A Florida woman was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison after she did nothing to stop her boyfriend from abusing their newborn twins—abuse that tragically resulted in the death of one infant and serious injuries to the other.
Hannah Renee Jones, 21, pleaded no contest in February to neglect of a child causing great bodily harm related to the suffering of the twins at their home in Cocoa in 2023.
“These babies came home from the hospital and spent their entire two-and-a-half months there in an abusive environment,” said Assistant State Attorney Rebecca Price during Jones’ sentencing hearing. “It’s only because one baby was found dead that morning that her sister lived.”
Jones’ boyfriend and the twins’ father, Quentin Smith, 25, faces charges of aggravated child abuse by willful torture and is scheduled to stand trial later this year.
According to investigators, Jones witnessed Smith “squeeze, hit, and throw objects at the babies out of frustration” and saw him pick them up by their limbs. Prosecutors say Smith admitted to “shaking, yanking, and biting the twins on multiple occasions.”
During sentencing, Circuit Judge Charles Crawford told Jones, “You should never be in charge of any children ever again,” reflecting the gravity of the neglect and harm.
Details of Abuse
Police were called to the home on October 5, 2023, after reports of an unresponsive infant. One of the twins was pronounced dead at the hospital. Photos showed the baby had multiple bruises on her face, head, body, back, and ribs, along with swelling on her arm.
The surviving twin also suffered visible injuries, including bruising on her face and head, and a large bite mark near her buttocks.
Both parents were interviewed at the Cocoa Police Department. Jones initially told detectives the babies “constantly bang their heads against the lining of the bassinet,” but later admitted Smith squeezed their faces and bit them. She also described an incident where Smith picked up the deceased infant by the arm, possibly causing swelling.
Jones admitted she knew about the injuries but did not report them to doctors or authorities.
Smith told detectives he fed the babies, placed them in the bassinet, and later heard Jones call for help when one infant became unresponsive. He said he tried CPR until paramedics arrived. Smith admitted to biting the babies multiple times, despite Jones asking him to stop.
He also described incidents of shaking the baby to quiet her and grabbing both infants by the legs in unsafe ways, leaving them dangling.
Next Steps
Smith has a court hearing scheduled for June. Meanwhile, Jones will serve her 20-year sentence for neglect.
This tragic case highlights the severe consequences of child abuse and neglect, and the importance of protecting the most vulnerable.
If you or someone you know is concerned about a child’s safety, contact your local child protective services or law enforcement immediately.
“This article was written by Mathew Owen. AI tools were used lightly for grammar and formatting, but the ideas, words, and edits are all mine.”
