JAYLYNN MUSE - 2 yo - Gonzales (SE of Baton Rouge) LA

Gonzales couple face second degree murder charges

A Gonzales couple have been charged with second degree murder in the
death of Jaylynn Muse, a two-year old child. Muse died late Wednesday
night at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital from injuries sustained on January 8th.

On Jan. 9, detectives with the Ascension Parish Juvenile Division were
called to a Baton Rouge area hospital to determine what had caused the
severe head injury of two year old Jaylynn Muse.

During the investigation, it was found that the child had been taken to
the hospital by her godparents, Terrell and Shantell Donahue, after
they had found the child unresponsive. Jaylynn had been at the home of
her godparents since Jan. 6.

Doctors at the hospital performed an emergency procedure to relieve
pressure from the child’s brain after they found bleeding. There were
also bruises to the chid’s abdomen area.

Shantell Donahue was questioned by detctives, and said that the group
had returned from a birthday party of Saturday night, and that Jaylynn
began whining while they were watching television. Donahue said she
slapped the child on the hand at that time, which led to the child
screaming. It is then that Donahue said Terrell Donahue punched Jaylynn.
It was at this time she fell and hit her head. Donahue said they then
consoled the child, making sure she was not hurt, and put her to bed.

Terrell Donahue told detectives that the child was being taught her
ABC’s by his wife who became aggravated with Jaylynn. Shantell Donahue,
he then told detectives, hit the child in the stomach. He also said he
hit Jaylynn, which caused her to fall and hit her head.

http://www.weeklycitizen.com/topstories/x1745235169/Gonzales-couple-face-second-degree-murder-charges

Woman takes Plea Deal
April 19, 2012

GONZALES — A woman facing prosecution in the killing of her 2-year-old godchild pleaded guilty Tuesday to reduced charges and was sentenced to five years in prison after she agreed to testify against her husband in the beating death, prosecutors said.

Shantell Watts Donahue, 29, and her husband, Terrell Devon Donahue, 29, both of 11232 Roddy Road, Lot 3, Gonzales, were indicted in May on charges of first-degree murder in the slaying of Jaylynn Ty’anna Muse in early January 2011.

The couple had been watching Jaylynn, Shantell Donahue’s cousin’s child, at their mobile home in Wisteria Heights trailer park near Gonzales.

The child suffered injuries on Jan. 8, 2011, to the stomach and also to the head after being hit and after falling, deputies have said. She was put to bed and found nonresponsive the next morning, deputies have said.

Jaylynn, of Donaldsonville, died days later after doctors had to perform emergency surgery to relieve pressure on her brain.

Shantell Donahue pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree cruelty to a juvenile and being an accessory after the fact to manslaughter, prosecutors said.

Assistant District Attorney Robin O’Bannon said Jaylynn’s mother had asked the court Tuesday not to give her cousin any more jail time. Afterward, Judge Alvin Turner Jr. of the 23rd Judicial District Court handed down the five-year sentence.

O’Bannon said Donahue had faced five to 10 years.

Shantell Donahue’s defense attorney, Mike Nunnery, said in an interview Tuesday the incident was tragic but justice was served for his client.

On Feb. 22, Terrell Donahue pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter before Shantell Donahue could testify against him at trial, court minutes say.

Judge Turner gave Terrell Donahue the maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, minutes say.

O’Bannon said 10 of those years are without the benefit of probation parole or suspension of sentence.

She said Tuesday that Terrell Donahue admitted in court in February that he hit Jaylynn. O’Bannon said Shantell Donahue did not physically abuse the child.

Initially, the husband and wife gave differing accounts about whether Shantell Donahue hit Jaylynn in addition to Terrell Donahue, sheriff’s deputies have said.

http://theadvocate.com/home/2598845-125/woman-takes-plea-deal-in