mother from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was handed a 25-year prison sentence on Friday after being found guilty of murdering her 10-year-old daughter. Henrietta Rogers, 48, was convicted of first-degree reckless homicide in May following a trial.
The tragic incident unfolded in February 2022 when police were called to Rogers’ home after an argument between her and her daughter, Jada Clay, over hair braiding escalated. According to local news outlet Fox 6, Jada’s older siblings returned home from school to find their sister’s bedroom door locked. After using a screwdriver to gain access, they discovered Jada’s lifeless body on the floor and immediately dialed 911.
Upon arrival, law enforcement officials determined that Jada had been dead for several hours. The prosecution described the act of strangulation as a “violently intimate offense” and sought a 30-year prison term for Rogers. However, the defense argued for a lesser sentence, citing Rogers’ significant mental health problems.
Judge Mark Sanders, presiding over the case, decided on a 25-year sentence for Rogers. In addition to her prison term, Rogers will be under extended supervision for 15 years and is required to undergo a mental health assessment during her probation. She is also mandated to seek employment and was credited for time already served.
Sanders expressed his disbelief at the horrific crime, stating, “Jada was old enough to recognize what was happening, and that realization must have made her last moments some of the most terrible I can imagine.”