Idaho mother sentenced to 18 years for murder of her infant

Danielle Radue, a 28-year-old mother from Boise, Idaho, was sentenced on July 22 to 18 years in prison in connection with the death of her two-month-old son, according to a press release from the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office.

Honorable Ada County District Judge Patrick Miller handed down a life sentence with a fixed 18-year term, after which Radue will be eligible for parole, the release says. Prosecutors recommended a a life sentence with 30 years of fixed imprisonment, the release adds.

On May 11, 2020, police were called to Radue’s home regarding an unresponsive infant, the release says. Two-month-old Dawson arrived at the hospital, where doctors found a skull fracture and a brain injury, the release explains. Police arrested Radue that same day, charged with injuring a child, though she was later released, according to a report by KTVB7 at that time.

Dawson died in the hospital at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15, according to the release.

Police arrested Radue again that night, charged her with first-degree murder, and held her in Ada County Jail on a $1 million bond, said KTVB7.

Ada County Coroner Dotti Coroner Dotti Owens declared that Dawson McKinney died from “traumatic closed head injuries”, KTVB7 reported.

At Radue’s bond hearing, prosecutor Kai Wittwer wanted to keep the bond at $1 million, claiming that Radue kept changing her story regarding what happened to her infant…